BROKEN WING Set for 2014 Philadelphia Fringe Festival, 9/10-20

Leila Ghaznavi debuts her Edinburgh Fringe hit, Broken Wing, during the 2014 Philadelphia Fringe Festival, presented by Fringe Arts, September 10-20. This new piece from award-winning playwright and theatre artist Ghaznavi is an exploration of good intentions gone wrong in the Middle East. The show is conceived by Ghaznavi, the award winning playwright of Silken Veils, which was nominated for the prestigious Fringe First award at the Edinburgh Fringe 2010, had a sold-out run at the 2012 Philadelphia Fringe Festival, and was a hit show at the Chicago Fringe Festival 2010. Broken Wing will be performed at Theatre Exile's Studio X, 1340 S. 13th Street. Tickets cost $10-$12 and will be available at the Fringe box-office and online at www.fringearts.com. More information about Leila's work can be found at www.panteaproductions.com.

Ghaznavi's work has been featured on BBC World Persia, Andisheh TV, Voice of America and the Leonard Lopate Show in New York City. Broken Wing takes place around the Damascus rose harvests in rural Iran. In a land of sand, blood, and roses, where disasters are counted in stones, two men's good intentions for one woman have unexpected consequences when modern life, Persian myth, and love collide. Lighting is the primary story telling tool as shadow, light, photography and live performance intertwine to reveal the passions of the characters as the stage becomes a landscape of sand, stones and rose petals.

The cast includes Ghaznavi, Mal Whyte, and Robert Stineman. Candace Cihocki directs. Matt Sharp created the lighting design and Ghaznavi is the playwright.

"I was driven to create Broken Wing because I wanted to create a piece that looked at the East/West cultural conflict, but not from a position of right and wrong. I wanted to explore how two ways of thinking -- both well intended, can come together in destruction through a lack of understanding. In this piece there are no strict protagonists or antagonists, just a world of good intentions," said Ghaznavi.

The show earned raves during its run at the Edinburgh Fringe last year. "While Ghaznavi's script is wrought with emotion, it's funny too, proving that she has the skills to create convincing characters in a believable world....a playwright who seems to have a real and lasting future, said Fest Magazine. Added Broadway Baby, "From the start to the end Broken Wing was a production gorgeous to behold for its fascinating story, beautiful language and shocking realisations. The Fringe-First-nominated playwright, Leila Ghaznavi, has woven an enchanting tale about cultural boundaries, social oppression, revolution and human nature.... an extremely poignant narrative."

Performance Schedule

Wednesday, Sept. 10 8:00 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 12 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 13,7:00 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 14, 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 17, 8:00 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 19, 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 20, 7:00 p.m.

Leila Ghaznavi's playwright/actor/puppeteer, work has been seen both domestically and abroad in Los Angeles, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Bali, Indonesia and Kristiansand, Norway. She is a graduate of the Dell'Arte International School of Physical Theater and holds a M.F.A. in Acting from the California Institute of the Arts and a B.A. in Music Composition from Bryn Mawr College.