Bloomington, IN—The Indiana University Department of Theatre and Drama and the IU Auditorium have teamed up to present a very special event. From Tashkent, Uzbekistan, The Ilkhom Theatre of Mark Weil is visiting the Indiana University campus with a dynamic performance for the Bloomington and Indiana University communities. White White Black Stork, based on the stories by Abdulla Kadyri will perform on the stage of the IU Auditorium, Wednesday, April 23, at 8:00 p.m. This show will literally be onstage, including the audience in an intimate invigorating theatrical experience.

White White Black Stork, based on the novel by 19th-century Uzbek writer Abdulla Kadyri, tells the universal and tragic tale of love confronted by the prejudices of custom and law. Set in turn-of-the 20th century Uzbekistan, this beautiful, transgressive play centers on a young Muslim poet and dreamer. The boy falls in love with another boy, but submits to an arranged marriage to a girl who also has another love. Their wedding leads to despair, family quarrels, and untimely tragedy. Ilkhom Theatre, the only professional company in Uzbekistan operating independent of government support, is renowned for its boundary-pushing uncensored works. Its American debut of White White Black Stork offers a rare glimpse into Uzbek culture through a work that is haunting and deeply poetic.

White White Black Stork was directed by Mark Weil (1952-2007) who was the Founder (1976) and Artistic Director of The Ilkhom Theatre. Ilkhom Theatre was the first historical independent theatrical company in the USSR to reject state censorship and government subsidy. Weil’s work has been seen throughout the world in more than 22 international festivals in 18 countries, including Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ireland, Italy, Russia, France, Holland, Norway, Germany, Japan, and the United States. Due to increasing unrest in Uzbekistan, Weil moved his family to Seattle in the 1990s, though he maintained a residence in Tashkent, where he continued to work despite the ongoing threat to his well-being. This past September, Mr. Weil gave the ultimate sacrifice to his art. While leaving his apartment, two unidentified assailants fatally stabbed the dissident director. (For more information on this assault, please see the New York Times article “Mark Weil, Tashkent Theatre Director, Dies at 55,” from September 8, 2007.) The Stranger, a Seattle newspaper, wrote a poignant piece about Mark Weil and the theatre he continues to inspire. In this article assistant director Maxim Tumenev said of Mr. Weil, "'Genius is opening the door and letting talented people walk through.' Mark was a true genius—he invested a lot in all of us. He opened many doors, but he left the keys when he died." You can read the entire article at The Stranger’s website.

During their visit to Bloomington, Ilkhom company members also will work with students in the IU Department of Theatre & Drama, teaching master classes devoted to their unique style of performance.