First of Twelve World Exclusive Charity Black Tie Events ?Soiree with Angels? to be Held at Renowned International Artist Giorgio Tuscani?s L.A. Estate

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) September 21, 2011

Beginning at 7:30 PM, on Sunday, October 2, 2011, at the estate of Giorgio Tuscani in Studio City, CA, ?Soir?e with Angels? will feature internationally renowned artists Davood Roostaei and Giorgio Tuscani, who, together for the first time, will create a live art masterpiece to be auctioned for the benefit of Youth Service America and Kids in the Spotlight. These youth organizations are chosen because they not only provide help for the children, but teach them skills that will allow the children to be proactive in creating a better life for themselves. Youth Service America creates a positive environment to encourage and educate youth to become assets, partners and leaders in our communities. Kids in the Spotlight educates foster care children to create, write, cast and star in their own ten minute short film where a select few present ?Movies by Kids, for Kids? at an annual film festival. Each organization believes they help boosts a child?s confidence to learn new skills to become successful in life.

This exclusive LA charity black tie event will promote Serendipity Films, Inc. & Shahrzad Amirsadeghi?s causes of helping the children of the world have a better future and impress the world with the talents of Mr. Roostaei and Mr. Tuscani who will create live art masterpieces throughout the evening. Davood Roostaei is the creator of the revolutionary style of painting Crypto Realism that combines contemporary art, realism and abstract art techniques. Whether spanning the bridge between the Orient and the Occident or between the deeply rooted tensions of the images symbolizing Judaism, Islam and Christianity or even highlighting the passionate love of images of the Western world, Mr. Roostaei is a philanthropist and a champion for children and hospice causes. Giorgio Tuscani was already a published author, photographer, a prize winning poet and a highly collectable and sought after Neo-Renaissance international artist at a young age. Mr. Tuscani admits, ?Through my art, I can take the world to a place of romance, kindness and unconditional love.? This event will propel Mr. Tuscani to another level of his career so that his name will be spread amongst the masses and so that he may spread his messages of kindness and unconditional love.

Art collectors, community leaders and celebrities can expect to walk a uniquely elegant blue carpet, which brings the sky, Earth and angels together for a "Soir?e with Angels." Shahrzad Amirsadeghi, founder, says, ?Everything happens for a reason, and these two extraordinary individuals and everyone else involved with ?Soir?e with Angels? were brought together in so many odd and serendipitous ways that I cannot help but think it was truly meant to be. We were brought together to share with the world the true and unique work of two artists whose passions are to help others, especially children. With the chaotic state of our world today, we need every helping hand we can get, and hopefully our black tie charity event can be a small step in creating a better tomorrow for our children.?

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World Renowned Israeli Playwright, Motti Lerner, Breaks New Theological Ground with PAULUS

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) January 08, 2012

Silk Road Rising presents Motti Lerner?s new play Paulus, translated by Hillel Harkin, directed by Daniella Topol, and featuring: Joseph Anthony Foronda*, Adam Poss*, Diana Simonzadeh*, Brent Barnes, Lacy Katherine Campbell, Bryson Engelen, Justin James Farley, Christopher Meister, and Chris Popio.

Denotes member of Actors' Equity Association.

Silk Road Rising will be flying in playwright Lerner from Israel for the first-ever English language workshop of Paulus followed by three public staged readings.

ABOUT PAULUS

Silk Road Rising commissioned the translation of Paulus from Biblical Hebrew to English. Paulus explores Paulus of Tarsus, the founder of Christianity, and his vision to universalize monotheism in the face of strong opposition by the Jewish Establishment, the Jerusalem Church, and the Emperor Nero. This historical drama weaves through Paul's past and present, guided by his fears and inspirations, and dramatizes the role that Jesus played on Paul's psyche after Jesus' crucifixion. Written by one of Israel's leading playwrights, Paulus examines the struggle Paul faced to achieve his vision and the impact of that vision on the world.

WHEN: Friday, February 17th at 8pm; Saturday, February 18th at 8pm; Sunday, February 19th at 2pm.

WHERE: Pierce Hall at The Historic Chicago Temple Building, 77 West Washington St, Chicago

COST: Free and Open to the Public.

RESERVATIONS: We expect this reading to be completely sold out. To assure you have seats, please make reservations in advance. To reserve your tickets, please visit http://www.silkroadrising.org/.

The staged readings will be followed by a Q & A session with playwright Motti Lerner, director Daniella Topol, and Silk Road Rising Artistic Director Jamil Khoury.

For further information, visit http://www.silkroadrising.org/.

PLAYWRIGHT?S QUOTE

Most of Paulus' plot takes place in the small kingdom of Judea in the first century, yet Paul?s separation of Christianity from Judaism resonates throughout the word to this day. Paulus concerns all religions that offer believers a hope for a Messiah and a belief in Redemption. It is not a coincidence that Silk Road Rising is the first theatre in the world to explore this play in a workshop. The ideas that the play struggles with are shared by many of the artists working on it. I am very grateful for this opportunity to collaborate with Jamil and Malik and with director Daniella Topol. I?m excited to share my draft of Paulus with the Chicago audience and look forward to a dialogue with them. I'm sure it will be a great adventure for all of us!

EXCERPT FROM PAULUS

Jesus: I've been young and now I'm old, Paulus, and never have I seen a zealot do the world any good. Let the march to redemption be a slow one. Let it proceed at a snail's pace. Let's first prepare human hearts for it in this one small city of Jerusalem.

Paulus: I'm a zealot, Rabbi, because I love my fellow men. Because I hurt when they suffer. Because from the day you showed me the path to redemption, I can't keep silent. I'm commanded to tell the world how it can be saved. When you chose me, you said I could do it.

ABOUT PLAYWRIGHT MOTTI LERNER

Motti Lerner is a playwright and a screenwriter. Among his most notable works are Kastner, Pangs of the Messiah, Paula, and Pollard. He was born in Israel in 1949. Motti teaches playwriting at the Kibbutz College in Tel Aviv. Most of his plays and films deal with political issues. He is a recipient of the Meskin Award for the best play (1985), and the Israeli Motion Picture Academy award for the best TV drama in 1995 and in 2004. In 1994 he won the Prime Minister?s of Israel Award for his creative work. His plays have been produced in the US, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, South Africa and Australia.

ABOUT DIRECTOR DANIELLA TOPOL

Daniella Topol is a New-York based freelance theater director primarily focused on working with writers to develop and direct relevant, theatrical and adventuresome new plays and musicals. Daniella received her undergraduate degree in directing from Carnegie Mellon where she also received her Masters of Arts Management. She became the Associate Producing Director of City Theatre, where she directed plays while developing programming for the Lester Hamburg Studio Theatre and running the education and literary departments. Daniella was also the New Works Program Director at the National alliance for musical Theatre, and the Managing Director for Lark Play Development Center. She is currently a freelance director and lives in Brooklyn with her husband.

ABOUT SILK ROAD RISING

Silk Road Rising (formerly known as Silk Road Theatre Project) creates live theatre and online videos that tell stories through primarily Asian American and Middle Eastern American lenses. In representing communities that intersect and overlap we are advancing a polycultural worldview.

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