Books

Translated by director Nishan Parlakian, Be Nice, I'm Dead (Gna Meri, Ari Sirem; Գնա Մեռի, Արի Սիրեմ) is the first ever contemporary Armenian play to be translated into the English language.

You can purchase a copy here: 

https://www.amazon.com/Nice-Dead-Kna-Meri-Sirem/dp/0934728224

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This English edition of Armenian plays includes playwrights Aramashot Papayan, Alexander Shirvanzade, Gabriel Sundukian, Hakob Paronyan, Suren Partevian and Zabel Asadour. Introduction by Nishan Parlakian.

You can purchase a copy here:

http://www.abrilbooks.com/notable-women-in-modern-armenian-drama.html

Written by prominent Armenian literary critic and writer, Aghababyan documents the life of Aramashot Papayan beginning from his childhood, all the way through his career successes. It also includes an array of photographs spanning from his career to his personal life. Paruyr Sevak's tribute article to Papayan's nephew Aram, The Dead Don't Age, is also included. This biography was published in 1979.

You can rent a copy here:

https://glac.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S185C1410769

Published in 1987, this collection includes ten plays: The Great Wedding, The Roses of Yerevan, Trouble from Jealousy, The Things Satan Will Do When God is Asleep, Welcome to the Birthday of Hakob Nshanich, The World, Yes, Turned Upside Down, Things are Frantic at Master Markar’s Home, Be Nice, I'm Dead, The Overseas Fiancé and Wedding at the Doorstep of Death.

You can rent a copy here: https://ls2pac.lapl.org/?section=resource&resourceid=1120118921&currentIndex=0&view=fullDetailsDetailsTab

Published in 1965, this collection contains eleven plays: Lucky Ones, Visiting the Groom, The Living Dead, Trivia, April 1st, Heart in a Trap, Oh My Kyufta, Christening, Welcome to the Birthday of Hakob Nshanich, How Many Smiles are Around Me and Things Like That Happen Too. 

Copy can be rented from the Glendale Public Library.

Published in 1972, this collection contains six plays: The World, Yes, Turned Upside Down, The Roses of Yerevan, The Things Satan Will Do When God is Asleep, Trouble From Jealousy, Welcome to the Birthday of Hakob Nshanich and I Want a Homeland.

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This book was published in 1968, one year after Vartan Adjemian's direction of this play garnered great success in the Sundukyan State Academic Theater. This book contains one play. A quote by William Saroyan is included, which states, "Speak Armenian, lao, Armenian!" Papayan was inspired to write this play soon after he watched a staging of William Saroyan's play My Heart is in the Highlands. He dedicated the publication of this book to his parents, Petros and Grap.

Published in 1960, this book contains one play, The Great Wedding, which was written by Aramashot (born Ashot) and his nephew Aram. This play gained both of them recognition and was Ashot's first major success in his playwrighting career. This edition was published years after the untimely death of Aram and includes a letter of tribute written by Hrachya Hovhannisyan in dedication to Aram. This play was first staged in 1945.

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Published in 1982, this Russian edition has the original title of the play. Initially written in 1978, this three-act play later was re-named and called Be Nice, I'm Dead (Gna Meri, Ari Sirem). This play won an award for best comedy play in the Soviet Union.

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Published in Moscow, Russia in 1952, this Russian edition of the one-act play Naming, later had an alternative title once it was staged in the Hakob Paronyan State Musical Comedy Theater in Yerevan, Armenia. It was re-named to Welcome to the Birthday of Hakob Nshanich.