Hello All, I hope you will take the opportunity to take advantage of the rare opportunity described below: May 7 - 10, 8:30pm in nearby Millvale. PRESS RELEASE Contact: Diane Novosel at 724-845-2907, or via email: novoseldmn@aol.com Website: www.vankamurals.org "GIFT TO AMERICA²: SEE THE MURALS, HEAR THE STORY PITTSBURGH, PA. (April 24th, 2008) ­ In celebration of Pittsburgh¹s 250th anniversary, actors and theatrical lighting will bring the acclaimed murals of Maxo Vanka to life in the play ³GIFT TO AMERICA,² which will run at 8:30 p.m., Wednesday May 7 through Saturday May 10 at St. Nicholas Croatian Catholic Church in nearby Millvale. The play is written, acted, directed, lit and otherwise supported by residents of Highland Park & by faculty and alumni of Carnegie Mellon¹s College of Fine Arts. The one-hour play is a conversation about the murals among Vanka and Father Albert Zagar, the priest who commissioned the murals, and two female characters. The dramatic reading, which will be accompanied by Tamburitzan music, is scripted by Carnegie Mellon University Professor Emeritus of English David Demarest, and was originally staged in 1981. Described by Time magazine as ³one of the few distinguished sets of murals in the U.S.,² the murals depict the ravages of war and the sacrifices of immigrant workers in early 20th century industrial America. They also honor the congregation¹s Croatian heritage and Christian faith. Vanka had recently immigrated when he began to paint the murals in 1937, and called them his ³gift to America.² The vivid imagery depicted on the walls and ceilings of the Millvale church reveal a passion that is universal and uniquely Croatian. After seeing the murals, Talking Heads rock musician David Byrne of the group The Talking Heads called Vanka ³the Diego Rivera of Pittsburgh.² The Society to Preserve The Millvale Murals of Maxo Vanka is staging the play, and hopes to raise greater awareness of the paintings. The performance will launch a campaign to fund the illumination, restoration and preservation of the murals. Tickets are $10 and will be available before performances at the church, which is in Millvale off of Route 28 (you can see the yellow church building & the ³Gift To America² sign from the highway). For more information, call Diane Novosel at 724-845-2907, or via email: novoseldmn@aol.com Website: www.vankamurals.org