The Byzantine Story of Princess Anna Porphyrogenita

St. Demetrios Preparatory School Presents "The Byzantine Story of Princess Anna Porphyrogenita"

A Porphyra Foundation Musical Inspired by Penelope Delta’s Byzantine Epics. Come witness Emperor Basil II’s sister, Anna Porphyrogenita, and her heroic Adventures!

Due to popular demand, "Porphyra, a Grecian Rock Opera" is spotlighting Byzantine Princess Anna Porphyrogenita, in this new story telling cycle, for the Astoria Greek community. The new show is expanding Anna's background story in “Anna and Vladimir: The love that ROCKED the world,” which debuted at Carnegie Hall and Off Broadway.

Set in the year 988 AD, the Heroic Age of Basil II Emperor of Byzantium, the story chronicles Princess Anna Porphyrogenita and her world-rocking marriage to Grand Prince Vladimir of the Kievan Rus. The show also explores Penelope Delta's incredible world, as envisioned by the great author, of Emperor Basil II's Byzantine Greek Macedonian Renaissance, his struggles, victories and aspirations for his people and family.

An incredible story of Love, War and Peace brought to life through Hard Rock and Greek Folk music, dancing, actors, and a full rock orchestra.

There is also a special tribute to Epaminondas ("Epi") Stathopoulos Electric Guitar pioneer of Epiphone guitars fame!

With participation from St. Demetrios Student Clubs and featuring G.A.F.S. and the Greek American Folklore Society.

SATURDAY, APRIL 22nd 2023

Admission $20

The Cast:

Directors

Thea Gibbs & Christos Alexandrou

On vocals:

Elaine Tuttle as Princess Anna Porphyrogenita

Christos Alexandrou as Emperor Basil II

Dorit as Grand Princess Olga on vocals

Ronnie Iglesias as Grand Prince Vladimir

Narrator - Despina Chrissochos

Band is:

Billy Chrissochos on guitar

Mike "Risko" Savvas on guitar and tzoura

Derek Ortiz on bass

Richard Khuzami on percussion

Tracey "Tre" Beavers on drums

Dimitris Stefanidis on the Pontian Lyra

Dancers from St. Demetrios Prep:

Frida Kasimis

Konstantina Koulouriotis

Stamatoula Figetakis

Belly Dancer:

Dorit

Special Guests:

G.A.F.S.

Greek American Folklore Society

Music featured is from Porphyra's three albums, "Faith, Struggle, Victory", "The Starmaker's Prophecy", and our upcoming album "1821", and Phoenix Reign's "Destination Unknown." It also includes new exclusive traditional Greek Folk Dance numbers that will be preformed by the group for the Greek American Folklore Society.

https://porphyraband.com/news/

http://porphyrafoundation.org

“My small country, Greece, which is going through troubled times now, has a very strong weapon; its culture, history and the arts. Byzantine History is a most attractive history and the way Porphyra has worked to create this very important show, has breathed new life to the pivotal story of Anna and Vladimir. On behalf of the UNESCO club of the department of Piraeus and Islands I congratulate the work of our Director of Modern Music in NY, Mr. Billy Chrissochos, on his mission to educate and build Cross–Cultural bridges between the Asian and Greek communities and the greater American public.” Mr. Ioannis Maronitis, President of the Club for UNESCO Piraeus and Islands and Member of the Board of the World Federation of Associations and Club Centers for UNESCO.

“Porphyra, A Grecian Rock Opera is a wonderful blend of Greek history and modern rock music. A new experience everyone should see.” Queens Community Board 1 District Manager Florence Koulouris.

“A live band playing their original rock music accompanied by spectacular belly dancers and folk dancing. It is really worth it!” World Journal. Most influential Chinese-language newspaper in North America.

Porphyra’s “The Starmaker’s Prophecy” is one of the favorite staff picks in Sonic Cathedral’s top picks of 2017. https://www.soniccathedral.com/zine/index.php/sonic-choir/1440-sonic-cathedral-s-best-releases-of-2017

https://www.neomagazine.com/2016/01/porphyra-a-grecian-rock-opera-anna-and-vladimir-the-love-that-rocked-the-world/

Porphyra on NY1: https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2016/03/11/queens-music-studio-becoming-a-hit-with-bands-in-the-city

https://porphyraband.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/img557-e1474519436288.jpg

http://mag.politismosmuseum.org/rockin-the-byzantine-dream/?sfns=mo&fbclid=IwAR1fg5Fu340Bw_F43bSjBHtKYUHIOmJJmUGOMtd9oLvzW19Ud5isB7xFbYg

January 26 , 2023

Porphyra Foundation Inc.

CONTACT: Vassilios Chrissochos 917-617-0597

[email protected]

www.PorphyraFoundation.org

Byzantium and the Macedonian Dynasty came alive at St. Demetrios Preparatory School with Porphyra’s Grecian Rock Opera, “The Story of Princess Anna Porphyrogenita.” A thrilling, historical, cultural journey through Music, Dance, and Theater was performed three days in June, June 24th-26th, at the School’s Petros G. Patrides Cultural Center. The production was presented by the Porphyra Foundation and St. Demetrios Prep. This was also a Fundraiser for St. Demetrios Preparatory School for all its wonderful music, art, and dance programs.

Set in the year 988 AD, the Heroic Age of Basil II Emperor of Byzantium, the story chronicles Basil II’s sister Princess Anna Porphyrogenita and her world-rocking marriage to Grand Prince Vladimir of the Kievan Rus. The show was narrated through the eyes of the great author Penelope Delta’s incredible world of Emperor Basil II’s Byzantine Greek Macedonian Renaissance, his struggles, victories, and aspirations for his people and family. There was a special tribute to Electric Guitar pioneer, Epaminondas (Epi) Stathopoulos, of Epiphone guitar fame, and the Armenian Zildjian Cymbal-making family.

Our community got the “Off-Broadway” experience it deserves. This Porphyra Foundation’s show has premiered in Carnegie Hall, Off-Broadway at the Player’s Theatre, and Flushing Town Hall. This is a musical in the Rock Opera genre where it features Rock Guitars and Greek ethnic instruments such as the Tzoura, the Pontian Lyra, and Greek Percussion (Daouli and Dumberleki). The show featured three incredible school dancers, Konstantina Koulouriotis, Frida Kasimis, and Stamatoula Figetakis, who prepared and choreographed all the dances by themselves. It featured acting and full costumed singers along with Greek folk numbers from The Greek American Folklore Society (GAFS). GAFS was founded in the early eighties by Paul Ginis, who was a recognized authority on Greek folklore.

The show was directed by St. Demetrios Prep's own Thea Gibbs, who has an extensive theater background, and narrated by Despina Chrissochos who acted the part of Penelope Delta while helping backstage as well. The role of Princess Anna Porphyrogenita was performed by the vocal powerhouse, Elaine Tuttle. Grand Princess Olga was performed by Dorit, who also performed all the belly dancing numbers that wowed the crowds every night. Newcomer Andreas Pliatsikas looked great as Emperor Basil II while a returning favorite, Christos Alexandrou stunned the crowd with his theatrical dexterity as Grand Prince Vladimir. The props, costumes, and armor used were courtesy of the Porphyra Foundation’s Vassilios Chrissochos Collection.

Band leader, composer, and music director Vassilios “Billy” Chrissochos shredded on the guitar while Mike “Risko” Savvas dazzled everyone with his guitar and tzoura playing. The tzoura is the smaller cousin of the bouzouki followed by the baglama. Mike also helped arrange some of the Greek folk dance numbers for the show. Porphyra is blessed to have the following three gentlemen on its roster who have worked tech in musical theater for many years; drummer Tracey Beavers who also held the ship together, new bassist Derek Ortiz, and sound engineer/tech Tom Dicarlucci. The ethnic Greek folk instrument aspect of the group was rounded out by Porphyra veteran world-renowned percussionist Richard Khuzami, and new addition Dimitris Stefanidis on the Pontian Lyra.

St. Demetrios Prep's own music teacher Dimitris Carabas performed with the Greek American Folklore Society and assisted with tech along with Nicole-Katherine Tiliakos (School Co-Salutatorian) who danced with GAFS and assisted backstage. Dimitris Carabas along with Billy Chrissochos came up with the dances that later Mike Savvas would help arrange for the band to incorporate into their repertoire. The addition of two Pontian Dances; Kotsari, and a Tik (Rasopoulo), along with a Thracian dance called Zonaradiko. Kalamatiano called “City of Gold” that was co-written with Christos Alexandrou and one song from their new album, a Hasaposerviko called “the Butcher’s Dance “ was also featured in the show.

Backstage on make-up and costumes were the school’s Maria Karamaniolas and Evangelia Ruppaner running the show. Frontstage we wish to thank Christa Ann Gibbs and David Gibbs for manning the ticket and merchandise tables. Despina and Billy’s little girls, Theoni and Triantafyllia, helped with the big wedding scene and backstage.

The new Rock Opera, “The Story of Princess Anna Porphyrogenita,” incorporates much of the previous story of "Anna and Vladimir: the love that ROCKED the world," and now even added music from all four of Billy Chrissochos' albums; Phoenix Reign's "Destination Unknown," Porphyra's "Faith, Struggle, Victory," "The Starmaker's Prophecy," and upcoming album "In the Spirit of 1821," as well as new arrangements of popular Greek folk dance songs.

The band is now set to release their epic third album this summer titled, "1821". This has more tales about Greek history and mythology ranging from Orpheus and Eurydice, King Leonidas of Sparta, Achilles, The Greek Revolution, Byzantium, and even a Greco-Romanian tale of Vlad the Impaler (Dracula), and the Armenian epic post WWI story of Operation Nemesis. Stay tuned for the release date on their website and social media!

This production was awarded by Mr. Ioannis Maronitis who is the President of the Club for UNESCO of Piraeus and Islands, a Member of the Executive Board of the World Federation of Clubs, Centres, and Associations of UNESCO (WFUCA) for Europe and North America, and Secretary-General of the Hellenic Federation Clubs, Centres and Associations of UNESCO. Ms. Despina Afentouli officiated the ceremony on Friday's show awarding with certificates the cast and crew from UNESCO Piraeus and its sister organization InterAction Art. Many thanks also go to our partner Mr. Panayiotis Karousos and our own Billy Chrissochos who serves as Director of Modern Music in NY for UNESCO Piraeus.

Many thanks also go out to the AHEPA leadership for helping promote the show including District Governor Br Dean Moskos and our own Billy Chrissochos, who serves as AHEPA District 6 Empire State Director of Hellenism and past president of AHEPA Hermes Astoria Chapter 186. We also wish to thank our Media Sponsors New Greek Television (NGTV), Yanna Darilis, George Kokkinos, and Christos Tezides.

We wish to thank all our Sponsors: Mediterranean Foods, Rizos Jewelry, Selo Restaurant, Oasis Cafe, Crescent Apothecary, Kellogg's Diner, Metropolis Realty, The Grand, Marvel Frozen Dairy, James P. Orphanides and family, Pat Gravino (Premier Consulting Partners), Chris Pollatos and family, Michael Tribunella and family, Perry Jonson, Theoni Chrissochos and Leach family. Also, all the places that promoted our show with posters and flyers: St. Demetrios Cathedral, St. Catherine and George Church, St. Demetrios Preparatory School, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Shrine in Flushing, To Steki tou Laki, North Shore Diner, TRU Astoria, Avenue Cafe, Argy Realty LLC, Astoria Soundworks, and Euromarket.

The Porphyra Foundation wishes to thank Reverend Father Vasileios Tsiourlis, School Supervising Principal Dr. John Alfieri, Assistant Principals Mrs. Helen Karageorge and Mrs. Betsy Sideris, Parish President Mr. Stefanos Thomatos, and the PTA for all their support and help with our production of "The Story of Princess Anna Porphyrogenita."

Here is “The Story of Princess Anna Porphyrogenita” promo video:

New Greek TV (NGTV) promo spot:

https://www.facebook.com/newgreektvinc/videos/1402462346903945

UNESCOPIO UNESCO award Ceremony:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/unescopio/permalink/3167171590161726/

PRESS

The National Herald

https://www.ekirikas.com/i-istoria-tis-annas-

porfyrogennitis/?fbclid=IwAR3NuIIwmrlpkfcxa2DiTK4WUU6US4BbSx4L2DNeSIPHyvqriIcnokaWF84

Hellenic News of America (English article)

https://hellenicnews.com/the-byzantine-story-of-princess-anna-porphyrogenita-rocks-astoria/?fbclid=IwAR0S2MtT2nFrQ0Few9wLlQUj7uMGmmofRBV693f4zT677tHjdthtO_unrlY

Hellenic News of America (Greek Article)

https://hellenicnews.com/%CE%B7-%CE%B2%CF%85%CE%B6%CE%B1%CE%BD%CF%84%CE%B9%CE%BD%CE%AE-%CE%B9%CF%83%CF%84%CE%BF%CF%81%CE%AF%CE%B1-%CF%84%CE%B7%CF%82-%CF%80%CF%81%CE%B9%CE%B3%CE%BA%CE%AF%CF%80%CE%B9%CF%83%CF%83%CE%B1%CF%82/?fbclid=IwAR1I_UcV9ZKW-OwxOJIAILMVtPy5e-IpvO-jMZIXL8AQQM_Dvwb-jMI55Ac

Alter-Info.Gr

https://www.alter-info.gr/exodos/theatro/o-christos-alexandroy-sto-rolo-toy-prigkipa-vladimir-

toy-kievoy-pics/275835#.YtRdNcGvkSA.facebook

Anamnisis.net

https://www.anamniseis.net/i-vizantini-istoria-tis-prigkipissas-annas-porfyrogennitis-stin-

astoria/?fbclid=IwAR3oym1h_kA4YAHiSuS8UIMD-bK5AmCLZEfGOL9PsGqoi9pDqdsHEh9YJJM

Zougla.Gr

https://www.zougla.gr/politismos/article/o-xristos-aleksandrou-ston-rolo-tou-prigipa-vladimir-

tou-kievou

Hellenic American Center of the Arts

https://hellenicamericancenterofthearts.blogspot.com/2022/07/the-byzantine-story-of-princess-

anna.html?fbclid=IwAR0cpypUqUOl9vnzQ0gR3LkxRfdTZN-C9cQxsjuLXkzaydj0ZEVVAnm_L38

We are very excited to announce our own Vassilios Chrissochos’ new article in NEO Magazine

regarding one of our favorite guitar innovators! This is the story of the House of Stathopoulo and

#EPIPHONE #guitars and the #Greeks that helped pioneer the electric guitar ! The article

starts on Page 44. Advertisement for our Rock Opera was in it too.

https://issuu.com/neographix/docs/july2022fbclid=IwAR2YHHiXYTykveqbUldPagOcoFOAKTRmjLZdnse_qhHr5v9zvxhiyIVOBm4

Congratulations to Thea Gibbs on her new role as Director of Technology, Christos Alexandrou

as new Music Teacher and Vassilios Chrissochos as Byzantine History teacher for the Seniors.

Looking forward to performing for all of you again soon!

www.Porphyraband.com

www.PorphyraFoundation.org

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