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Glendale: Bringing art to the stage

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  • Glendale: Bringing art to the stage

    Glendale News Press, CA
    June 30 2005

    Bringing art to the stage

    Glendale resident devoted to the arts volunteers her time to
    community theater group.

    By Ani Amirkhanian, News-Press and Leader

    Her living room is decorated with African, Indian and Moroccan
    artifacts and contemporary Armenian art adorning the walls of her
    home, nestled in the Adams Hill neighborhood.

    For Glendale resident Anahid Keshishian, art and culture have always
    been a significant part of her life.

    Keshishian has dedicated herself to philology, the humanistic study
    of language and literature that consists of history and the arts.

    "All the arts are a form of language," Keshishian, 50, said. "They
    are expression in a form -- expression of human thoughts and
    feelings."

    The Iranian-born Keshishian is also an Armenian Language and Studies
    professor at Glendale Community College and UCLA.

    "Anahid is beloved by her students," Jean Perry, Language Arts
    Division chair at Glendale College, said. "She is dynamic and brings
    in lots of culture to her classes."

    When she is not busy teaching, Keshishian enjoys volunteering her
    time and energy with her community-based theater company, Arena
    Productions.

    "I want to bring people together in the community through the arts,"
    Keshishian said.

    Keshishian founded the nonprofit Arena Productions three years ago
    after she felt the need to bring language and literature to the
    stage.

    Unlike most conventional theater groups, Arena Productions focuses on
    the original works of the members, most of whom are college students
    who write and stage their own plays, poems and short stories.

    They also stage theatrical renditions of translated Armenian poems
    and other internationally renowned works.

    "Literature, poems, etc., are all life," Keshishian said. "They deal
    with issues all related to life."

    Arena Productions recently published "Random Agenda," a collection of
    original poems, prose, expressions and short stories.

    Despite Keshishian's effort to combine creative talents, her group
    lacks funding and the much needed space for rehearsals.

    Members often meet at her home to rehearse, but require a larger area
    and needs funds for costumes and props.

    "We need to be given a space," Keshishian said.

    "We deserve so much. This is so rare, to have such talented and
    devoted people. Arena needs a home."

    Aside from the work with her theater group, Keshishian is also the
    founder of the then-Armenian Language and Arts School, which served
    the Glendale and Los Angeles communities for over 15 years.

    Keshishian's school offered writing, art and literature classes to
    children for a nominal fee, which she collected to pay the rent for
    the school facility.

    "When you bring people together through the arts, you see humanity
    come together," Keshishian said.
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