The Asian Arts and Culture Program opens their 2008-2009 season with a one-man theatrical performance based on best selling literary work, The Kite Runner. The script--a verbatim adaptation from Afghan-American author Khaled Hosseini's novel--will be performed by Indian-born and New York City-based actor Sorab Wadia. As he dramatically portrays the story of a boy from Kabul, haunted by the guilt of betraying his childhood friend, this gifted storyteller transports the audience through time starting with the fall of the Afghanistan monarchy, through the Soviet invasion and to the mass exodus of refugees to Pakistan and the United States.

Mr. Wadia recently garnered rave reviews for his performance of Hussein al-Mansour in Jihad: The Musical at the 2007 Edinburgh Fringe Festival and has a long list of New York City theater credits. Sorab has performed on television's 30 Rock and The Chappelle Show. His film credits include Suburban Girl and Hiding Divya. The audience will be treated to a post-performance question and answer period with the actor.

This Literature to Life representation of The Kite Runner is made by special arrangement with The American Place Theater. For over forty years The American Place has nurtured emerging talent in the dramatic arts and has produced the first plays of important authors such as Sam Shepard and the work of unusual contemporary actor/writers including Eric Bogosian and John Leguizamo. Actors for whom The American Place has been a launching pad include Ellen Barkin, Michael Douglas, Faye Dunaway, Morgan Freeman, Richard Gere, Joel Grey, Dustin Hoffman, Frank Langella, Ralph Waite, Sam Waterson, and Sigourney Weaver.

The Kite Runner is presented Tuesday, October 21 at 8pm in Bowker Auditorium, UMass, Amherst. For tickets call 545-2511 or 1-800-999-UMAS or go online to the Fine Arts Center ticketing website for this event.

Tickets are $15 general admission and $10 for Five College/GCC students and ages 17 and under.

It's the newest "hot spot" for jazz—join us at the Top of Campus Marriott Center to experience the power, intelligence and energy of alto saxophone master Dave Pietro. Kick back and enjoy the scene as Pietro weaves threads of Brazilian, East Indian, and American jazz music into a mesmerizing musical fabric based upon the Chakra system. Noted band members include Rez Abbasi, guitars and sitar; Gary Versace, keys; Johannes Weidenmeuller, bass; Adam Cruz, drums; and Todd Isler, percussion.

The Dave Pietro performance is the kickoff for the Jazz à la Mode series, which is being co-sponsored by the Fine Arts Center and WFCR 88.5 FM.

Pietro and his quintet perform on Friday, October 3 at 8pm. For tickets call 545-2511 or 1-800-999-UMAS or go online to the Fine Arts Center ticketing website for this event.

Tickets are $15 general admission, $7 for Five College/GCC students and Youth under 17.

With sash & trim, Djola Branner blends music and memory to piece together the story of a father he hardly knew. In this biographical tale of real and imagined events, we reconstruct that man's broken promises, troubled romances, and thwarted ambition&emdash;a father's dreams of success as a singer/songwriter sharply contrasted with the relationships that crumble around him. Djola Branner, co-founder of the critically acclaimed Pomo Afro Homos, weaves personal narrative and performance to create a collage of theater, dance, and music in this new work. sash & trim is in development with creative collaboration and support from seminal theater artist Laurie Carlos, an innovator of the American avant garde scene.

sash and trim will be presented on Wed., Sept. 25 - Fri., Sept. 26 at 8pm each night. Tickets are still available for the Friday night performance.

For tickets call 545-2511 or 1-800-999-UMAS or go online to the Fine Arts Center ticketing website for this event.

Tickets are $15 general admission, $5 for students, and $8 for Seniors and Low-Income.

"Miguel Zenón, whose combination of Afro-Caribbean and Latin American music is, in the foundation's words, "creating an entirely new jazz language for the 21st century," has received one of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation's "Genius Awards." It's a rare honor indeed for anyone to receive this prestigious grant. The recipient receives $500,000 ($100,000 per year for five years) with no strings attached.

Zenón played Bowker Auditorium in fall of 2007, during which time he was the Billy Taylor Artist in Residence at UMass. Congratulations to our former FAC performer!