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March 06, 2008
AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School Performs Neil Simon's "Rumors" with Shining Success
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A dramatic moment during the December 15, 2007 performance of Neil Simon's classic play "Rumors" at the AGBU Pasadena Center.
Students of the drama conservatory of AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School (MDS) in Canoga Park, California successfully staged Neil Simon's renowned play "Rumors" in December 2007. Under the direction of Adrianne Alvarez, talented young Armenian-American actors took the MDS stage for three separate performances of this popular comedy before a combined audience of over 600. On December 15, an additional performance took place in the Agajanian Auditorium of AGBU Alex Manoogian Center in Pasadena, California for an audience of 100.
"Rumors" recounts the story of four couples who gather to celebrate the tenth wedding anniversary of their best friends Charlie and Myra Brock, a couple which resides in the tony enclave of Esnedo, New York. As the story unfolds, rumor and fact collide, leading up to an exciting climax that involves a possible murder, the media and local police.
"The production proceeded smoothly, with effective communication and full of suspense," audience member Dr. A. Kazanjian wrote in the Californian newspaper 'Massis Weekly.' "Our youthful actors and actresses, who had completely learned their roles, were uninhibited in their movements and facial expressions, which came across in genuine manifestations of the characters they played," he added.
"Rumors" demonstrated the success of the MDS drama program in pushing students beyond the boundaries of the classroom, and the play's achievements are a direct result of a three-year-old drama elective curriculum.
The cast was led by stage manager Lara Armani and included Niki Babian as Claire Ganz, Gina Shirinian as Chris Gorman, Armand Kizirian as Ken Gorman, Melissa Saracyan as Officer Welch and Patrick Chamanadjian as Lenny Ganz, in addition to several other devoted stage members.
Looking to the future, the MDS drama conservatory is already planning to stage Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" this coming April.
AGBU sponsors over 30 day & Saturday schools on five continents. The AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School (MDS) in Canoga Park, CA, is one of AGBU's largest and most academically challenging schools. MDS graduates are regularly accepted at some of the world's leading universities and colleges, including Harvard, Oxford, Princeton, Stanford, UC Berkeley, UCLA, Sorbonne, USC and Yale.
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