By Nick Stamatakis
Pre-Sale of tickets for the show “Hellas! All Around Is Light!” celebrating many historical events in the last 200 years of Greek history, which will take place on Saturday, March 23, 2024 at the Kings Theater in downtown Brooklyn, will start tomorrow directly from the Theater’s Box Office. Tickets ranges: 75, 100, 150, 200, 250. (HERE IS THE LINK TO ORDER TICKETS).
The event is organized by the newly formed “Know Thyself Initiative”, a non-profit organization aiming to become a cultural forum for Hellenes and Philhellenes (please link here to see our recent announcement and introduction). This first production is planned to be an annual event, enriched and adjusted yearly, to be held around the Greek Independence Day every March. It is oriented toward the younger generations of Greek Americans as an educational and cultural institution.
The quality of the top performers you see in our poster guarantees the artistic success of the show: Maria Farantouri, Sophia Papazoglou, Vassilis Lekkas, and Kostas Ageris. The presentation is in the hands of Mimi Denisi, who recently produced the acclaimed film “Smyrna My Beloved”. Mimi is accompanied by Ioannis Melissanidis, an Olympic Champion and artistic talent, and Greek-American actress and producer (among many other things) Katerina Moutsatsou.
Production for the whole show is planned and executed by Andreas Katsigiannis, an excellent producer in Greece. At the same time, Estoudiantina of Neas Ionias, a unique orchestra, provides the music with musical themes stemming from our “lost homelands” of Asia Minor.
The show is under the auspices of the “Know Thyself Initiative”, whose main organizing force, Kostas Kantzogou, has almost five decades of experience in musical productions. Theodore Pavlakos, the past president of the Panlaconian Federation of the U.S. and Canada and a very energetic community member, while Helleniscope, supports the effort.
As you can tell from the list of participants, this first production, while traveling through the many stages of modern Greek history (Greek Revolution of 1821 – Massacre of Chios – 1922 Pontian and Hellenic Genocides – OXI Day of 1940 and 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus), has a special focus on Asia Minor and Pontos. In the days and weeks to come, we plan to give all of you (and I know that many Greek American families originate in Asia Minor and Pontos) small tastes of the whole program…
Our second event is already in the works as we prepare for this first: “2,500 years of Greek Music!!” based on fascinating archaeological research and oriented towards a wider audience. It would be exciting and entertaining to listen to ancient Greek music brought to light by newly discovered scores and some instruments!!
Finally, yours truly has his heart given to our third event, “Manos Hadjidakis’s Seven Years in New York: 1965-72”. Using Helleniscope’s search function, you will see that our great composer wrote his best music in New York: “Gioconda’s Smile” Produced by Quincy Jones!!) and “Reflections” with the New York Rock and Roll Ensemble…
Helleniscope is calling all of you to visit the website www.knowthyselfinitiative.com and submit your email for further news. And we call on all of you to order your tickets early! (HERE IS THE LINK TO ORDER TICKETS).
BELOW THE “MARCH OF SMYRNA” BY ESTOUDIANTINA NEAS IONIAS!! ENJOY (although I know some of you will be crying!!)
