Moonrise Press is pleased to announce the publication of the history of the Helena Modjeska Art and Culture Club, in Polish (July 2021). Edited by dr. Maja Trochimczyk, Elżbieta Kanski and dr. Elżbieta Trybuś, this 380-page volume documents 50 years of cultural activities of the Helena Modjeska Art and Culture Club in Los Angeles, established in 1971 by actor-director Leonidas Dudarew-Ossetyński and other Polish emigres.
The Club is named after a famous Polish actress Helena Modrzejewska (1840-1909) who emigrated to California in 1876, changed her stage name to Modjeska and became one of the most important Shakespearean actresses of her generation. After her English-language stage debut in 1877, Modjeska tirelessly toured America by a specially furbished train that served as her hotel on wheels while she gave an average of 8 performances every week, stopping in towns and cities for a day, and moving on... She was the star, producer, director, costume-maker of her troupe. She also wrote a pay for her grandson and painted in watercolor. She became the fashion icon of her times, as well..
The Club honored its patron in a variety of ways, including lectures, theatrical and film premieres, unrealized plans to build monuments to her (based on designs by Stanislaw Szukalski and Tomasz Misztal), and the Modjeska Prizes bestowed on eminent Polish and Polish American actors since 2010.
The album consists of essays, interviews, reviews, reminiscences and lists of club's events, including lectures, film screenings, theatrical performances, concerts, cabarets, and more. It is richly illustrated with color photographs taken over the 50 years of the Modjeska Club's history. The volume consists of essays, interviews, reviews, reminiscences and lists of club's events, including lectures, film screenings, theatrical performances, concerts, cabarets, and more. It is richly illustrated with color photographs taken over the 50 years of the Modjeska Club's history.
Editorial Committee: Ewa Barsam, Beata Czajkowska, Ella Czajkowska, Syl Ves. Proofreading and copy-editing: Krystyna Kuszta, Jolanta Zych and Isabella Zuralski-Yeager, Ph.D.
Texts by: Anna Maria Anders, Tadeusz Bociański, Krysta Close, Dorota Czajka-Olszewska, Zofia Czajkowska, Witold Czajkowski, Zofia Cybulska-Adamowicz, Leonidas Dudarew-Ossetyński, Jadwiga Inglis, Michal Jasień, Tomasz Kachelski, Elżbieta Kański, Klub Kultury im Heleny Modrzejewskiej, Krystyna Kuszta, Jarosław Łasiński, Andrzej Maleski, Dr. Mira N. Mataric, Marta Ojrzyńska, Maria Pilatowicz, Edward Piłatowicz, Dr. Kleofas Rundzio, Andrzej Seweryn, Katarzyna Śmiechowicz, Jan Świder, Dr. Maja Trochimczyk, Dr. Elżbieta Trybuś and Jolanta Zych.
The publication of this volume was made possible by a grant from the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Los Angeles, and the generous support of Moonrise Press.
