Theatre director in Kyiv says the arts go on during war in Ukraine

• Scott LaMar
  BioRecent Stories

  

  Scott LaMar has worked in both radio and television for more than four decades.
  
  Currently, LaMar is the Host and Executive Producer of The Spark program on WITF-FM, 89.5 & 93.3 in Harrisburg, Pa.
  
  Previously, LaMar was WITF TV’s Sr. Public Affairs producer and produced the station’s award-winning weekly public affairs TV program, Smart Talk.
  
  In addition to his on-air duties, LaMar has moderated political candidate debates, including those for candidates running for Pennsylvania governor and the U.S. Senate and was a regular contributor to BBC World News TV before and after the 2020 U.S. Presidential election.
  
  LaMar often emcees or moderates local events and has gone as far as California to emcee a national event.
  
  The American Society of Civil Engineers honored LaMar with their national Excellence in Journalism award in 2020. He has been nominated for five Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards.
  
  LaMar and The Spark have been recognized throughout the Central Pennsylvania community including ADVOZ Lancaster’s “Dignity in Dialogue Award”, the South-Central Assembly’s “Regional Citizen Award” and was named a “Humanitarian Hero” by The Humane Society of the United States/Pennsylvania.
  
  A native of Coatesville, Pa., LaMar has also worked as a broadcast news anchor, sports play-by-play announcer and manager.

 Emilio Morenatti / AP Photo

This photo shows a view of the city of Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday announced a military operation in Ukraine and warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to "consequences you have never seen."

Airdate: Thursday, March 10, 2022

The video images Americans have seen from the Russian invasion of Ukraine are just devastating. What’s seared into our minds are scenes of cities being destroyed and millions of mostly women and children refugees fleeing the violence. Two weeks into the war, is there any normalcy – any escape from the fear?

There is anecdotal evidence that Ukrainians, when they can, are still turning to the arts and that the arts community is working to provide some normalcy.

Alex Borovenskiy is the director at the ProEnglish Theatre in Kyiv, Ukraine. He’ll join us on Thursday’s Smart Talk to describe what’s happening around the theatre in Kyiv and the role of the arts during wartime.

Heather Massie is an actor and writer who is best known for her one-person theater production Hedy — The Life and Inventions of Hedy Lamarr. She has performed in Central Pennsylvania often and has family in the region. Heather also performed her show at the ProEnglish Theater, where she was given the best performance award at a 2020 festival. Heather Massie is with us Thursday as well.

Alex Borovenskiy is involved in a comedy event in New York on March 15 to benefit Ukraine. Learn more here.