PRESS RELEASE

Kosovo Media Contact:Lindsey Goossens,lindsey.goossens@cbmitrovica.org, 065-6022134Houston Media Contact:Tamarie Cooper,tamarie.cooper@catastrophictheatre.com, (713)522-2723

“Justice is horrible.”- Friedrich Dürrenmatt Catastrophic Theatre, Blackbird Books, Art & Mediaand the Mitrovica Culture Center present A collaboration between two dozen Kosovo and Texas ArtistsSupported by the Swiss Cultural Programme in the Western BalkansFive Performances OnlyIn Mitrovica, July 24, 25 and 26, at the Mitrovica Culture CenterIn Pristina July 31 and August 1, at Oda TheaterGo tohttp://the-visit-mitrovica.blogspot.com/for more details.

THE PLAYDürrenmatt’s “The Visit of the Old Lady” is a classic of modern theaterwhose themes of bitterness, corruption, justice and democracy remainas relevant today as they were when the play was written in 1956. Atragic-comedy of epic proportions, “The Visit of the Old Lady” tells thestory of the citizens of a ruined European town, a broken hero and anelderly woman who has returned home in a quest for vengeance.THE PRODUCTION“Theater is a test of whether or not democracy can function.”- Friedrich Dürrenmatt “The Visit of the Old Lady” is a co-production of Catastrophic Theatre(Houston, Texas), local Mitrovica NGOs and two dozen artists fromMitrovica and the wider region. With the generous support of the SwissCultural Programme in the Western Balkans, our production seeks tocombine the skills of experienced theater professionals, youngbeginners and artists of various disciplines, including painters,musicians and photographers.“The Visit of the Old Lady” features Çamëri Ceraja as ClaireZachanasian and Fajk Miftari as Alfred

ll. The cast includes Bekri Arifi,Teuta Bajrami, Kimete Berisha, Lenart Gara, Liridona Gashi, LulzimHakaj, Destan Hoti, Suzana Hoti, Irma Ibrahimi, Urim Kadriu, Murat Kajtazi, Besnik Salihu, Bedri Selmani, Kastriot Ujkani and Sadik Xani.Scenic design is by Tafil Peci and costume design is by Agron Brahimi.Prop design is by Lindsey Goosens and foley artist Lenart Garacontributes sound.Director Anthony Barilla is a composer, musician and theater artist best known for his work with Infernal Bridegroom Productions, aHouston-based theater company widely respected for their challengingensemble work. Between 1998 and 2007 he worked on 35 IBPproductions, including the world premieres of works by Brian Jucha,Tamarie Cooper, Lisa D’Amour, Jason Nodler and Suzan-Lori Parks. In2003, he was named IBP’s artistic director. During his tenure, Mr.Barilla was responsible for, among many other things, the development and musical direction of

Speeding Motorcycle

, a rock opera based onthe songs of Daniel Johnston that went on to receive national attentionand critical acclaim

He has composed scores for theater companiesin Houston, Atlanta, Austin and Pittsburgh as well as for Public RadioInternational's

This American Life.

He was recently awarded aresidency at the MacDowell Artist Colony and is sharing a 2009 MAP

fund grant to develop a new rock opera for the stage. He is directing“The Visit of the Old Lady” with help from assistant director, a veteranTexas actress.THE DOCUMENTARY FILMBesnik Hasanaj is a photographer and filmmaker living and working inMitrovica, Kosovo. With the support of the Swiss Cultural Programmein the Western Balkans, he is creating a film documenting the creationof “The Visit of the Old Woman,” to be shown in Mitrovica and Houston,Texas in the Fall of 2009.As a teenager, Mr. Hasanaj was awarded several nationalvideographer awards. Between 1995 and 1999 he worked as avideographer in Germany. In 1999 he returned to Kosovo and foundemployment as a freelance photographer and video maker. Since that time he has had five personal photo exhibitions in Mitrovica, and hasparticipated in more than ten collective exhibitions. He hasphotographed for every newspaper in Kosovo as well as “M Magazine,”a local publication, and his photos have also appeared in internationalpublications. In 2006, he completed the Film Documentary Master’scourse with the Kosovo Institution for Journalism and Communication.He has also fulfilled his certification with the Reuter’s Foundation andNorth Photo Agency in Hungary. He continues to work as a freelancephotographer and cameraman. In April he opened his first internationalphoto exhibition in Korq, Albania.

THE CATASTROPHIC THEATREThe Catastrophic Theatre is an ensemble-based theatre companydedicated to creating a meaningful exchange between artists andaudiences through the creation and performance of new work of allsorts. The Catastrophic Theatre was founded in 2007 by veterantheatre artists Jason Nodler and Tamarie Cooper.THE SWISS CULTURAL PROGRAMME IN THE WESTERN BALKANSThe Swiss Cultural Programme in the Western Balkans is run by ProHelvetia, the Swiss Arts Council, upon Mandate of the Swiss Agency forDevelopment and Cooperation SDC.The overall goal of the Swiss Cultural Programme in the WesternBalkans is to contribute to the promotion of democracy and freedom of expression, to conflict resolution and the respect of minorities. It