Theatre Nova's 'JIHAD JONES' Opens 7/24

Theatre Nova will follow its critically acclaimed GROUNDED with the Midwest Premiere of Yussef El Guindi's edgy comedy JIHAD JONES AND THE KALASHNIKOV BABES, replacing the spot initially reserved for IRRATIONAL. The show runs July 24 - August 16 at the Yellow Barn in Ann Arbor.

The story follows Ashraf (Michael Lopetrone), a struggling Los Angeles actor whose 'big break' comes in the worst form imaginable: the role of an evil Arab terrorist in a Hollywood action blockbuster, the kind of grotesque caricature he thought he'd never accept. Ashraf's protestations of horror are turned aside by his fast-talking agent Barry (Dan Morrison), who pushes him into a meeting with the film's leading lady (Clearie McCarthy) and a legendary director (Phil Powers), managed by secretary Peggy (Elizabeth Fritsch).

With money and fame on the line, Ashraf's crisis of conscience makes for fast-paced, razor-edged comedy, as well as a pointed commentary on how far American media can twist a simple question of racism when there's millions to be made. The San Francisco Chronicle called El Guindi's script "Remarkably refreshing and thought-provoking"; the Daily Californian added that it "tackles complex problems of art versus bigotry while commanding the viewer's attention with wit and some well-placed insults."

Director Carla Milarch commented on the replacement of IRRATIONAL with JIHAD JONES. "In this still critical stage of our development as an organization we feel it is important that we do not stretch our resources, either financial or human, too thin." Milarch noted that JIHAD JONES is a project better scaled to the company's current size and resources while maintaining its focus on new and impactful plays, asserting that "we feel that this move is, strategically, the one that best ensures a solid foundation on which to build a future full of ambitious commissions and World Premieres. We're in this for the long haul."

The production's Stage Manager is Roberta Lake, with Assistant Stage Mangers Miranda Chambers and Alona Shewach. Dan Walker provides production design.

All performances will be at the Yellow Barn (416 W. Huron, Ann Arbor), which Theatre Nova converts into a professional thrust-configured theater venue six-times a year. The location offers free parking, as well as quick walking access to downtown; nearby reference points are the Ann Arbor YMCA, the Big City Small World bakery, The Last Word, and the Sun Moon Yoga Studio. The entrance for parking is near the intersection of Huron St. and Chapin St/3rd St.

Theatre Nova has marked all performances as pay-what-you-can, with a suggested donation of $20. The company is also offering annual memberships that include tickets to all six season productions, every show in the Michigan Playwrights' Festival in November, and each of its three children's show in collaboration with Spinning Dot theatre in August, September and October.