Bangladesh Theater of Arizona (BTA) – a cultural organization of Bangladeshi community living in Arizona – is a non-profit charitable tax exempt organization under the IRS code 501c(3). BTA was established in Phoenix, Arizona on Feb 6, 1999.
Mission of Bangladesh Theater of Arizona:
- To organize and/or perform stage play, educational documentary and other related cultural activities to promote the cultural development of the society.
- To explore and conduct scopes of charitable endeavors through cultural activities.
- To promote cultural awareness through seminar, workshop and other educational activities.
- To promote international understanding and goodwill, particularly between the people of USA and Bangladesh.
- To foster the culture of Bangladesh within the pluralistic cultural mosaic of the American society.
Since its begining, the Bangladesh Theater of Arizona (BTA) has been actively organizing Bangla and Bangladesh related programs every year. Most of the activities are social, cultural and educational, such stage drama, video projects, magazine, Bangla school, Bangla spelling competition, art competition, etc.
List of Bangla Stage Plays (Moncho-Natok) by Bangladesh Theater of Arizona:
1. Ambiar Bia (Feb 6, 1999; Neeb Hall, ASU, Tempe, AZ)
2. Arranged Marriage (Apr 10, 1999; Scottsdale, AZ)
3. Keramoter Mosibot (Jun 24, 2000; Hamilton High School, Chandler, AZ)
4. Britto (Feb 24, 2001; Rhodes Jr. High School, Mesa, AZ)
5. 1971 (Mar 2, 2002; Rhodes Jr. High School, Mesa, AZ)
6. Ambiar Bia (Sep 1, 2002; 16th FOBANA at Dallas, TX)
7. Esho Nobodhara Joley (Dec 18, 2003; Pima Hall, ASU, Tempe, AZ)
8. Esho Nobodhara Joley (Mar 14, 2004; 9th Bangla Culture & Literature Convention, Brises High School, Mesa, AZ)
9. Bhoddornok (Aug 28, 2004; Pima Hall, ASU, Tempe, AZ)
10. Cholo Jai Hawaii (Sep 16, 2006; Pima Hall, ASU, Tempe, AZ)
11. Shubho Porinoi (Oct 27, 2007; Pima Hall, ASU, Tempe, AZ)
12. Shuk-Shari (Sruti-Natika) (Apr 27, 2008, Kiwanis Park, Tempe, AZ)
13. Home Minister Ekdin (Feb 21, 2009, Holy Trinity Luthern Church, Chander, AZ)
Bangla Documentary CD:
1. Meet Bangladesh
2. Bangladesh: Bayanno Theke Ekattor
Magazine:
Shiri, the annual Bangla magazine published by BTA since 2003. Shiri encourages next generation Bangladeshis kids to write about their ideas and stories in Bangla language.
Bangla School:
BTA established Shikor, a weekend Bangla School in Tempe, AZ in May, 2003. Shikor teaches Bangla language and culture to the next generation Bangladeshi kids, organizes cultural programs and stages drama with them. Shikor students regularly participate in the Bangla cultural events, Bangla stage plays, and write in BTA’s Bangla magazine, Shiri.
Some stage dramas performed by Shikor students:
1. Shot-patro (Oct 18, 2003)
2. Bhuter Jadu (Aug 28, 2004)
3. Obaak Jolpaan (Sep 25, 2005)
4. Takar Apod (Sep 16, 2006)
5. Hobu Chandra Rajar Deshe (Oct 27, 2007)
Bangla Calendar:
Since 2008 Shikor Bangla School is publishing Bangla Calendar on the occasion of Bangla New Year (Pohela Boishakh) every year.