Announcing Noor's 2014-2015 Season
It's been a fruitful summer for Noor Theatre: we completed our second artist residency at Adelphi with New York Theatre Workshop, and received grants from the Center for Arab American Philanthropy as well another two-year grant from the New York State Council for the Arts.
We engaged in many conversations about where we are headed as we approach our fifth year. We are troubled by the news here at home and coming out of the Middle East, and grapple with how to engage artistically and meaningfully with the world around us. Our programming is a direct response to these questions – questions that we look to our community of artists and audience to help us answer.
The 5th season of the Highlight Reading Series this fall takes us through the bedroom of an Egyptian-American couple; to the classroom of a Palestinian academic in London; through the struggles of nine Middle Eastern female college students in Queens; and in and out of the fractured memories of a Lebanese grandmother. Later in the spring, 48-Hour Forum – a new, whirlwind event on the Noor roster – will challenge team of talented writers, directors and actors to create a series of plays in response to the news of the day in just 48 hours.
We're also thrilled to welcome Noelle Ghoussaini as Highlight's Associate Producer this season, andMichael Abourizk as House Manager. These are two very talented artists in their own right and Noor is grateful to have them as a part of the production team this fall.
Join us. Challenge us. Engage with us. We look forward to spending the season with you.
Lameece & Maha
Monday, September 15th
Tuesday, October 7th
Tuesday, November 18th
Tuesday, December 9th
Monday, September 15th
7:30 PM
Threesome
By Yussef El Guindi
Directed by Johanna McKeon
With Amir Arison, Erik Jensen and Lameece Issaq
Leila and Rashid attempt to solve their relationship issues by inviting a relative stranger into their bedroom. . . What begins as a hilariously awkward evening soon becomes an experience fraught with secrets and tension, raising issues of sexism, possession, and independence.
Tuesday, October 7th
7:30 PM
What Happened to Noura?
By Nine Courageous Women at Queens College
Edited by Heather Raffo
Directed by Maha Chehlaoui
Cast TBD
When Noura reveals her true feelings about her faith, her family and girl friends are suddenly thrust into vivid relief. One woman's truth opens the door for another, until even the most haunting of cultural taboos demands to be given a voice. Created out of a theatrical writing workshop Heather conducted at Queens College, this play is is a startling and frank look at the life altering journeys these young Middle Eastern women have taken, and the bravery it takes to talk about them. And most importantly, it lets them tell us in their own words.
Tuesday, November 18th
7:30 PM
Vagrant
By Mona Mansour
Directed by Mark Wing-Davey
Cast TBD
London, 1982. Part three of a trilogy. As Arab émigré Adham faces his last hurdle to secure a coveted permanent position at university, a wave of "domestic terrorism" hits his chosen city, while at the same time, the family he left behind in Palestine faces their own escalating horrors. The life Adham has created threatens to unravel, destroying the political and personal equilibrium he's spent 15 years perfecting. Commissioned by the Public Theater.
Tuesday, December 9th
7:30 PM
American Dreams and Arabian Nights
By Leila Buck
Directed by Tamilla Woodard
Cast TBD
Sheherezade (Sherry to her friends), comes home for the holidays from the Holy Land with big plans: have a baby; introduce its father, Jihad, to her family; get him a green card; and record the process for their unborn child. But when her grandmother’s mind begins to deteriorate – and Sherry learns that Jihad has been detained at the border – the lines between here and there, past and present, reality and dreams become blurred. An exploration of how we draw the lines between us, and what happens when we choose to cross them.
All HIGHLIGHT readings will take place in New York Theatre Workshop's 3rd Floor Rehearsal Studio: 83 East 4th Street. Please join us for refreshments after each reading. RSVP@noortheatre.org.
Call for Volunteers to be part of our Highlight team. We’re looking for folks to help us set up the monthly readings. If you’re interested, please check the dates above and emailLameece@noortheatre.org.
Spring 2015
48-Hour Forum
5 playwrights, 5 directors, 25 actors and 48 hours.
Noor is taking on the headlines. How to respond the barrage of news coming out of the Middle East? By getting some of our favorite New York artists in a room and asking them to make a play in 48 hours out of the news of the day. A quick and dirty forum for the fun and the serious. More details to come!
The Myth Project 2.0
New Myths. New artists. New work.
After a successful run of the first round of The Myth Project plays last spring, Noor is gearing up for round two. Stay tuned for an exciting announcement…
From Our Friends
May In the Summer
A film by Cherien Dabis
Featuring Cherien Dabis, Hiam Abbas and Bill Pullman
Opening Friday, August 22nd
Sunshine Theaters in New York City
Watch the trailer here.
