 | "Semitic Commonwealth," a staged reading series comprised of six plays by Arab and Jewish playwrights exploring the human toll of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Rather than strive to achieve balance and moral equivalency between 'competing' narratives, these works investigate themes of identity, occupation, exile, and home with remarkable honesty. Performance Schedule “Semitic Commonwealth” will run from February 10th to February 26th, 2017. A complete schedule of staged readings is included below. |
WEEK ONE (February 10-12):
Scenes from 69* Years by Hannah Khalil, directed by Jess McLeod
Friday, February 10, 2017 at 8:00pm & Saturday, February 11, 2017 at 4:00pm
The Admission by Motti Lerner, directed by Michael Malek Najjar
Saturday, February 11, 2017 at 8:00pm & Sunday, February 12, 2017 at 4:00pm
WEEK TWO (February 17-19):
The Zionists by Zohar Tirosh-Polk, directed by Jonathan Green
Friday, February 17, 2017 at 8:00pm & Saturday, February 18, 2017 at 4:00pm
Tennis in Nablus by Ismail Khalidi, directed by Michael Malek Najjar
Saturday, February 18, 2017 at 8:00pm & Sunday, February 19, 2017 at 4:00pm
WEEK THREE (February 24-26):
Urge for Going by Mona Mansour, directed by Anna C. Bahow
Friday, February 24, 2017 at 8:00pm & Saturday, February 25, 2017 at 4:00pm
The Victims by Ken Kaissar, directed by Michael Malek Najjar
Saturday, February 25, 2017 at 8:00pm & Sunday, February 26, 2017 at 4:00pm
Tickets
- Tickets are $10 General Admission. For tickets or more information, please visit www.SemiticCommonwealth.org or call the Silk Road Rising Box Office at 312.857.1234 x201.
- Some tickets are also available for select performances as a part of Chicago Theatre Week. More information here: http://www.choosechicago.com/event/semitic-commonwealth-staged-reading-series/34524/
"
International Voices Project 2017
UN equal Jonas Hassen Khemiri
Synopsis:
How much do you earn? Who do you serve? In Jonas Hassen Khemiri’s recent play ≈[Almost Equal To] we encounter a number of people who are colliding with the economy surrounding them.
Martina dreams about growing her way out of the contemporary economic system, Mani want to crush it. Andrei is looking for a job, Freja is seeking revenge. They all invest money in postage and pine nuts, fake bubbles and perfumes, strollers and utopias. Everyone seems invaded by numbers. How are we, our eyes, our words, our bodies affected by the economic system that surrounds us?
≈ [Almost Equal To] is a funny and brutal play that tries (and fails?) to give the audience a maximized entertainment value for every dollar invested. Premiered October 23, 2014 at the Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm, was performed until spring 2016.
Playwright Bio: Jonas Hassen Khemiri (Past Bio.)
Jonas Hassen Khemiri, born in Sweden in 1978, is the author of three novels and six plays. His first novel, One Eye Red, received the Borås Tidning award for best literary debut. His second novel, Montecore, (published by Knopf in 2011) won several literary awards including the Swedish Radio Award for best novel of the year. Khemiri’s work have been translated into more than fifteen languages and his plays have been performed by over 40 international companies.
Translaor Bio: Rachel Willson-Broyles (Past Bio)
Rachel Willson-Broyles is a freelance translator specializing in literature. She lives in Madison, Wisconsin. She received her Ph.D. in Scandinavian Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2013. Her dissertation is titled Cultural Untranslatability in Swedish-English Literary Translation in the Age of the Internet. Rachel received her BA in Scandinavian Studies from Gustavus Adolphus College in 2002 and her MA in Scandinavian Studies from UW-Madison in 2007.
Director Bio: Anna Bahow (used from last year)
Anna Bahow is committed to the development of new work and a diversity of voices. She is an Associate Artist with The International Voices Project and Chicago Dramatists, she served as the 2011-2012 Michael Maggio Directing Fellow at the Goodman Theatre, and she received an After Dark Award (Direction) and two JEFF Awards (New Work; Use of Multi-Media). Her work has appeared on many “best of the year” lists, including her 2013 production of INVASION! at Silk Road Rising. Find out more about her work at AnnaBahow.com.
How much do you earn? Who do you serve? In Jonas Hassen Khemiri’s recent play ≈[Almost Equal To] we encounter a number of people who are colliding with the economy surrounding them.
Martina dreams about growing her way out of the contemporary economic system, Mani want to crush it. Andrei is looking for a job, Freja is seeking revenge. They all invest money in postage and pine nuts, fake bubbles and perfumes, strollers and utopias. Everyone seems invaded by numbers. How are we, our eyes, our words, our bodies affected by the economic system that surrounds us?
≈ [Almost Equal To] is a funny and brutal play that tries (and fails?) to give the audience a maximized entertainment value for every dollar invested. Premiered October 23, 2014 at the Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm, was performed until spring 2016.
Playwright Bio: Jonas Hassen Khemiri (Past Bio.)
Jonas Hassen Khemiri, born in Sweden in 1978, is the author of three novels and six plays. His first novel, One Eye Red, received the Borås Tidning award for best literary debut. His second novel, Montecore, (published by Knopf in 2011) won several literary awards including the Swedish Radio Award for best novel of the year. Khemiri’s work have been translated into more than fifteen languages and his plays have been performed by over 40 international companies.
Translaor Bio: Rachel Willson-Broyles (Past Bio)
Rachel Willson-Broyles is a freelance translator specializing in literature. She lives in Madison, Wisconsin. She received her Ph.D. in Scandinavian Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2013. Her dissertation is titled Cultural Untranslatability in Swedish-English Literary Translation in the Age of the Internet. Rachel received her BA in Scandinavian Studies from Gustavus Adolphus College in 2002 and her MA in Scandinavian Studies from UW-Madison in 2007.
Director Bio: Anna Bahow (used from last year)
Anna Bahow is committed to the development of new work and a diversity of voices. She is an Associate Artist with The International Voices Project and Chicago Dramatists, she served as the 2011-2012 Michael Maggio Directing Fellow at the Goodman Theatre, and she received an After Dark Award (Direction) and two JEFF Awards (New Work; Use of Multi-Media). Her work has appeared on many “best of the year” lists, including her 2013 production of INVASION! at Silk Road Rising. Find out more about her work at AnnaBahow.com.
2016
TAIL EATS SNAKE the side project
JANUARY 6 -JANUARY 31
Brand new 10-minute plays from 16 of the playwrights whose full-length work we have premiered, presented in two 80-minute evenings to kick off 2016, the company's 16th Anniversary. Each play is set in a single year of the company's existence (2001-2016), tackling a cultural, social, or political event (local, national or global) from that year.
Tickets: $20 General Admission
$16 Seniors/Students with ID
$10 "Rogers Park Rush" (all unsold tickets at the door with 60626 or 60645 ID
JANUARY 6 -JANUARY 31
EVENING B: Featuring works by: Scott Barsotti, Sean Graney, Laura Jacqmin, Jacob Juntunen,
Steve Spencer, Daniel Talbott, Robert Tenges, and Mark Young.
Directed by: Anna C. Bahow, Wyatt Fair, Emmi Hilger, Cecilie Keenan, Nathan Robbel, and Brian Ruby.
Showing Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm, Sundays at 5:30pm
EVENING A: Featuring works by: Dan Caffrey, Philip Dawkins, Michael Fife, Lynne McMahon, Brett Neveu,
Sherod Santos, Crystal Skillman, and Jesse Weaver.
Directed by: Philip Dawkins, Aaron Henrickson, Brian Ruby, Justin Verestraete,
and Adam Webster Showing Thursdays at 7:30pm, Saturdays at 5pm, Sundays at 3pm
Oh My Sweet Land
January 30 - January 31, 2016
Written by Amir Nizar Zuabi
Performed by Amy J. Carle
Directed by Anna C. Bahow
Pierce Hall at the Historic Chicago Temple Building, 77 W. Washington St., Chicago
Performance Schedule
Saturday, January 30 at 4:00pm
Sunday, January 31 at 4:00pm
$10. No fees to purchase online
SYNOPSIS
They call it a civil war
but there is nothing civil about it
nothing civil at all
They came from Damascus, from Aleppo, from Banias where the bombs fall day and night and the wounded children look like sleeping angels. Now they live in camps and abandoned buildings in Lebanon and Jordan, as Syria's becomes a haunting memory.
A Syrian woman prepares kibbeh in her kitchen, while recounting tales of her vanished lover. Her stories bring to life an ancient land torn apart by a cruel war. Oh My Sweet Land is written by Amir Nizar Zuabi, rising star of the Palestinian theatre.
January 30 - January 31, 2016
Written by Amir Nizar Zuabi
Performed by Amy J. Carle
Directed by Anna C. Bahow
Pierce Hall at the Historic Chicago Temple Building, 77 W. Washington St., Chicago
Performance Schedule
Saturday, January 30 at 4:00pm
Sunday, January 31 at 4:00pm
$10. No fees to purchase online
SYNOPSIS
They call it a civil war
but there is nothing civil about it
nothing civil at all
They came from Damascus, from Aleppo, from Banias where the bombs fall day and night and the wounded children look like sleeping angels. Now they live in camps and abandoned buildings in Lebanon and Jordan, as Syria's becomes a haunting memory.
A Syrian woman prepares kibbeh in her kitchen, while recounting tales of her vanished lover. Her stories bring to life an ancient land torn apart by a cruel war. Oh My Sweet Land is written by Amir Nizar Zuabi, rising star of the Palestinian theatre.
Ziryab,
The Songbird of Andalusia
February 18 - February 28, 2016
Written by Ronnie Malley
Directed by Anna C. Bahow
SILK ROAD RISING
Pierce Hall at the Historic Chicago Temple Building,
77 W. Washington St., Chicago
The Songbird of Andalusia
February 18 - February 28, 2016
Written by Ronnie Malley
Directed by Anna C. Bahow
SILK ROAD RISING
Pierce Hall at the Historic Chicago Temple Building,
77 W. Washington St., Chicago
SYNOPSIS
East meets west, the past intersects with the present in this story of two musicians: one from 9th century Spain and one from 21st century America with music and story by Ronnie Malley.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Ronnie Malley is a musician, theatrical performer, producer, and educator. His most recent credits include co-composer and performer in The White Snake (Wuzhen Theater Festival China, Goodman, McCarter, Oregon Shakespeare Festival), Disney’s theatrical production of The Jungle Book (Goodman, Huntington), International Voices Project’s The Sultan’s Dilemma, In Search of Said Abu Al Naga, and The Castle and the Sparrow (U of C, Victory Gardens), The Arabian Nights (Arena, Berkeley Rep, and Lookingglass), The Band’s Visit (Playwrights Horizons), Hephaestus and Mirror of the Invisible World (Goodman). Ronnie composed music for the documentaries At the Gate, Modou: The Hang Player, and Jon & Davy. He conducts artist residency programs for Chicago Public Schools and is a faculty member at the Old Town School of Folk Music and the Chicago Academy for the Arts. He performs with the music groups Allos Musica, Duzan Ensemble, Lamajamal, Mucca Pazza, and the University of Chicago Mid East Music Ensemble.
East meets west, the past intersects with the present in this story of two musicians: one from 9th century Spain and one from 21st century America with music and story by Ronnie Malley.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Ronnie Malley is a musician, theatrical performer, producer, and educator. His most recent credits include co-composer and performer in The White Snake (Wuzhen Theater Festival China, Goodman, McCarter, Oregon Shakespeare Festival), Disney’s theatrical production of The Jungle Book (Goodman, Huntington), International Voices Project’s The Sultan’s Dilemma, In Search of Said Abu Al Naga, and The Castle and the Sparrow (U of C, Victory Gardens), The Arabian Nights (Arena, Berkeley Rep, and Lookingglass), The Band’s Visit (Playwrights Horizons), Hephaestus and Mirror of the Invisible World (Goodman). Ronnie composed music for the documentaries At the Gate, Modou: The Hang Player, and Jon & Davy. He conducts artist residency programs for Chicago Public Schools and is a faculty member at the Old Town School of Folk Music and the Chicago Academy for the Arts. He performs with the music groups Allos Musica, Duzan Ensemble, Lamajamal, Mucca Pazza, and the University of Chicago Mid East Music Ensemble.
Steamship Quanza
By Susan Lieberman & Stephen J. Morewitz
Staged reading of STEAMSHIP QUANZA
Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation (Evanston)
Saturday, April 2nd @ 7:00 pm
Performance followed by a reception & talkback
Rooted in actual World War II history, STEAMSHIP QUANZA is the story of Ben and Darcy Abrams, an irreverent husband and wife lawyer team in Virginia who, in 1940, fought to save 82 refugees of Hitler’s Europe.
Steamship Quanza
By Susan Lieberman & Stephen J. Morewitz
Staged reading of STEAMSHIP QUANZA
Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation (Evanston)
Saturday, April 2nd @ 7:00 pm
Performance followed by a reception & talkback
Rooted in actual World War II history, STEAMSHIP QUANZA is the story of Ben and Darcy Abrams, an irreverent husband and wife lawyer team in Virginia who, in 1940, fought to save 82 refugees of Hitler’s Europe.
INTERNATIONAL VOICES PROJECT
Join us for our seventh season of new plays from around the world!
IVP 2016
April 9-25, 2016
at Victory Gardens Theater
Nine contemporary plays from around the world in one amazing city. http://www.ivpchicago.org/
Join us for our seventh season of new plays from around the world!
IVP 2016
April 9-25, 2016
at Victory Gardens Theater
Nine contemporary plays from around the world in one amazing city. http://www.ivpchicago.org/
READINGCHICAGO DRAMATISTS25 Jun 2016 Chicago DramatistsWisdom From Everything
By Resident Playwright Mia McCullough
Directed by Associate Artist Anna Bahow
In contemporary Jordan, 19-year-old Syrian refugee Farsana marries an older Jordanian doctor in hopes of finally getting the education that war has stolen from her, but instead she finds herself embroiled in her new husband's bizarre plot to redeem himself. Wisdom From Everything is the story of one young woman trying to better herself in a world where she has very little agency, few rights, no country, and very little support.
About the Saturday Series
By Resident Playwright Mia McCullough
Directed by Associate Artist Anna Bahow
In contemporary Jordan, 19-year-old Syrian refugee Farsana marries an older Jordanian doctor in hopes of finally getting the education that war has stolen from her, but instead she finds herself embroiled in her new husband's bizarre plot to redeem himself. Wisdom From Everything is the story of one young woman trying to better herself in a world where she has very little agency, few rights, no country, and very little support.
About the Saturday Series
LA MAMA Directing Symposium UMBRIA ITALY
Marianne Weems (USA) merging media with meaning,
Yoshiko Chuma (Japan)Shifting Concepts from Brain to Bone transform conceptual ideas into physical movement.
Tian Mansha (China) use of breath, thought, emotion, energy
Martha Clarke with Sam Hunter (USA) Expanding the Notion of Where Artistic Inspiration Comes From
Marianne Weems (USA) merging media with meaning,
Yoshiko Chuma (Japan)Shifting Concepts from Brain to Bone transform conceptual ideas into physical movement.
Tian Mansha (China) use of breath, thought, emotion, energy
Martha Clarke with Sam Hunter (USA) Expanding the Notion of Where Artistic Inspiration Comes From
READING
08 Oct 2016CHICAGO DRAMATISTS
A Town Called Progress
By Network Playwright Trina Kakacek
Directed by Associate Artist Anna Bahow
On the dusty road between Backwards and Conspiratorial, two thirsty vagabonds join forces to infiltrate the town of Progress. But Ida-Mayor of Progress, ain’t interested in strangers. Before you know it, the future of Progress is in jeopardy. A Town Called Progress explores the ironies of gender roles, the myth of having it all, and how the definition of all might be reconsidered to create equality on new terms.
08 Oct 2016CHICAGO DRAMATISTS
A Town Called Progress
By Network Playwright Trina Kakacek
Directed by Associate Artist Anna Bahow
On the dusty road between Backwards and Conspiratorial, two thirsty vagabonds join forces to infiltrate the town of Progress. But Ida-Mayor of Progress, ain’t interested in strangers. Before you know it, the future of Progress is in jeopardy. A Town Called Progress explores the ironies of gender roles, the myth of having it all, and how the definition of all might be reconsidered to create equality on new terms.
| Oh My Sweet Land NOVEMBER 2016 Written by Amir Nizar Zuabi Performed by Susaan JAmshidi Directed by Anna C. Bahow NOUR FESTIVAL LONDON UK AGA KHAN MUSEUM TORONTO CANADA |  |
SYNOPSIS
They call it a civil war
but there is nothing civil about it
nothing civil at all
They came from Damascus, from Aleppo, from Banias where the bombs fall day and night and the wounded children look like sleeping angels. Now they live in camps and abandoned buildings in Lebanon and Jordan, as Syria's becomes a haunting memory.
A Syrian woman prepares kibbeh in her kitchen, while recounting tales of her vanished lover. Her stories bring to life an ancient land torn apart by a cruel war. Oh My Sweet Land is written by Amir Nizar Zuabi, rising star of the Palestinian theatre.
They call it a civil war
but there is nothing civil about it
nothing civil at all
They came from Damascus, from Aleppo, from Banias where the bombs fall day and night and the wounded children look like sleeping angels. Now they live in camps and abandoned buildings in Lebanon and Jordan, as Syria's becomes a haunting memory.
A Syrian woman prepares kibbeh in her kitchen, while recounting tales of her vanished lover. Her stories bring to life an ancient land torn apart by a cruel war. Oh My Sweet Land is written by Amir Nizar Zuabi, rising star of the Palestinian theatre.