NY for NY: Broadway in Yerevan

By Paul Chaderjian
May 25, 2002

Yerevan, Armenia - Unprecedented, unexpected and unbelievable were a few of the words used to describe last weekend's Nune Yesayan musical stage production called "NY for NY - Armenia for America."

Locals and tourists alike were amazed at the caliber and high quality of the show that involved more than five hundred actors, dancers, musicians, singers and crew members.

The overwhelming enormity of the Broadway-like musical and the talent showcased in this grand stage production left the six thousand who attended the show in disbelief.

Many, including the Republic's first foreign Minister Raffi Hovanissian, were surprised that the local art community could envision and effortlessly execute such a grand, professional and entertaining theatrical production. Hovanissian reacted by simply saying it was "unprecedented."

"The production we created was like a living movie for us," said Hrand Vardanyan, the director of the show. "We created a city, and we showed our audience what people in all cities do. Through dance, music, acting and Nune's repertoire, our audience saw the people of the city working, enjoying life. There was a courtship, a wedding. There were parties and entertainers. But then, just as in New York City last September and in 1988 in Armenia, there was tragedy, which was followed by heroism and peace."



Vardanyan, who has directed several of Nune's music videos, envisioned a dream so vivid, that he was able to have a crew of talented craftsmen and lighting experts externalize his vision vividly. The stage was made up of a brilliantly designed set that featured four different levels, a drawbridge, torches, city gates and a brilliant spectrum of color. Adding to the magic of the set was a jubilant lighting design that used every single stage light available within miles of Yerevan. To add even more visual intensity, costumers dressed Nune and her fellow actors and dancers in the most vibrant colors and coordinated them so effectively that one attendee said the show was visually gratifying that it was 'eye candy.'

On stage and behind the scenes were 486 talented professionals -- an epic cast for a fledgling nation whose people need both employment opportunities and emotional strength. The two sold-out shows, plus the by-invitation-only performance for the families and friends of the cast members, provided both a chance for artists to work and earn a living and a breath of fresh air for audiences.

The nearly 500 people involved were able to have three months of work, and the six thousand residents and tourists, who attended the shows at the Hamalir Sports and Entertainment, enjoyed a night of music and dance.

Nune and the U.S. Embassy announced the event on the sixth month anniversary of the September 11th attacks against the World Trade Center and Pentagon. The show was dedicated to the victims of the attacks and scheduled to coincide with the 2002 Armenia-Diaspora Conference.

"This joint Armenian effort from all over the world, sympathizing with the US, I think, is very telling that Armenian people can be very appreciative what others have done for Armenians throughout history," said the Republic of Armenia's Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian.

Nune said that the two thousand delegates attending the Diaspora Conference were key in carrying her message of global unity and solidarity back to their diasporan communities around the world. "I wanted to send a message to New York that we Armenians know what it's like to lose thousands of our loved ones," said Nune.

"Armenians have suffered similar pains, different in nature, of course, but that's why we can relate much easier to the Armenian people," said Oskanian, "and that's what exactly happened after September 11."

The popular entertainer said when her shock of the September 11th attacks eased, she, like her character in the production, decided to do something about it. Her character takes up the sword and leads her people to battle. Nune, in real life, decided to use her voice as her weapon against terrorism and suffering.

"I think there's a tremendous connection between Armenia and the US and Armenians and Americans," said U.S. Ambassador John Ordway, who was also surprised by the quality of the production. "The events of September 11th have had a major heartfelt impact on Armenia. And Nune herself is symbolic of the connection between the US and Armenia. She does concerts in the US, and she does concerts here, and she brings together traditional Armenian melodies and folk themes that are very modern."

The fresh combination of old and new, of East and West were all part of the grand Las Vegas style production. While one group of dancers were externalizing the war for peace using mechanical and abrupt mannerism and steps, the choreography of the Armenian dancers, showed a reserved calm of a people that have been through the trial and tribulations, wars and peace of a four thousand year old people.

"The story in the musical begins when the enemy attacks our fictional city. A simple, normal woman has to stand up and protect her country," said Nune. "Armenian women have always stood by their men, taken up arms and help preserve our culture, and that's what my character does in the show."

The enormity of the program, its concept and the fact that it was dedicated to a people across the ocean, garnered much media attention in Armenia and around the globe. Armenia TV, the local CNN affiliate, launched a massive media campaign to tell Armenians about the program. The station featured interviews with actors, reported on rehearsals and also filed a report for CNN International. 

In addition to CNN, Mir TV, which broadcasts across all the Commonwealth of Independent States, reported about the show. Associated Press TV also made available to its 200 affiliates around the globe a story about this unique and "unprecedented" program.