ECC cancels ‘Three Cups of Tea’ performance

Elgin Community College has canceled a performance of “Three Cups of Tea,” a stage adaptation of the best-seller about an American man who built girls schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The performance had been scheduled for May 1 as part of a series of events to raise money for the Central Asia Institute, the nonprofit organization started by Greg Mortenson, the author of “Three Cups of Tea.”

But students in T.E.A. (Teach, Educate, Advocate) Around the World had second thoughts about the charity and the performance after an April 15 CBS News report raising questions about the authenticity of parts of Mortenson’s book and the management of his nonprofit.

“We had an emergency meeting after seeing the reports and allegations,” said Victoria Rodriguez, a freshman at ECC and member of T.E.A. Around the World. “We came to the unanimous decision that regardless of what happened, our goal was to build a school for women in Pakistan.”

But the students, who were originally inspired by Mortenson’s story, decided they were not going to work through the Central Asia Institute.

“We really don’t know anything about them. We don’t know whether any of these allegations are true,” said Nancy Valladares, a sophomore at ECC. “We wanted (donors) to know their funds are being used in the right way.”

ECC stopped the planned transfer of $15,811 to the Central Asia Institute, according to the college. More than $8,100 had already been donated to the group. Students in T.E.A. Around the World are now working to find another charity that promotes girls’ education in Pakistan.

Meanwhile, the planned performance of “Three Cups of Tea” has been replaced by a stage adaptation of “The Kite Runner,” a novel about life in Afghanistan. The performance will be at 2 p.m. May 1 in the Blizzard Theatre, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin.

Tickets are still available at the ECC box office or tickets.elgin.edu. Patrons who bought tickets for “Three Cups of Tea” can choose to see “The Kite Runner” instead or receive a refund. ECC’s box office is contacting ticket holders this week.

To donate to T.E.A. Around the World, send a check payable to Elgin Community College with “Girls’ education in Pakistan” in the memo line to Dorothy Hill, Arts Center Box Office, Elgin Community College, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin, IL 60123.