| Gerald Papasian |
 Born in Egypt of Armenian parents, Gerald Papasian comes from a well-known music family that founded the first major music stores, The Papasian Music Stores, including musical instruments, in the 1920's in Alexandria and later in Cairo. His grandfather, Jules Papasian, was a well-known tuner and piano builder (Papasian pianos) whose services were solicited all-over the African continent and the Middle East, especially preceding major concerts. He was also a music impresario who invited such celebrity musicians as Alfred Cortot and others to give concerts in his concert halls in Egypt. Gerald Papasian studied piano since the age of four under the tutelage of his great aunt Nevart Damadian, a graduate of the Ecole Normale de Musique in Paris and a renowned piano teacher, working way into her eighties, at the Cairo Music Conservatoire. Choosing to combine his love of theatre with his musical upbringing, Gerald Papasian dedicated his life to a career in theatre. He studied Directing and Acting (5-year MA. Diploma course) at the State Fine and Dramatic Arts Institute in Soviet Armenia. Internship during his studies included assistant directing at the National Opera of Armenia and later in Leningrad (St. Petersburg). And, his diploma work as a director was a TV production of G.B. Shaw's 'The Man of Destiny' with stars of the National Theatre of Armenia. After graduating from Armenia, his US debut as a stage director was the Western World Premiere of the Opera 'Anoush' in 1981 at the Michigan Opera Theatre in his own English singing translation (Wayne State University Press -1981). Gerald Papasian's international career has spanned over 20-years since his early teens in all areas of theatre such as directing, translating (published plays, poetry and librettos), adapting and performing in many languages (English, French and Armenian) world wide (Cairo, London, Los Angeles, Paris and world tours). Gerald Papasian is an Honorary Member of the National Theatre of Armenia since 1992 and a recipient of the Drama Logue Award for performance and creation two years consecutively for 'Sojourn at Ararat', a performance piece based on poetry and music. His other awards include 'The Cinematographers' Union of Armenia' and the 'Theatre Union of Armenia' awards for creation and directing. Gerald Papasian is the Founding Artistic Director of the Dikran Tchouhadjian Research Centre in Paris since 1997. He was the Artistic Director of the ATC-London from 1979-81 and the Artistic Director of the Ardavazd Theatre Company in Los Angeles from 1981-1985. He held the position of Artist-in-Residence and lecturer on Theatre at the University of La Verne from 1986-1991 and is currently guest lecturer at the University of Venice since 1990. His most recent achievements in the world of opera include: The restoration and editing of the original score of Dikran Tchouhadjian's opera 'Arshak II' (published in 26 volumes including full score, vocal score and separate instruments). The work had its World Premiere at the San Francisco Opera in September 2001 (see press acclaim). Directing a new production of the Opera 'Anoush' for the 2001-2002 season at the Michigan Opera Theatre (see press acclaim). Directing a new chamber opera 'L'Amazone' in May 2002 in Courbevoie -France. The production was criotically acclaimed by Opera International. Future projects include: Directing a new musical comedy 'Leblebidji' in France in collaboration with Didier Capeille, composer & music director. Directing the comedy, 'Taparnigos, Dentiste Pour Dames', in Paris and surrounding. Recent Credits 2002 L'Amazone (a contemporary Opera) Paris, France Director 2001 Anoush Michigan Opera Theatre, USA Director 2001 Arshak II San Francisco Opera, USA Dramaturg 2001 Les Fourberies de Scapin ChÁteau de Grignan, France Actor 2000 Taparnigos,Dentise Pour Dames Dejazet Theatre, Paris Director 2000 Le Tour Du Monde en 80 Jours ThÈÁtre Firmin GÈmier, Antony Actor Other Credits as Director Eric Westphal Armistice au Pont de Grenelle (Comedy) Guichet Montparnasse, Paris Ensemble Carpe Diem PortÈe d'Enfer (Chamber Opera) ThÈÁtre du Renard, Paris Labiche An Italian Straw Hat (Musical Comedy) Wilshire Ebell Theatre, Los Angeles Labiche Let's Kiss Folleville (Musical Comedy) Wilshire Ebell Theatre, Los Angeles Goldoni The Liar (Musical Comedy) Tchaikovsky Theatre, Cairo & on tour Baronian The Eastern Dentist (Musical Comedy) Wilshire Ebell theatre, Los Angeles & East Coast tour Osborne Look Back In Anger Hoossaper Theatre, Cairo Shakespeare Much Ado About Nothing Assistance League Playhouse, Los Angeles G.B.Shaw Arms & The Man Young Vic Theatre, London G.B.Shaw The Man of Destiny Wilshire Ebell Theatre, Los Angeles G.B.Shaw Caesar & Cleopatra Cairo Opera House, Egypt G.B.Shaw Man & Superman Tchaikovsky Theatre, Cairo Obaldia Breeze Among the Sassafras Wilshire Ebell Theatre, Los Angeles Sacha Guitry Let's Dream Ensemble Studio Theatre, Los Angeles Papasian/Armani Sojourn at Ararat Edinburgh Festival, U.K, France and World Tour Partial Credits as Actor Gogol Le Revisor ThÈÁtre Firmin GÈmier, Paris Shakespeare Winters' Tale L'EpÈe de bois, Paris Shakespeare idsummer Night's Dream L'Enfumeraie, Le Mans Shakespeare Love's Labours Lost L'EpÈe de bois, Paris Shakespeare Measure for Measure ThÈÁtre des Vignes, Paris Kafka The Trial (with Gerald Hiken) Pacific Theatre, Los Angeles Laruy Au Dela du Pont L'Enfumeraie, Le Mans Mastrosimone Nanawatai (with Bill Pulman) L.A. Theatre Ctr. Los Angeles Tchekov The Cherry Orchard Ensemble Studio Thre, Los Angeles Mariveau The Game of Love and Chance Mark Taper Too, Los Angeles Anouilh Thieves' Carnival Wallace Theatre AUC, Cairo Ionesco Hunger and Thirst Howard Theatre AUC, Cairo Feydeau A Flea in Her Ear Tchaikovsky Theatre, Cairo Film & TV Credits as Director Hayeren Khosink Armenian Language Instruction Video Course Director/Writer Last Station Feature Film - co-writer & (Theatre Sequences) Director Film & TV Credits as actor Nervous Ticks (Film) co-starring with Bill Pulman Wanted Dead of Alive (Film) co-starring with Rutger Hauer Last Station (Film) co-starring with Nora Armani Le C°ur Þ l'Ouvrage (Film) co-starring with Mathilde Seigner Seconde B (TV-France) Guest Star Appearance Cagney And Lacey (TV) Guest Star Appearance Hunter (TV) Guest Star Appearance McGuyver (TV) Guest Star Appearance Positions Held Founding Artistic Director- Dikran Tchouhadjian Research Centre-Paris since1998 Guest Lecurer in Theatre University of Venice-Eurasian Dept. since 1990 Artist in Residence University of La Verne-California 1985-1991 Lecturer in Theatre AAIC- University of La Verne 1985-1991 Artistic Director Ardavazd Theatre Company-Los Angeles 1981-1985 Artistic Director ATC- London 1979-1981 Publications Arshak II Full score (26 volumes) Satenig Tchaker Fund - Cairo- 2000 Arshak II Libretto- in English & Armenian San Francisco Opera-2001 Anoush Libretto-in English Wayne State University Press-1981 Hayeren Khosink Armenian Language Book University of Venice-1990 Sojourn at Ararat Poems of Armenia (in English) Publishers' Choice-1986 Education & Training MA in Directing State Fine and Dramatic Arts Institute - Armenia 1971-1976 Workshops &Training City Lit - London Theatre du Soleil - Paris Lee Strasberg - Los Angeles LATC Studio - Los Angeles Guy Freixe - Theatre du Fresne - Paris Grotowski - Ludwig Flasen - Paris Monica Pagneux - Movement - Paris Atelier International de l'Acteur - Paris Theatre de ComplicitÈ - Simon McBurney - London Personal Recommendations Dr. Kip (Clifford) Cranna San Francisco Opera Dr. David DiChiera Michigan Opera Theatre |