AN AMBITIOUS IRANIAN JEWISH AMERICAN COLLABORATION
Persian Mirror
Sept 24 2007
An Ambitious International Collaboration among Iranian, Israeli
and American Artists is worth your support! Created by Mahmood
Karimi-Hakak, Motti Lerner, Roberta Levitow, Daniel Michaelson and
Torange Yeghiazarian
San Francisco – Golden Thread Productions’ 10th Anniversary Season
opens with an ambitious international collaboration, Benedictus,
bringing together acclaimed artists from Iran, Israel and the
United States: Motti Lerner, one of Israel’s most provocative
contemporary playwrights, Torange Yeghiazarian, Artistic Director
of Golden Thread, Iranian-American director Mahmood Karimi-Hakak of
Siena College and American designer Daniel Michaelson of Bennington
College and designer for the acclaimed ‘Spring Awakening’ at the
Public Theatre, and dramaturg Roberta Levitow, founder of Theatre
Without Borders. Propelled by world events and against a backdrop
of an imminent US invasion of Iran, two estranged childhood friends,
one Jewish and one Muslim, born in the same town in Iran, agree to a
secret meeting in a Benedictine monastery in Rome to negotiate a price
for safety and freedom. The cast includes renowned Iranian theatre
and cinema thespian, Ali Pourtash,* Egyptian born Arab-American actor,
Al Faris*, most recently seen in ‘The Unit’ at the invitation of its
creator, David Mamet, as well as veteran Bay Area performer, Earll
Kingston*. The play runs September 29th through October 21st at the
Thick House in San Francisco. Opening night reception will be hosted
by Baraka Restaurant. For more information visit
‘When we began the Iran/Israel/US project two years ago,’ says Artistic
Director Torange Yeghiazarian, ‘we didn’t imagine how disturbingly
timely the subject of US-Iran relations would be today.’ Given the
impossibility of meeting in Iran and the complexities of meeting in
Israel, these artists are working in the US to create collaborative
theatre in the midst of escalating political conflict amongst their
home countries. The piece created offers an opportunity to engage
non-violently and creatively with the historical, social, religious and
aesthetic dimensions of this crucial inter-relationship. Benedictus
explores how the relationship among Iran, Israel, and United States
is impacting the world. The work began in the summer of 2005 as the
Iran/Israel/US Project, with a two-week residency at Siena College
in upstate New York and has continued over the past two years.
The central premise of Benedictus was inspired by an actual event.
In 2005, President Mohammad Khatami of Iran and President Moshe Katsav
of Israel were seated alphabetically at the service for the funeral of
Pope John Paul II. Although the two countries had broken off diplomatic
relations in 1979 with the fall of the Shah and the installation of
the revolutionary government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the two
presidents apparently shook hands and exchanged a few words in Farsi,
since they both had been born some 50 years earlier in the Iranian
province of Yazd.
Artists’ Biographies
Mahmood Karimi-Hakak is the Artistic Director of Mahak International
Artists Inc. and a Professor of Creative Arts at Siena College, has
written, produced, directed, designed and/or acted in over 50 stage
and screen plays in the U.S., Europe and his native Iran. His plays
and films have received international acclaim and awards at such
festivals as Edinburgh, Netherlands, Berlin, Delhi, Montreal, New
York, Ft. Lauderdale, Palm Springs, Maryland and Tehran. A recipient
of the 2005 Raymond C. Kennedy Award, Dr. Karimi-Hakak’s literary
credits include five plays, two books of poetry, several translations
from and into Persian and numerous articles and interviews both in
English and Persian. Prior to his tenure at Siena, he taught theatre
in Belgium, Germany and his native Iran, as well as CUNY, Towson and
Southern Methodist Universities here in the U.S. and served as Artistic
Director of Community of International Artists (CIA), Forough Ensemble
(FE) and Creative Arts Street Theatre (CAST).
Motti Lerner is a widely known and internationally sought after
contemporary Israeli playwright, screenwriter and scholar. His
critically acclaimed plays have consistently sought to open up
public discourse on the complex reality of Israeli life and offer
alternatives to consensus views. His film script Spring 1941 is
currently in production with Joseph Fiennes in the title role. Motti
has received several awards for his writing including the Meskin
Award for the best play (1985), and the Israel Motion Picture Academy
award for best TV drama in 1995 and in 2004. He frequently lectures
at European and American Universities on playwriting, Israeli theatre
and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and is actively involved in the
peace movement in Israel. His American productions include: Pangs
of the Messiah at Theatre J in Washington DC, The murder of Isaac at
Centerstage Theatre, Baltimore, and also as part of the New York Now
festival at Public Theatre in NY, Exile in Jerusalem at the Jewish
Ensemble Theatre of Detroit and also at La Mama Theatre in New York,
Hard Love at Theatre Or in Durham, NC and also at Victory Gardens
in Chicago, Passing The Love of Women at Theatre J in Washington DC,
Coming Home at Golden Thread Productions, San Francisco and Autumn at
the Georgetown University Program. He has served as writer in residence
at The Centre for Postgraduate Hebrew Studies in Oxford and as a
visiting professor at Duke University. In 1994, Motti was awarded the
Prime Minister of Israel Award for Writers. He has also participated
at the International Writers Program at the University of Iowa. He
currently teaches Political Playwriting at Tel Aviv University.
Roberta Levitow has directed over 50 productions in NYC, LA and
nationally, with a particular expertise in developing original
writing and new work. She is co-founder of Theatre Without Borders,
an informal group supporting international theatre exchange at
With TWB, Roberta is working with Dr.
Cynthia Cohen and Coexistence International at Brandeis University
as part of a ‘Theatre & Peace Building Initiative’. She has led
several workshops on an international level, and has served as a
Fulbright Senior Specialist at the National University of Theatre &
Film in Bucharest, Romania, as well as a Fulbright Senior Specialist
Artist-in-Residence at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. She has
received several international awards and honors for her work in
experimental theatre and theatre workshops, and was the American
Honoree at the 15th Cairo International Festival for Experimental
Theatre, 2003. Her accomplishments and writings have been featured
in The New York Times and American Theatre Magazine and several
international publications and collections. Participation in national
service organizations includes Peer Panel for the N.E.A., the Executive
Board of SSDC (The Society of Stages Directors and Choreographers) and
the Executive Board of TCG (Theatre Communications Group). Visiting
Professor at Bennington College from 2000-2005, she taught from
1990-2000 as an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Theatre Department
at U.C.L.A.
Daniel Michaelson he has created costumes and scenery for Opera, Dance,
Off-Broadway and regional theatres. He designed scenery and costumes
for the American premiere of’L’Etoile’ (Chabrier), and costumes for
the American premiere of ‘The Goose of Cairo,’ (Mozart) and, for the
highly acclaimed production of ‘Spring Awakening’ directed by Liviu
Culei at the Public Theater. Outside of the United States his designs
have been seen in Germany, England and Japan.
Danny has been the Resident Costume Designer at the Juilliard School
as well as a Muppet maker. He holds an MFA from Columbia University
School of the Arts and has been on the faculty of Bennington College
since 1981 teaching Costume Design. Danny is also a professional
mediator, and with Bennington College faculty member, Susan Sgorbati,,
co-directs Quantum Leap, a program they created for youth at risk
in Bennington. Danny has given presentations and workshops both
nationally and internationally about Quantum Leap and the use of
performance with students at risk.
Torange Yeghiazarian is an Iranian-born theatre artist of Armenian
heritage. She writes, directs and performs for theatre. Among
her writing and directing credits are AGABA, Publicly Resting,
Call Me Mehdi, Behind Glass Windows, Dawn at Midnight, Operation No
Penetration, Lysistrata 97! and Waves. Torange received her Master’s
degree in Theatre Arts from San Francisco State University where
she collaborated with The San Francisco Mime Troupe in creating the
melodrama Torch! Her plays reflect the perspective of the culturally
displaced in tackling today’s world of contradictory realities and
values. Torange is the Artistic Director of Golden Thread Productions,
where she has devoted her professional life to exploring Middle
Eastern cultures and identities through theatre arts.
Ali Pourtash*, a renowned Iranian actor, has performed since age
fourteen. He has been a part of numerous Iranian and American TV,
theatre and film productions since he came to the US in 1978. Ali has
written, directed and produced a number of stage and TV productions.
He has traveled his work around the world. Ali lives with his American
wife, Melinda, and their two sons in San Diego.
Al Faris*, most recently guest starred on ‘The Unit’ at the invitation
of the creator of the show Mr. David Mamet. His credits also include
a recurring guest role on ’24’ and guest star roles on ‘The Shield,’
‘Sleeper Cell,’ ‘JAG,’ ‘NYPD Blue,’ and ‘Malcolm in the Middle.’ His
feature film credits include David Mamet’s ‘Spartan,’ Vadim Perelman’s
‘House of Sand and Fog,’ ‘Jarhead’ directed by Sam Mendes, and
‘Ocean’s Twelve’ directed by Steven Soderbergh. An Egyptian born
Arab-American actor, Al’s most recent starring role in the indie
feature ‘AmericanEast’ – a timely, poignant drama about Arab-Americans
living in post-9/11 Los Angeles – will be in competition at the Cairo
International Film Festival and the Hamptons International Film
Festival. His most recent stage appearance prior to ‘Benedictus’
was in the role of Akhmed in the Moscow Arts Theatre production of
the ‘The Shelter’ at the Odyssey Theatre in Los Angeles which was
nominated for five Ovation Awards, including Best Ensemble.
Golden Thread Productions is dedicated to exploring Middle Eastern
culture and identity as it is expressed around the globe. This growing
theatre company is rapidly gaining international recognition for
excellence and innovation. Golden Thread Productions aims to create
a world where the common human experience supersedes cultural and
political differences by defining the Middle East not by geographical
boundaries and political separations, but as the shared experience of
the people, who throughout history have been touched by its tales,
melodies and aromas. Founded in 1996, Golden Thread Productions
exemplifies theatre’s ability to transcend cultural and political
boundaries and to encourage an active dialogue among Middle Eastern
and non-Middle Eastern communities.
Detailed information about Golden Thread Productions and about
Benedictus can be found at
* Member of Actors’ Equity Association and Screen Actors’ Guild
Saturday, September 29 @ 8 pm
Sunday, September 30 @ 8 pm
TICKETED RUN: Opening Night, Monday, October 1st at 8 pm
Fridays at 8pm
Saturdays at 2pm and 8pm
Sundays at 5pm
ALL PERFORMANCES AT: The Thick House
1695 18th Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
TICKETS: Opening Night followed by Gala Reception with the artists:
$100
Fridays-Sundays: $25 General Admission,
$12 Students and Seniors
Saturday Matinee: $20 General Admission
$12 for Students and Seniors
BOX OFFICE: (415) 401-8081 or
New audience members can take advantage of our Free Night of Theatre,
on Saturday 10/20 for the 2 pm performance.
To do so, please visit
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www.goldenthread.org.
www.theatrewithoutborders.com.
www.goldenthread.org.
www.goldenthread.org
www.theatrebayarea.org.