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ADAA/GARTAL New York Playreading Series, Nov. 19, Ohio Theater, NYC Syzygy Theater - "Love's Old Sweet Song" opens Oct. 17 in Burbank!

ARMENIAN STAR

ARMENIAN STAR AWARD

The Armenian Star Award is given annually by ADAA to an individual who exemplifies two or more of the following:

1. Dedication to practicing and/or furthering the arts at a high level;

2. Professional or artistic achievement in their own field/career;

3. Committment to and advocacy on behalf of Armenian arts and artists on an international stage; and

4. Dedication to public/civic service, particularly to Armenian culture, art and causes.

2008 Armenian Star MICHAEL PERETZIAN

Michael was born in New York City to Harry and Mary Peretzian, immigrants who had fled the horrors of the Ottoman empire. His early years were spent in a series of seashore towns in New Jersey. Following his father’s sudden death, the family moved to Hollywood, California. Here he was free to pursue his dream of attending UCLA and becoming a stage actor. It was there after earning his Master of Fine Arts Degree that Michael discovered his passion for directing. Michael’s career as an Hollywood agent has spanned over 30 years. The majority of that time was spent at the William Morris Agency, thanks in part to the patronage of agent Ron Mardigian. Beginning in the 1970s, Peretzian was the film and television agent for a growing list of Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning clients including Medoff (CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD) and Beth Henley (CRIMES OF THE HEART), Terrence McNally (MASTER CLASS). In 2000, Michael joined the Creative Artists Agency, where he added several top writers and directors, including Joe Mantello (WICKED), Zach Helm (STRANGER THAN FICTION), John Madden (SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE), and Anthony Minghella (Academy Award winner for directing THE ENGLISH PATIENT). He is a member of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Over the years Michael made time to moonlight locally as a stage director, staying true to his passion for the theater. He has worked with the Los Angeles Actors’ Theatre on PHIL AND MAC by David Briggs, directing the West Coast Premiere of TALKING WITH by Jane Martin for the Mark Taper Forum Taper Too (for which he won a Dramalogue Award for Outstanding Direction). At Theatre 40, he directed productions of Michael Cristofer’s THE SHADOW BOX, James Prideaux’s THE ORPHANS, David Storey’s HOME, and productions of Hugh Leonard’s SUMMER and A LIFE (for which he won the Los Angeles Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best Director). A true believer in the notion “life is not a dress rehearsal,” Michael left the motion picture business early in 2008 to return to his first love - the theatre. His initial effort was the world premier of RED DOG HOWLS which starred Kathleen Chalfant and was written by Alexander Dinelaris.

2007 Armenian Star ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER

On Aug. 19th, at the Second Annual ADAA Gala, which took place at the Star's Palace Theater in Glendale, CA, The Armenian Dramatic Arts Alliance was pleased to award it's first ever Armenian Star Award, 2007, to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for his service to the Armenian community. Chief Deputy Director, Lisa Kalustian, from the Governor's office was on hand to accept the award on his behalf.

LETTER TO ADAA FROM CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER

The Governor's office presented ADAA with a letter of congratulations

Chief Deputy Director from the Governor's office Lisa Kalustian	Fox TV News Reporter, Anita Vogel, presenting the ADAA Armenian Star Award

Chief Deputy Director Lisa Kalustian along with ADAA Board of Directors Alfred Demirjian, Bianca Bagatourian amd Anita Vogel

Board members Alfred Demirjian, Bianca Bagatourian, Anita Vogel and Karen Kondazian

2006 Armenian Star BERGE ZEITUNTSYAN

Berge Zeytuntsian was born on July 18, 1938, in Alexandria, Egypt. In 1948, he repatriated to Armenia. Zeytuntsian graduated from the Pyatigorsk Institute of Foreign Languages in Russia. He went on to also graduate from the Advanced Courses for Screenwriters in Moscow. In 1956, his inaugural collection of works, His First Friend, was published. From 1966-68, Zeytuntsian worked as a script editor at Armenfilm, and then from 1968-75 he was the chief editor at the Yerevan Studio of TV films. He served as secretary of the Writer's Union of Armenia from 1975-86 and from 1990-91 as the acting Minister of Culture in Armenia. Berge Zeytuntsian is the author of many plays, some of which have been translated into different languages and staged in countries around the world.