Peter Hosharian, George Bilezikian, Dylan Nalbandian, Sophie Avedikian, Ramy Zada, Shiraz Savoian, Bianca Bagatourian, Anne Bedian, Hrach Titizian (Photo credit Jake Hagopian)
MONTEBELLO, California—A magical night took place in Montebello, Sunday evening, on November 8th. You could hear a pin drop as an attentive crowd of over 600 watched a staged reading of Displacement written by Shauna Vartanian and expertly directed by film and theatre director, Von Kochar.
The crowd gasped as Bianca Bagatourian, founder of Armenian Dramatic Arts Alliance, also the dramaturg on the play, read a tribute from Haig Mardikian. Haig’s father, George Mardikian, portrayed in the play, was the founder of The American National Committee to Aid Homeless Armenians (ANCHA) and is the most beloved man amongst the Armenians who were saved from Stalin’s persecution. Ken Davitian played George Mardikian in the play and gave a deeply moving performance as he made an entrance down the middle aisle of the hall, shaking hands with the crowd before stepping onto the stage to present a prideful monologue.
The special one-night reading of Displacement, took place with a stellar cast, Ramy Zada, series lead and guest starred T.V.: Dark Justice, N.Y.P.D. Blue, has starred opposite Kathleen Turner and worked with John Cassavetes and Gena Rowlands, played the patriarch Gulbank brilliantly. Bianca Bagatourian, a natural actor, took over the role of Shushan for Adriana Sevahn Nichols who was taken ill. . An emotional performance aptly displayed by Jade Hykush as Shushanik was dedicated to her DP family, mother Helen, her late father, actor producer, director Sirak Ohanesian and “to all the DPs who came to America, and created a beautiful life.â€
