Consulate General, Edinburgh
E-Newsletter July 2007
http://london.usembassy.gov/scotland
We want to keep you updated on events that affect Americans across the world and to notify you of events of interest in Scotland. Feel free to forward this e-mail to friends or co-workers.
Edinburgh Festival Edition - Americans at the Festivals
Festival festival festival! Jazz and Blues, Books, Military Tattoo, Arts, Fringe, EIF, Film….the list goes on. There's something for everyone and there are plenty of Americans showcasing their talents here. To see all of the festivals and the events on offer, please visit www.edinburgh-festivals.com/. This site has links to each festival's own website, where you can get information and purchase tickets.
Lynn Manning "Weights: One Blind Man's Journey"
Special event sponsored by the U.S. Department of State
Lynn Manning was shot and blinded in a Hollywood bar at the age of 23. He tells his remarkable life story through music, drama, and poetry. http://www.edfringe.com/shows/detail.php?action=shows&id=5862
"Powerful" Time Out
"Mesmerizing" Hollywood Reporter
American Acts at the Assembly Theatre
www.assemblyfestival.com/
Assembly presents 2005 Fringe First winner
Kahlil Ashanti in "Basic Training"
George Street - Edinburgh Suite
7:40 pm August 2 - 27 (not 6, 13, 20)
Kahlil Ashanti's autobiographical one-man show, Basic Training, chronicles his enlistment in the U.S. Air Force as a member of the elite entertainment troupe Tops In Blue. Taking us on a journey of his time on tour as a comedian, actor, dancer and soldier, a life-altering event forces his attention home to face the childhood he was trying so hard to forget. Twenty-three unforgettable characters guide you through this hilarious true tale of survival and redemption, all experienced through Ashanti's rapid fire talent.
"… a mind-boggling combination of showbiz chops and military discipline…a surge of energy delivered by the most talented performer to hit the fringe circuit in years…" Montreal Gazette.
Assembly & Aquila Theatre Company presents
"Romeo & Juliet"
George Street - Music Hall
2:15 pm August 7 - 27 (not 13, 20)
A stylistic, sparkling adaptation of one of the most powerful and enduring love stories ever told. Adopting a bold and brave conceit, the company invites the audience, and the hand of fate, to decide which cast member will perform which role. A daring and dramatic artistic decision which stretches this astonishing ensemble and has intrigued, enchanted - and occasionally outraged - audiences on their recent U.S. tour.
"There are few who can mount productions with the iconoclastic and high-voltage energy of the Aquila Theatre Company and still win praises from critics and scholars alike." The New York Times
"..mix remarkable range with insane energy." New Yorker
"It's a gutsy trick and brilliantly pulled off." Time Out New York (Comedy of Errors)
"Boundless energy seems to be the hallmark of the entirely stellar cast." Backstage
Assembly & Marshall Cordell presents
"Emergence-See!"
Written and Performed by Daniel Beaty
St. George's West Sanctuary
6:45 pm August 3 - 27 (not 6, 13)
2006: a slave ship rises out of the Hudson River in front of the Statue of Liberty sending New York into a frenzy. An explosive new play where rhythm, rhyme, and remembrance rise, Beaty assumes 40 diverse personalities as they collide in an intricately woven exploration of our shared humanity and what it means to be FREE.
"A dazzling 90 minutes full of memorable moments…intense, hilarious." The New York Times
"Brilliant, spellbinding performance." Amsterdam News
Awards won by "Emergence-See" include the 2007 Obie Award for Outstanding Writing and Performance, 2006 Ovation Award, 2006 Acclaim Award, and 2006 Everyday Freedom Hero Awards.
U.S Authors at Edinburgh International Book Festival
From admired and respected novelists to political commentators, American authors participating in the Book Fest this year include: Edmund White, Joyce Carol Oates, David Flusfeder, Tina Cassidy, Thomas Legendre, Julian West, James Sheehan, Richard Ford, Sarah Chayes, Laura Kipnis, Amy Bloom, Sunny Jacobs, D. T. Max, Valerie Martin, Ann Patchett, Nathan Englander, and William Gibson. Summaries of the authors' presentations are provided in the attached word document. Tickets are available at www.edinburgh.org/events/edinburgh_book_festival.
Edinburgh International Book Festival Highlights-
USA
[pdf]
American Artists at EIF and Jazz Festival
There are too many artists to mention here, but a few of the highlights include: American soprano Christine Brewer at Queen's Hall on Aug. 28, Melba Joyce from July 27 - 29, Benny Golson, Dr. Lonnie Smith, and The Happy Apple. You may also want to catch the European premiere of the American Repertory Theatre's "Orpheus" from Aug. 25 - 29 at the Lyceum.
Edinburgh-Info@state.gov.
| 
