Sr. Filipino Writer receives theatre grant (Aug07)

2007 has been a banner year for playwright, theatre critic and American Theatre's senior editor Randy Gener. He has been selected as one of 12 playwrights in residency at LaMaMa Umbria International in Italy in the month of August.

This past June, Gener was conferred the Arts & Culture Award in the 10th annual Filipinas Magazine Achievement Awards, honoring Filipino Americans who have excelled or have gained national prominence in their respective fields of endeavor.

The Ford Foundation and the Institute of International Education have awarded Randy Gener a research and travel grant to pursue research and present lectures at several international arts and cultural festivals in Europe, including the Sibiu International Theatre Festival in Sibiu, Romania (2007 European Capital of Culture) and 2007 Prague Quadrennial for World Scenography in the Czech Republic.

ABOUT FILIPINAS MAGAZINE AWARDS
The San Francisco-based annual Filipinas Magazine Awards are considered the most prestigious recognition of professional excellence, outstanding leadership and public service in the Filipino American community. This year's ceremony, which took place June 3 at the South San Francisco Convention Center, recognized the accomplishments of 12 outstanding men and women ˆ advocates, role models, and movers and shakers in the Filipino-American community ˆ who have made significant contributions in arts and culture, communication, community service, corporate leadership, entertainment, business trailblazing, lifetime achievement, health care, public affairs, science and research and youth leadership.

ABOUT LAMAMA UMBRIA INTERNATIONAL
La MaMa Umbria is a nonprofit cultural center founded by La MaMa ETC Artistic Director Ellen Stewart in 1990. Dedicated to the creation of activities which foster cultural exchange and international understanding, the center provides the opportunity for culturally diverse artists to live together while working on productions or participating in workshops and to develop their artistic skills immersed in a creative, natural environment. In the past eleven years, the Center's activities have included the presentation of over thirty theatre productions as well as workshops, art exhibitions, and conferences.

Ellen Stewart is the Founder and Director of the La MaMa E.T.C., the theatre that began in October 1961, and to this day continues to be of great importance to world culture.

LaMaMa Umbria playwrights will enjoy living and writing in the Umbrian countryside at LaMaMa Umbria International, Ellen Stewart's artist residence in Italy. During their stay, participants will have ample time to work on new or existing material. Each day, playwrights will engage in discussions, workshops and exercises designed to help the writer with whatever challenges they are facing. Group readings are also possible and feedback if requested by the playwright. Much time is reserved for writing and quiet reflection in the tranquil surroundings.

Participants reside at La MaMa Umbria, a 700 year-old convent that has been transformed into a work center and residence for artists. It is located in the Umbrian hillside just outside the town of Spoleto, less than 2 hours from Rome.

ABOUT THE FORD FOUNDATION GRANT
Gener's multimedia lecture, titled "Storytelling By Digital Design: How New Technology Transforms the Way We Create Plays," examines, investigates and explores the potentialities and possibilities of narrative in the latest American and French-Canadian productions that are deeply involved new technology and new media. This talk theorizes the possibilities of a "digital theatre" or "cyborg drama" in which the borders disappear between live performance, scenography, cinema, video, theatre, dance, poetry, light, music, sound and digital art.

Born and raised in Manila, Gener is a New York-based writer, critic, playwright and editor. He is the author of the plays Love Seats for Virginia Woolf,‚ What Remains of a Rembrandt Torn into Four Pieces‚ and other theatrical works. His nonfiction writing and criticism have appeared in The New York Times, The International Herald Tribune, The Star Ledger, The Village Voice, The Daily News, Time Out New York, New York, Gay & Lesbian Review, Gannett Newspapers, Norwegian Shakespeare and Theatre Magazine, Korean Theatre Journal and other major publications. He is a major contributor to the forthcoming encyclopedia, Cambridge Guide to the American Theater (Cambridge University Press, 2008).‚ Gener is the senior editor of American Theatre‚ a monthly magazine published by Theatre Communications Group (www.tcg.org).

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	Randy Gener Selected For Playwright Residency At Lamama Umbria International In Italy; Bestowed 2007 Arts & Culture Award From Filipinas Magazine; Receives Ford Foundation International Grant 2007 has been a banner year for playwright, theatre critic and American Theatre's senior editor Randy Gener. He has been selected as one of 12 playwrights in residency at LaMaMa Umbria International in Italy in the month of August. This past June, Gener was conferred the Arts & Culture Award in the 10th annual Filipinas Magazine Achievement Awards, honoring Filipino Americans who have excelled or have gained national prominence in their respective fields of endeavor. The Ford Foundation and the Institute of International Education have awarded Randy Gener a research and travel grant to pursue research and present lectures at several international arts and cultural festivals in Europe, including the Sibiu International Theatre Festival in Sibiu, Romania (2007 European Capital of Culture) and 2007 Prague Quadrennial for World Scenography in the Czech Republic. To read Filipinas Magazine's cover story about Randy Gener, please visit http://www.filipinasmag.com/free_2007Gener.html ABOUT FILIPINAS MAGAZINE AWARDS The San Francisco-based annual Filipinas Magazine Awards are considered the most prestigious recognition of professional excellence, outstanding leadership and public service in the Filipino American community. This year's ceremony, which took place June 3 at the South San Francisco Convention Center, recognized the accomplishments of 12 outstanding men and women ˆ advocates, role models, and movers and shakers in the Filipino-American community ˆ who have made significant contributions in arts and culture, communication, community service, corporate leadership, entertainment, business trailblazing, lifetime achievement, health care, public affairs, science and research and youth leadership. ABOUT LAMAMA UMBRIA INTERNATIONAL La MaMa Umbria is a nonprofit cultural center founded by La MaMa ETC Artistic Director Ellen Stewart in 1990. Dedicated to the creation of activities which foster cultural exchange and international understanding, the center provides the opportunity for culturally diverse artists to live together while working on productions or participating in workshops and to develop their artistic skills immersed in a creative, natural environment. In the past eleven years, the Center's activities have included the presentation of over thirty theatre productions as well as workshops, art exhibitions, and conferences. Ellen Stewart is the Founder and Director of the La MaMa E.T.C., the theatre that began in October 1961, and to this day continues to be of great importance to world culture. LaMaMa Umbria playwrights will enjoy living and writing in the Umbrian countryside at LaMaMa Umbria International, Ellen Stewart's artist residence in Italy. During their stay, participants will have ample time to work on new or existing material. Each day, playwrights will engage in discussions, workshops and exercises designed to help the writer with whatever challenges they are facing. Group readings are also possible and feedback if requested by the playwright. Much time is reserved for writing and quiet reflection in the tranquil surroundings. Participants reside at La MaMa Umbria, a 700 year-old convent that has been transformed into a work center and residence for artists. It is located in the Umbrian hillside just outside the town of Spoleto, less than 2 hours from Rome. ABOUT THE FORD FOUNDATION GRANT Gener's multimedia lecture, titled "Storytelling By Digital Design: How New Technology Transforms the Way We Create Plays," examines, investigates and explores the potentialities and possibilities of narrative in the latest American and French-Canadian productions that are deeply involved new technology and new media. This talk theorizes the possibilities of a "digital theatre" or "cyborg drama" in which the borders disappear between live performance, scenography, cinema, video, theatre, dance, poetry, light, music, sound and digital art. Born and raised in Manila, Gener is a New York-based writer, critic, playwright and editor. He is the author of the plays Love Seats for Virginia Woolf,‚ What Remains of a Rembrandt Torn into Four Pieces‚ and other theatrical works. His nonfiction writing and criticism have appeared in The New York Times, The International Herald Tribune, The Star Ledger, The Village Voice, The Daily News, Time Out New York, New York, Gay & Lesbian Review, Gannett Newspapers, Norwegian Shakespeare and Theatre Magazine, Korean Theatre Journal and other major publications. He is a major contributor to the forthcoming encyclopedia, Cambridge Guide to the American Theater (Cambridge University Press, 2008).‚ Gener is the senior editor of American Theatre‚ a monthly magazine published by Theatre Communications Group (www.tcg.org). Home \| News \| Calendar \| Directory \| Library \| Plays Copyright 2007, Roger W. Tang Questions? Email

Randy Gener Selected For Playwright Residency At Lamama Umbria International In Italy; Bestowed 2007 Arts & Culture Award From Filipinas Magazine; Receives Ford Foundation International Grant