Author spent a decade aiding the country’s redevelopment, drew on real stories; Show debuts at TBC April 2, 2010
Henry H. Perritt, Jr. is an accomplished attorney and academic. The former dean, now professor, at Chicago-Kent College of Law has published dozens of books, served four U.S. Presidents and run for U.S. Congress.
None of those things gave him the insight into human conflict and drama like the decade he spent helping rebuild the nation of Kosovo after its violent ethnic conflict in the 1990s. The experience motivated him to write two books about the conflict.
Perritt become a well-known figure in Kosovo, advising the nation’s Prime Minister, meeting with Madeleine Albright, and gaining the trust of the clandestine Kosovo Liberation Army as he led students on development missions.
While there he penned an anthem about Kosovo and the KLA insurgency that became a Kosovar hit – widely played on national radio and television. It was suggested that song, “Fire for the Colors,’’ could become a musical
“I thought it was a crazy idea,’’ Perritt recalls, “but I’ve always liked crazy ideas.’’
The stories flowed, the product of thousands of interviews he had conducted for his books. The one that resonated was of a young boy tormented by Serbian police and forced to eat a text book because it was written in his native Albanian. The boy decided to fight back.
“I asked about the consequences, if he didn’t worry he’d be killed,’’ Perritt said. “He said: ‘I didn’t care anymore. I vowed that even if they killed me I’d hurt them.’’
That story is the story of the Kosovar Albanians, the KLA and “You Took Away My Flag.’’ It’s a classic tale of young lovers separated by war and ethnicity – Vjosa is Albanian, Dragan a Serb.
“You Took Away My Flag’’ had a sold-out run at a storefront North Side theater in 2009 with a response so great Perritt began working immediately to stage it in a bigger space with professional leadership.
The show opens April 2, 2010 at Theater Building Chicago for an eight-week run with professional direction, choreography and musical direction.
To hear cast recordings, view photos or clips from the previous one, or learn more about the production, Perritt or Kosovo, please visit YouTookAwayMyFlag.com.
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