Through Oct. 23: Desert Sunrise: A Play

Aubrey Levy as an Israeli Soldier. (Photo by Alex Pinna)

Through Oct. 23

DESERT SUNRISE
Written and Directed by MISHA SHULMAN
Music by YOEL BEN SIMHON

THEATER FOR THE NEW CITY:
155 1st Ave, (bt East 9th and East 10th Sts.)

At this moment of very cautious hope in the Middle East and Israel/Palestine in particular, activists on both sides of the wall are trying to build bridges that will enhance the chances for peace. In DESERT SUNRISE, a play by Israeli army vet Misha Shulman, there is a novel collaboration afoot: the production is influenced and inspired by Ta'ayush, a peace movement that means living together in Arabic.
The play embodies Ta'ayush's powerful message of living together by bringing together Israeli and Palestinian, Jewish and Arab actors, musicians and artists to work together. In addition, leading activists, both Israeli and Palestinian, will travel to New York during the production for post-performance discussions with the audience. Other organizations taking part in post-performance discussions are Women in Black and Just Vision

The choral odes are scored by Israeli musician Yoel Ben-Simhon (composer; appearing on tenor, oud, guitar and percussion). He is an Israeli Jew of Moroccan descent. Art direction and set design are by New York artist Celia Owens. Lighting design is by Itai Erdal, who is from Israel but now based in Vancouver.
The cast features Aubrey Levy (Canadian) as the Israeli soldier, Haythem Noor (Egyptian) as the shepherd and Alice Borman (Tunisian) as the Palestinian girl. Playing Israeli soldiers in the denouement are Yifat Sharabi (Israeli) and Morteza Tavakoli (Iranian). There are dances by Bhavani Lee, who toured three years with Cirque Du Soleil.
SCHEDULE OF POST-PLAY DISCUSSIONS
October 20 -- Women in Black
October 21 -- Ta'ayush
TBA. -- THAW (Theaters Against War) and Just Vision.