Dear Readers, it has been one crazy year with some amazing theater. You know it's true. We've had dead teens riding a roller coaster, demonic puppets, and an ageless guy with a picture of himself in his attic. And, of course, a hip-hop founding father sweeping through town. But let's not talk about the juggernaut when we have such amazing things right here that blew us all away. At least they blew me away. So, let's talk about what blew me away this past year and what I have chosen to give my BWW 2018 Seattle Critic's Choice Awards (Jay's Picks) to (not to mention all those honorable mentions since often I can't limit myself to just one).
Dear Readers, in the past you may have heard me refer to what I call "theatrical alchemy". It's where all the right elements seem to magically come together in just the right ways to form pure theatrical gold. Well, the Seattle Rep currently has a bunch of alchemists working with them with their joint production with the American Conservatory Theater and their presentation of "A Thousand Splendid Suns", a riveting tale filled with so much tragic beauty that you'll be left breathless.
Casting has been announced for the return ofAmerican Conservatory Theater's (A.C.T.) acclaimed theatrical adaptation of Khaled Hosseini's international best-selling novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns-performing at A.C.T.'s Geary Theater for a limited two-week engagement July 17-29, 2018 as part of a West Coast tour that includes runs at San Diego's Old Globe Theatre and Seattle Repertory Theatre. Set amid the war-torn streets of modern-day Kabul, A Thousand Splendid Suns is the epic story of three generations of Afghan women bound together by marriage, family, and a secret past. Strong-willed Laila, unmarried and pregnant, is forced to marry her older neighbor when her family and home are torn apart.
A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS is a gorgeous and emotional story of the beauty and power of women's friendship and how it can help them endure even the most horrible of circumstances. Playing through June 17th at the Old Globe www.theoldglobe.org
A sweeping and deeply moving theatrical production based on the best-selling book by Khaled Hosseini (The Kite Runner). The epic story of three generations of Afghan women and their remarkable resilience, A Thousand Splendid Suns is set in the war-torn neighborhoods of 1990s Kabul. When battle upends her family, beautiful Laila must seek shelter, first in the home and then in the arms of her older neighbor. Soon she forges an extraordinary and unlikely friendship with Mariam, her new husband's first wife. Summoning the strength to defy a tyrannical society, the two women seek hope and the promise of a better future.
The Old Globe's 2017-2018 Season continues with today's announcement of the complete cast and creative team for the Southern California debut of A Thousand Splendid Suns, Ursula Rani Sarma's sweeping and deeply moving theatrical production based on the best-selling book by Khaled Hosseini (The Kite Runner). Directed by Carey Perloff and presented in association with American Conservatory Theater, A Thousand Splendid Suns will run May 12 - June 17, 2018 on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage, Old Globe Theatre, Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. Tickets start at $30.00 and are on sale to the general public now. Previews run May 12-16. Opening night is Thursday, May 17 at 8:00 p.m.
The Old Globe's 2017-2018 Season continues with today's announcement of the complete cast and creative team for the Southern California debut of
A Thousand Splendid Suns, Ursula Rani Sarma's sweeping and deeply moving theatrical production based on the best-selling book by Khaled Hosseini (The Kite Runner).
Golden Thread Productions, the first American theatre company devoted to the Middle East, presents What Do the Women Say?: Dismantling Patriarchy, its annual celebration of International Women's Day. This year's program showcases the work of leading Middle Eastern women artists that are working to expose and eradicate toxic masculinity at home, at work, and on the national stage. The event features a presentation by Yemeni-American visual artist Yasmine Diaz about her collage series, One Way or Another; a dramatic reading by Golden Thread Resident Artist Atosa Melody Babaoff of the short story "White Torture" by Iranian author Farnoosh Moshiri; a performance by Lebanese-American singer Naima Shalhoub featuring music from her debut album Live in San Francisco County Jail; and an excerpt from the documentary film The Judge by Erika Cohn and Sara Maamouri about the Arab world's first woman Sharia judge. After the presentations, Founding Artistic Director Torange Yeghiazarian will facilitate a conversation with the participating artists and the audience. Reem's California will sell food in the lobby starting at 6pm. The full program is 100 minutes without intermission.
Crowded Fire Theater (CFT) announces the featured playwrights and plays for the 2017 Matchbox Readings Series, an annual program presenting four public staged readings of plays in development. Playwrights include Idris Goodwin, Lisa Marie Rollins, Jonathan Spector, and Nathan Yungerberg. The readings will be presented November 15-18 at Brava! for Women in the Arts.
Aurora Theatre Company closes its 25th season with the Bay Area Premiere of SPLENDOUR, Abi Morgan's (Suffragette, The Iron Lady, Shame, The Hour) riveting play about the fragility of power and the unreliability of language. Barbara Damashek (American Buffalo) returns to Aurora to helm this drama, featuring Lorri Holt (The Aspern Papers), Denmo Ibrahim (Betrayed), Mia Tagano, and Sam Jackson. SPLENDOUR plays June 23 through July 23 at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. For tickets and information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org.
Aurora Theatre Company closes its 25th season with the Bay Area Premiere of SPLENDOUR, Abi Morgan's (Suffragette, The Iron Lady, Shame, The Hour) riveting play about the fragility of power and the unreliability of language. Barbara Damashek (American Buffalo) returns to Aurora to helm this drama, featuring Lorri Holt (The Aspern Papers), Denmo Ibrahim (Betrayed), Mia Tagano, and Sam Jackson. SPLENDOUR plays June 23 through July 23 at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. For tickets and information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org.
Playing now through February 26, 'A Thousand Splendid Suns' is at once haunting and hopeful; shattering and uplifting and will surely open people's hearts and minds to the plight of women in the world today.
American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.), currently celebrating its 50th anniversary subscription season, presents the world-premiere theatrical adaptation of Khaled Hosseini's international best-selling novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns (now through February 26, 2017). BroadwayWorld has a look at the cast in action below!
Golden Thread Productions, the first American theatre company devoted to the Middle East, presents Syria Mon Amour: Food, Home, and Healing, this year's edition of What Do the Women Say?, its annual celebration of International Women's Day. Featuring women artists of Middle Eastern descent, the event is dedicated to Syria and the Syrian people. Two extraordinary works of art created by Middle Eastern artists responding to the Syrian refugee crisis anchor the event: an excerpt reading of Oh My Sweet Land, a tour-de-force solo show based on interviews with Syrian refugees in Jordan, and an excerpt from the documentary film We Are Not Princesses, which centers on Antigone of Syria, a 2014 drama workshop and performance featuring 35 Syrian women refugees in Lebanon.
Due to high ticket demand, American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) has added a performance of the world-premiere theatrical adaptation of Khaled Hosseini's international best-selling novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns.
American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.), currently celebrating its 50th anniversary subscription season, presents the world-premiere theatrical adaptation of Khaled Hosseini's international best-selling novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns (February 1-26, 2017). BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!
American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.), currently celebrating its 50th anniversary subscription season, presents the world-premiere theatrical adaptation of Khaled Hosseini's international best-selling novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns (tonight, February 1, through February 26, 2017).
American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.), currently celebrating its 50th anniversary subscription season, presents the world-premiere theatrical adaptation of Khaled Hosseini's international best-selling novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns (February 1-26, 2017).
Golden Thread Productions, the first American theatre company to focus on the Middle East, continues its 20th Anniversary Season with the West Coast premiere of Yussef El Guindi's humorous and hard-hitting Our Enemies: Lively Scenes of Love and Combat, directed by Founding Artistic Director Torange Yeghiazarian. In this juicy denunciation of the mainstream media machine, struggling writer Gamal hates the way his fellow Arab-Americans represent their culture on American media. It's easy enough to take out his frustration on literature superstar Mohsen and local mosque leader, Sheikh Alfani. But when his own girlfriend and novelist Noor gets an offer from a major publisher backed with a national media campaign, how will Gamal manage his frustration? Our Enemies runs October 28-November 20, 2016 at the Thick House (1695 18th Street, San Francisco) and performs Thursdays-Saturdays at 8pm, and Sundays at 3pm. (No performance on Thursday, November 3). Opening night isMonday, October 31, 2016 at 8pm. If you want tickets ($15-$34) or more information on the production, you can visit goldenthread.org.
Golden Thread Productions, the first American theatre company to focus on the Middle East, continues its 20th Anniversary Season with the West Coast premiere of Yussef El Guindi's humorous and hard-hitting Our Enemies: Lively Scenes of Love and Combat, directed by Founding Artistic Director Torange Yeghiazarian. In this juicy denunciation of the mainstream media machine, struggling writer Gamal hates the way his fellow Arab-Americans represent their culture on American media.
