This event will consist of original performances by Graduate Playwriting Students and Faculty at ASU related to the values expressed in the Declaration of Independence.
 

Organized in partnership with the School of Music, Dance and Theatre.

 

Performance Descriptions

 

A Living Newspaper

Written by Idris Goodwin

 

This event is a dramatic reading of excerpts from the historical novel Citizen Tom Paine including a spoken Introduction and spoken Conclusion to inform the audience of who Tom Paine was, how his pamphlet Common Sense was received, and how it foreshadowed the Declaration of Independence.
 

Organized in partnership with the Institute for Civil Dialogue and Mirabella.

 

For this evening of classical Persian music, guest artist Mahour Mallat Parast plays the Persian tar,  a string instrument similar to the lute. It has a long neck, a double bowl and six strings that are plucked.  It is one of the major instruments of Iranian music and is also found in the music of Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.

Mahour Mellat Parast was born in Iran into a music-loving family. His father was a musician who played the Tar and Piano, while his grandfather was also a musician who played the Turkish (Azari) Tar. 

Now in its 15th year, ASU’s PRISMS Festival continues its mission of promoting contemporary music to a wider audience. This year’s festival presents several world and Arizona premieres, as well as the winner of our 2026 call for scores, and music by ASU faculty and students. The program includes a wide variety of genres and performance practices, ranging from acousmatic works to chamber music, from electronic improvisation to works that incorporate performance art.

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