THREE PADEREWSKIS, a new American musical hybrid, explores the life and work of composer and founder of the Polish nation, Ignacy Jan Paderewski. This project has been commissioned in co-operation with Adam Mickiewicz Institute as part of the international cultural programme POLSKA 100 accompanying Poland’s centenary of regaining independence.

With book by University of Southern California professor and playwright Oliver Mayer and music by award-winning composer Jenni Brandon, this 40-minute performance looks at three versions of the great Paderewski (one of them female) as they sift through a lifetime of memories far too large for any one person. Ignacy the pianist/composer, Jan the visionary statesman, and Paderewski the viticulturist assess a lifetime of love and loss, exile, war and wine.  But when the ghost of Antonina, their long-departed wife, rejoins them, memories become immediate with a vibrancy that sheds light on the depths of their endless love.

Members of the cast include singers who have appeared with the Los Angeles Opera, with the Los Angeles Master Chorale, at the Kennedy Center, in major motion pictures and on Grammy-award winning recordings. Directed by Jon Lawrence Rivera of the Playwright’s Arena, the cast will be accompanied by the L.A. based ensemble Central4 Piano Quartet with music direction by composer Jenni Brandon.

This project has been commissioned by The Adam Mickiewicz Institute in collaboration with the following Institutions: UCLA TFT, USC School of Dramatic Arts, Ghost Road Company, Playwrights’ Arena, Wang Music International, CAC New Orleans, UNO, Tricklock Company, UNM, Tisch School of the Arts, Philadelphia Theatre Company, MASS MoCA, The Consulate General of Poland in Los Angeles, The Polish Cultural Institute in New York  as part of the international cultural program POLSKA100 accompanying Poland’s Centenary of regaining independence.

Co-financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland as part of the multi-annual program NIEPODLEGŁA 2017-2022.

Cast:
Katherine Powers – Antonina
Maria Dominique Lopez – Ignacy
Todd Strange – Jan
Steve Pence – Paderewski
Ariel Pisturino – Chorus Soprano
Shabnam Kalbasi – Chorus Alto
Omar Crook – Chorus Tenor
Emilio Valdez – Chorus Bass

Central4 Piano Quartet: Timothy Durkovic-piano, Elizabeth Hedman-violin, Meredith Crawford-viola, Paula Fehrenbach-cello

Projections by Simon Chau

When:
Saturday, December 1^st, 2018

Time:
2:00 pm

Where:

USC Kaufman Performance Studio

849 West 34th Street

Los Angeles, CA 90089-3521

RSVPs:
This event is free but please RSVP to threepaderewskis@gmail.com to reserve tickets

Running Time:
Approximately 45 minutes

Directions and Parking:
Please enter the USC campus via Gate 5 (McClintock and Jefferson Avenues) and pay $12 at the kiosk.  From there, guests will be directed to the Royal Street Parking Structure to park their vehicles.  The Kaufman Performance Studio is a short walk along 24^th Street from the parking structure.

Additionally, there is metered street parking along McClintock and Jefferson Avenues and Hoover Street.

Social Media:
#PADEREWSKIMUSICALPROJECT
#PADEREWSKIONTOUR2018
#aminstitute
#celebratinpolska100

Contact:
Ian-Julian Williams
ianjulianwilliams@gmail.com
718.915.6463

###