NYS WRITERS INSTITUTE
HOME PAGE

THREE CUPS OF TEA

STAGED ADAPTATION OF THE BESTSELLING BOOK, “THREE CUPS OF TEA,” TO BE PERFORMED

NYS Writers Institute, March 18, 2010
7:30 p.m. Performance | Recital Hall, Performing Arts Center

CALENDAR LISTING:
A new stage adaptation of the bestselling book, “Three Cups of Tea” (2006),will be performed at 7:30 p.m. [NOTE EARLY START TIME], Thursday, March 18, 2010 in the Recital Hall of the Performing Arts Center on the University at Albany’s uptown campus. A production of American Place Theatre, a performance-based literacy program, the event is sponsored by UAlbany’s Performing Arts Center and the New York State Writers Institute. The performance will be complemented by a discussion with a teaching artist from American Place Theatre prior to the show at 7 p.m. and again after the show. Admission is $15 general public; $12 seniors & faculty/staff; $10 students. For tickets contact the Performing Arts Center Box Office: (518) 442-3997; [email protected].

PROFILE
“Three Cups of Tea” is an adaptation for the stage based on the uplifting true story of renowned humanitarian Greg Mortenson who, following a failed 1993 attempt to scale Pakistan’s K2 (the world’s second highest mountain), went on to found girls’ schools throughout mountainous regions in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The show is directed by Wynn Handman, American Place Theatre’s Artistic Director, and performed by Curtis Nielsen. 

Cowritten by Mortenson and David Oliver Relin, the book “Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Fight Terrorism and Build Nations . . . One School at a Time” (2006), became an immediate international bestseller. The book unfolds as a series of unpredictable adventures as Mortenson documents his ambitious attempts to alleviate global problems—including poverty, public health, undemocratic regimes, violence and war— by the simple, local act of building village schools for girls. Hazards encountered along the way have included death-warrants issued by Islamic clerics, an eight day kidnapping by armed militants in Waziristan, and frequent clashes between drug lords over the opium trade.

In advance praise, Tom Brokaw said, “‘Three Cups of Tea’ is one of the most remarkable adventure stories of our time. Greg Mortenson’s dangerous and difficult quest… is not only a thrilling read, it’s proof that one ordinary person, with the right combination of character and determination, really can change the world.”

The initial modest efforts described by Mortenson in his book have culminated in the founding of the Central Asia Institute. As of 2009, the Institute has succeeded in building 130 schools, serving an estimated 51,000 students.

The one-man play is a production of American Place Theatre’s “Literature to Life” series, a literacy program that presents professionally staged adaptations of American literary works. Previous works staged at UAlbany by American Place Theatre have included Frank McCourt’s “Teacher Man,” Sue Monk Kidd’s “The Secret Life of Bees” and Sherman Alexie’s “Flight.”

The play is presented by the Performing Arts Center in conjunction with the New York State Writers Institute. Support is provided by University Auxiliary services and Holiday Inn Express.