【時報訊】「我有一個夢想」是60年代美國黑人民權運動領袖馬丁•路德 金恩博士一場極為著名演講的標題，這個夢想描述他對黑人與白人有一天能和平相處、平等共存而發出，經過民權鬥士民權組織的努力，美國終於在1964年通過「民權法案」，取消種族隔離和歧視法律。
時至今日，現代的美國人和年輕的一代，已然漸漸失去當年金恩博士對民權之堅持和理想。當移民和難民來到美國這片新大陸時，當年的歧視、不平等待遇，有如魔鬼陰影般再度浮現。1月18日是金恩博士紀念日，聖路易Gitana製作公司與正義和平協會聯合於1月30日晚間8時，在聖市城區Cardinal Ritta高中禮堂首演推出籌備半年餘，紀念金恩博士之舞臺劇 -----「生活夢想今日金恩博士之夢想(Living the Dream-MLK's Dream Today) 」，以現代舞蹈歌劇方式闡述金恩博士的夢想願望，如何融入現代美國社會多元族裔族群。
這場約1小時的表演邀請到本地區各級學校、大專院校同學參加演出。由聖路易大學戲劇教授Patton Chiles擔任導演和編劇。演員中並有兩位來自中國大陸、目前是聖路易大學二年級的同學郝昳雯(Yiwen Hao)及朱映臻(Tina zhu)。
郝昳雯來自北京，在聖路易大學主修國際貿易，朱映臻來自上海，主修財務金融。她們二位都有深厚的舞蹈根基與全團16位演員共同演出這場極具意義的舞臺劇。
「生活夢想」一劇完全不同以往紀念金恩博士之傳統戲劇演出，劇中沒有一句金恩博士的臺詞，但是全劇卻將金恩博士的族裔平等、追求和平、關懷鄰里、友愛同胞的夢想，一一以現代社會觀點演譯而出。劇中各戲目包括有家庭問題、兄弟姐妹問題、移民融入問題、學校班級問題等。在演員幽默對白、動感舞蹈和音樂襯托下，金恩博士是「我有一個夢想」的呼聲不斷自觀眾內心發出，成功的詮釋這個現代美國社會和族群應該有的「生活夢想」。
演出結束謝幕時，全場觀眾起立鼓掌，向這些年輕的演員同學致謝和致敬，他們真誠的演出為紀念金恩博士的夢想帶來了新境界。
「生活夢想─今日金恩博士之夢」將自2月1日至2月21日，止在聖路易地區巡迴演出，演出地點有聖路易市政府市政廳、公立圖書館、教會、學校、青少年教化所等機關單位，以喚起整個聖路易社區對新移民、難民和族裔融合、關懷友愛、鄰里和諧之重視。如果您所屬的社團、公司或單位有意邀請這個劇團演出，請洽Gitana製作公司，電話：314-721-6556. Gitana Production是一個非營利的文教組織，歡迎贊助和捐款支持。
"Living the Dream - MLK's Dream Today" at Cardinal Ritter High School January 30 produced by the Institute for Peace and Justice & Gitana Productions
The Institute for Peace and Justice (IPJ) and Gitana Productions, Inc. kicked off the Institute's 40th anniversary celebration with an original play "Living the Dream - MLK's Dream Today" on Saturday, January 30, 8 p.m. at Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School, 701 North Spring, St. Louis, Missouri.
The Institute for Peace and Justice is an independent, interfaith, not-for-profit organization that creates resources, provides learning experiences, and advocates publicly for alternatives to violence and injustice at the individual, family, community, institutional and global levels.
"Living the Dream" explores Martin Luther King's dream and what it means to a new generation of Americans and immigrants. The touring play features high school and college students from Gitana's Global Education Through the Arts Program, the Institute of Peace and Justice, St. Louis University, Fontbonne University and Community Health In Partnership Services.
Two of the cast members come from China and will act for the first time with Gitana. Yiwen Hua grew up in Beijing and loves to dance and sing. She came to the U.S.A because her parents wanted her to get a good education and be more independent. Yingzhen Zhu is from Shanghai and is studying finance with Yiwen at St. Louis University. Both young ladies are happy to share their culture with others and to learn more about Dr. Martin Luther King.
"Living the Dream" will be performed in honor of Jim McGinnis, the founder of IPJ, whose vision and charisma initiated this artistic look at the meaning of Martin Luther King's legacy today. McGinnis died suddenly this summer, and "Living the Dream" carries on his vision.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the IPJ's educational and advocacy work with at-risk youth, ex-offenders, the children of ex-offenders, and educators and church professionals in the St. Louis area and around the country. Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School is a co-sponsor of this event.
Gitana Productions is currently scheduled to perform LIVING THE DREAM at a number of locations including City Hall in St. Louis City, the St. Louis Public Library's Carpenter Branch, Christ Church Cathedral and the St. Louis Juvenile Detention Center. Gitana is booking performances of the original 45-minute play at local venues such as schools, churches and other organizations. Performances are available from February 1, 2010 through February 21, 2010. Donations and sponsorships are accepted. To book the play, contact Gitana Productions at (314-721-6556, or gitana@stlouis.missouri.org.
Gitana Productions, Inc. is a not-for-profit arts and education organization dedicated to increasing cross-cultural awareness and collaboration by bringing diverse forms of music, dance and drama to the St. Louis community. Gitana events present a rarely seen diversity of international and local artists exhibiting an array of traditional and innovative artistic expressions. For more information, visit www.gitana-inc.org or call Gitana Productions at (314) 721-6556.
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