From Taleen Babayan

Taleen Babayan

Taleen Babayan, a longtime correspondent for the newspaper in the New York-New Jersey area, earned an MS degree from Columbia’s Graduate School of Journalism and a BA in history and international relations from Tufts University. She currently serves as the associate director of communications, development and stewardship at the American University of Armenia in Los Angeles. She volunteers for countless Armenian organizations, including the Tekeyan Cultural Association, Armenian Network of America and the Armenian Radio Hour of New Jersey. The first play she wrote, directed and produced, “Where Is Your Groom?” (Pesad Oor Eh) and its sequel touched upon the themes of assimilation and cultural identity through satire while speaking to audience’s hearts and minds as the 25-person Armenian cast and crew performed for 15 Armenian-American communities in sold-out shows across the country. Another play she wrote, directed and produced, “From Sacred Wrath,” focuses on an Armenian-American family who shares mixed emotions during the centennial of the Armenian Genocide. This play was also well-received, performed to two sold-out audiences at the Davenport Theatre in Manhattan and named Honorable Mention in the ADAA’s William Saroyan Playwriting Prize. Other projects include her short film, “Basbousa,” shot on location in Paterson, NJ, which was accepted into the Indie Street Film Festival and Atlantic City Cinefest as well as the selection of her play “Thirty,” for the Theater for the New City’s New City New Blood reading series in New York City. She has worked in communications, research and development for New York City-based non-profits and has published widely in print and digital media.

By Taleen Babayan Special to the Mirror-Specator NEW YORK — The striking, handcrafted images on display, ranging from a blue dove enmeshed in red and orange hues, to the intricately[...]

  By Taleen Babayan Special to the Mirror-Spectator NEW YORK — Half a century after St. Vartan Cathedral was consecrated in a special ceremony, marking a symbolic moment in Armenian-American[...]

  By Taleen Babayan Special to the Mirror-Spectator NEW YORK — When Maj. Sargis Stepanyan realized a fellow soldier was trapped among landmines during a special operations forces mission in Nagorno-Karabakh[...]

ORADELL, N.J. — The Tekeyan Cultural Association’s Mher Megerdichian Theater Group (MMTG) marked its 20th year with performances of Agatha Christie’s play “The Unexpected Guest” at Oradell Elementary School on[...]

NEW YORK — The towering tenor voice of Elie Berberian reverberated among the thousands gathered in Times Square, echoing the unveiled pain and fighting spirit of Armenians throughout centuries as the[...]

  NEW YORK — The historical, cultural and political influences of Armenian music production were discussed and explored in an enlightening and insightful talk by Dr. Yektan Türkyılmaz at Columbia[...]

NEW YORK — The classrooms of the Fordham University School of Business were filled to capacity as the eighth annual Mentoring and Networking Forum welcomed over 150 participants on Friday,[...]

LODI, N.J. — Award-winning pop singer Sirusho brought her dazzling mix of contemporary and traditional music to the Felician College’s Breslin Theater on Saturday, March 17 at an event hosted[...]

NEW YORK — Sirusho Harutyunyan, better known by her stage name Sirusho, has left an indelible mark on the international music scene during the course of her two-decade career and[...]

By Taleen Babayan Special to the Mirror Spectator   NEW YORK — It is a challenge to describe Vahe Berberian in one word: playwright, comedian, writer, painter, actor and director[...]