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EVENT CANCELLED - VISA DENIED HUN LAKORN LEK PUPPET THEATRE TROUPE OF THAILAND |
| Los Angeles,
16 September 2005—The World Festival of Sacred Music-Los Angeles announces
that the acclaimed HUN LAKORN LEK PUPPET THEATRE TROUPE OF THAILAND has
cancelled its concert appearance in the United States. Despite the support
and efforts of the Festival partners in USA and Thailand, the troupe was not
granted visas for travel to the United States. The ensemble was one of seven scheduled to perform at the Sacred World Benefit Concert, held from 5-9 pm on September 17 at the UCLA Sunset Canyon Recreation Center. The Thai Buddhist Temple in North Hollywood (Wat Thai) has announced that it will cancel their September 18th event. Visa problems also affected the World Festival of Sacred Music in 2002. Festival Director Judy Mitoma regrets that the world political situation threatens cultural exchange programs such as the Festival and said, “After years of preparation by both our host organizations and this wonderful Thai company, everyone is deeply disappointed that they were not issued visas. Even Thai Airlines had donated tickets for this company. The irony is that cultural exchanges of this kind are precisely the antidote to violence, racism, and aggression. It is a pity that our Homeland Security is unable to understand the difference between cultural exchange and the war on terror.” |
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Set outdoors in the golden light of the courtyard of the spectacular Temple, this family afternoon of sights, sounds, and tastes from Thailand also includes classical dance and music from the temple’s music and dance troupes led by Kungwan Kurdpon. Presented by The Wat Thai Temple of Los Angeles in collaboration with Thai International Airways and the Royal Thai Consulate. |
| Date: Sunday, September 18, 2005 Time: 4:00 PM Venue: Wat Thai of Los Angeles (Outdoor Event) Address: 12909 Cantara Street, North Hollywood, CA 91605 Ticket price(s): free |
The magnificent Wat Thai of Los Angeles—the largest Thai Theravada Buddhist Temple in the United States—sets the stage for the ancient and masterful artistry of Hun Lakorn Lek (Traditional Thai Small Puppet Theatre). In an afternoon of deep immersion in Thai culture, artistic director Sakorn Yangkhiawsod ("Joe Louis"), consecrated by the Thai Royal Family as National Artist in Performance Art, leads the only troupe in Thailand that performs this intricate and elegant art form. The puppeteers are classically-trained Khon (Thai mask play) dancers who work together in perfect unison on stage to produce the incredibly lifelike human movements and personality of each puppet. Interacting with the audience during the performance, the puppeteers showcase the dexterity of the ornately decorated puppets as they enact scenes from the Thai/Indian Epic Ramakien.