Lee Almoral Productions LLC and Buddha-Cowboy Productions in association with Greenway present the World Premiere of a newly revised version of SALAM SHALOM, written by Saleem and directed by Ty Donaldson. SALAM SHALOM will preview Friday, February 26, Saturday, February 27 at 8 p.m., Sunday, February 28 at 7pm and Thursday, March 4 and Friday March 5 at 8pm and will open on Saturday March 6 at 8 p.m. and run through Friday, April 16 at the Greenway Court Theatre, 544 N. Fairfax Blvd. in West Hollywood.
Playwright Saleem has re-written and substantially revised his award-winning play (last produced in Los Angeles in 2005) to reflect the current political realities on the ground in the Middle East. When a visiting Arabic Ph.D candidate is housed with an Israeli graduate student at UCLA, their obviously disparate backgrounds and cultures initially prove to be to be obstacles that cannot be overcome. Eventually, however, as their own personal walls come down and they get to see each other for who they truly are, they begin to fall in love. This is not to say it is a "happily-ever-after" fairytale, for it is not. Not with societal, political and emotional barriers to cross. As ethnic animosities gives way to passion, Salam Shalom demonstrates not only the importance of communication in relationships, but also of respect, love, and determination among people.
ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM
SALEEM (Playwright) is an openly Gay Palestinian-American performer/playwright, with a strong belief in promoting cultural understanding between people (especially Palestinians and Israelis). He briefly studied at the
Lee Strasberg Institute before joining the Open Fist Theatre Company. As a member of the Open Fist, he performed in the play After the Bomb by Roxy Ventola and Vieux Carre by
Tennessee Williams.
He then wrote and performed a workshop production of Salam Shalom in 1995, which Premiered at the Open Fist a year later. Saleem was honored as the recipient of the 1996 Harvey Firestein GLAAD award for Best Original Writing for "Salam Shalom... A Tale of Passion," based on his own life. He also premiered his second play Getting into my Skin at the Open Fist in 1998.
Saleem then toured with the production to San Diego (The Diversionary Theatre), Palm Springs (The Bookstore Theatre), then on to Sydney, Australia (The Pact Theatre), where it was sold-out for the complete run. He returned to Los Angeles in 1998 with the play in conjunction with the North Hollywood Arts Festival at The Bitter Truth Theatre (now the
Avery Schreiber); and In 2003, Saleem received a grant to produce the play at The New Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco, in conjunction with the Pride Festival. The production received a Certificate of Recognition from the State of California Legislature.
His workshop of Getting into my Skin was eventually developed into Whispers of the Soul - a personal revelation of an Arab who migrates to America, A semi-autobiographical play with music, dance and poetry, which he has also performed around California.
As a dancer, Saleem has developed his own dancing style which incorporates; middle eastern dance, gypsy movements, flamenco, and jazz all blended to produce what he calls "free style belly dancing". He manages and run his own events promotion company "Club La Zeez" which promotes world music and Mediterranean beats. He performs frequently at Highways Performance Space and was part of the creation of Ghourbah at The Cornerstone Theatre Company, the first-ever production to spotlight the Arab-American community in the US. Saleem holds an MBA in Business Administration from Colorado State University.
TY DONALDSON (Director/Producer) is a graduate of Bard College, and started in the entertainment industry as an actor and has been involved with producing, directing (theatre and film) and graphic design for over twenty years.
His theatre credits include the Israel Horowitz's Line (Producer) at West Coast Ensemble, Lone Star by James McClure (Producer, Brookdale, NJ), You Can't Take It With You (Assistant Director). He directed the World Premiere of Whispers of the Soul and Salam Shalom by Saleem; Suitehearts by William Van Zandt and Jane Milmore (Director, NY); and directed the West Coast Premieres of Beltway Roulette by Mark Scharf; Rocks by Al Sorci, Bar Room Trilogy and Heaven's Den. His film producing credits include "Bunny Whipped," with Joey Lauren Adams and
Rebecca Gayheart; Co-Producer and Line producer on "Soldier of God" and "Tru Loved," all now out on DVD.
ABOUT THE CAST AND THE DESIGN TEAM
The cast of SALAM SHALOM will feature: Saleem (Vieux Carre, Whispers of the Soul), Korken Alexander (The Kite Runner, Sojourn at Ararat, Cabaret), Jay Ali (Wednesday's Child),
Eileen Barnett (Fiddler on the Roof, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Street Scene), Rafael Feldman (A Bed and A Bar, Come Back to the Five & Dime, Jimmy Dean; The Fisher King), Avner Garbi (), and Christine Joëlle (Wicked Lit, Violet Sharp, Nicholas Nickleby).
SALAM SHALOM has assembled an award-winning design team. The Scenic Design is by Victoria Profitt (Better Angels, Educating Rita). The Lighting Design is by
Lisa D. Katz (Floyd Collins, The Grapes of Wrath). The Sound Design is by Cricket Myers (The Marvelous Wonderettes, Life Could Be A Dream). The Costume Design is by Juan Rousolio (The Theatre @ Boston Court,
Intiman Theatre). The Stage Manager is Cate Cundiff.
SCHEDULE AND PRICING
SALAM SHALOM will preview on Friday, February 26 & Saturday, February 27 at 8 p.m.; Sunday, February 28 at 7pm; Thursday, March 4 & Friday March 5 at 8pm and will open on Saturday March 6 at 8 p.m. and run through Friday, April 16 at the Greenway Court Theatre, 544 N. Fairfax Blvd. in West Hollywood.
Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Saturday Matinees at 3pm; and Sundays at 7:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at www.SalamShalomThePlay.com or by calling 323.655.7679 x100. Single ticket prices are Preferred Seating $25; General Seating $22; Seniors and Levantine Cultural Center members $20; Rush $15; Previews are $20.
