‘Journey of Angels’ looks at story of woman who survived Armenian Genocide
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Mothers and daughters sign in a play with music called ‘A Journey of Angels,’ written by Brent Beerman at Crescenta Valley High School on Friday, November 9, 2018. The show, which is described as a “work in process,” was developed from the book ‘My Mother’s Voice,’ written by Kay Mouradian, a story about a family’s ordeal during the 1915 Armenian Genocide. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Displaced Armenians march in a play with music called ‘A Journey of Angels,’ written by Brent Beerman at Crescenta Valley High School on Friday, November 9, 2018. The show, which is described as a “work in process,” was developed from the book ‘My Mother’s Voice,’ written by Kay Mouradian, a story about a family’s ordeal during the 1915 Armenian Genocide. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Family horror strikes as daughters are taken by soldiers in a play with music called ‘A Journey of Angels,’ written by Brent Beerman at Crescenta Valley High School on Friday, November 9, 2018. The show, which is described as a “work in process,” was developed from the book ‘My Mother’s Voice,’ written by Kay Mouradian, a story about a family’s ordeal during the 1915 Armenian Genocide. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Show writer Brent Beerman introduces the show ‘A Journey of Angels,’ at Crescenta Valley High School on Friday, November 9, 2018. The show, which is described as a “work in process,” was developed from the book ‘My Mother’s Voice,’ written by Kay Mouradian, a story about a family’s ordeal during the 1915 Armenian Genocide. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Sarkis, played by Tyler Halaszynski, and Flora, played by Sarahbeth Zohrehvand, talk about their future in a play with music called ‘A Journey of Angels,’ written by Brent Beerman at Crescenta Valley High School on Friday, November 9, 2018. The show, which is described as a “work in process,” was developed from the book ‘My Mother’s Voice,’ written by Kay Mouradian, a story about a family’s ordeal during the 1915 Armenian Genocide. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Speaker Herag Menachian, the vice president of the Crescenta Valley High School Armenian Club, in a play with music called ‘A Journey of Angels,’ written by Brent Beerman at Crescenta Valley High School on Friday, November 9, 2018. The show, which is described as a “work in process,” was developed from the book ‘My Mother’s Voice,’ written by Kay Mouradian, a story about a family’s ordeal during the 1915 Armenian Genocide. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Composer Kathi Chaplar, talks about the music she created for the show including all of the influences that she used to write it for a play with music called ‘A Journey of Angels,’ written by Brent Beerman at Crescenta Valley High School on Friday, November 9, 2018. The show, which is described as a “work in process,” was developed from the book ‘My Mother’s Voice,’ written by Kay Mouradian, a story about a family’s ordeal during the 1915 Armenian Genocide. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Hagop, played by Lucas McNevin, is thrown to the ground after challenging Turkish soldiers in a play with music called ‘A Journey of Angels,’ written by Brent Beerman at Crescenta Valley High School on Friday, November 9, 2018. The show, which is described as a “work in process,” was developed from the book ‘My Mother’s Voice,’ written by Kay Mouradian, a story about a family’s ordeal during the 1915 Armenian Genocide. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Captain Khounshid, played by Nick Zamora, interrupts a wedding to announce orders that all Armenians will be displaced and moved in a play with music called ‘A Journey of Angels,’ written by Brent Beerman at Crescenta Valley High School on Friday, November 9, 2018. The show, which is described as a “work in process,” was developed from the book ‘My Mother’s Voice,’ written by Kay Mouradian, a story about a family’s ordeal during the 1915 Armenian Genocide. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Flora, played by Sarahbeth Zohrehvand, is fitted with a hat in a play with music called ‘A Journey of Angels,’ written by Brent Beerman at Crescenta Valley High School on Friday, November 9, 2018. The show, which is described as a “work in process,” was developed from the book ‘My Mother’s Voice,’ written by Kay Mouradian, a story about a family’s ordeal during the 1915 Armenian Genocide. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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A wedding in a play with music called ‘A Journey of Angels,’ written by Brent Beerman at Crescenta Valley High School on Friday, November 9, 2018. The show, which is described as a “work in process,” was developed from the book ‘My Mother’s Voice,’ written by Kay Mouradian, a story about a family’s ordeal during the 1915 Armenian Genocide. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Hagop, played by Lucas McNevin, gives his daughter Flora, played by Sarahbeth Zohrehvand, permission to travel to America for school in a play with music called ‘A Journey of Angels,’ written by Brent Beerman at Crescenta Valley High School on Friday, November 9, 2018. The show, which is described as a “work in process,” was developed from the book ‘My Mother’s Voice,’ written by Kay Mouradian, a story about a family’s ordeal during the 1915 Armenian Genocide. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Flora, played by Sarahbeth Zohrehvand, turns unhappy with her mother’s decision to prevent her from going to America for school in a play with music called ‘A Journey of Angels,’ written by Brent Beerman at Crescenta Valley High School on Friday, November 9, 2018. The show, which is described as a “work in process,” was developed from the book ‘My Mother’s Voice,’ written by Kay Mouradian, a story about a family’s ordeal during the 1915 Armenian Genocide. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Flora, played by Sarahbeth Zohrehvand, talks with her father Hagop, played by Lucas McNevin, playing backgammon with a friend in a play with music called ‘A Journey of Angels,’ written by Brent Beerman at Crescenta Valley High School on Friday, November 9, 2018. The show, which is described as a “work in process,” was developed from the book ‘My Mother’s Voice,’ written by Kay Mouradian, a story about a family’s ordeal during the 1915 Armenian Genocide. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Displaced Armenians march in a play with music called ‘A Journey of Angels,’ written by Brent Beerman at Crescenta Valley High School on Friday, November 9, 2018. The show, which is described as a “work in process,” was developed from the book ‘My Mother’s Voice,’ written by Kay Mouradian, a story about a family’s ordeal during the 1915 Armenian Genocide. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
By Mark Kellam
Selections from an original play with music titled “A Journey of Angels,” based on the book “My Mother’s Voice,” was presented earlier this month at Crescenta Valley High School.
The play is inspired by a memoir by Kay Mouradian about her mother’s survival of the Armenian Genocide.
Brent Beerman, a performing arts teacher at the school, wrote the play and directed the selections. He said the recent event was held to help raise funds for a full-scale production of the show in April.
The original music and lyrics were written by Kathi Chaplar.
The event also featured a behind-the-scenes look at the process of developing the project.
Twitter: @LAMarkKellam
Mark Kellam
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Mark Kellam was city editor of the Glendale News-Press and Burbank Leader. He joined Times Community News in July 2011 as the business-politics reporter and was promoted to city editor in January 2013. Previously, he was an editor at the Los Angeles Daily News and managing editor at Champion Newspapers in Chino, Calif. Prior to that, he was an editor at Amos Suburban Newspapers in Dayton, Ohio, for several years. Kellam holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Indiana University.