Critically acclaimed play to be staged at American University.
By Deepak Chitnis
WASHINGTON, DC: Akbar Ahmed’s highly lauded play Noor is coming back to Washington, D.C. in September. It’s being produced and directed by Manjula Kumar, program director at the Smithsonian Institute and a renowned actor/director in her own right.
Noor premiered originally in the nation’s capital in 2007, at the famous Theater J in northwest Washington. The play, a drama about religious tolerance involving the kidnapping of a Muslim girl named Noor and the search of her three very different brothers to find her, was highly appreciated by theatergoers and critics alike. Daniel Futterman, the Academy Award-nominated screenwriter of 2005’s Capote, said, “I am in awe of this tremendous, important work,” upon seeing Noor.
“Noor illuminates the crisis faced by Muslims around the world as they struggle with reconciling tradition, honor, and the challenges of modern society,” said Ahmed.
The play will be performed at the Abramson Family Recital Hall of the Katzen Arts Center at American University.
Ahmed, considered by the BBC as “the world’s leading authority on contemporary Islam,” is the Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies at the American University, as well as the First Distinguished Chair of Middle East and Islamic Studies at the US Naval Academy, Annapolis.
“This production, as a part of our commitment to interfaith dialogue and intercultural understanding, brings together an Indian director, a Pakistani playwright, and a mixed Indian and Pakistani cast,” explained Ahmed. “As the play dispels misconceptions about the Muslim world and teaches religious tolerance, we hope it will also help to pave the way forward for peace and collaboration between these two peoples.”
Performances of Noor will be on Saturday, September 14th and Sunday, September 15th at 7pm and 4pm, respectively. Tickets are available at the door or, for more information involving pricing and availability, you can call 202-885-1641 or email akins@american.edu.
To contact the author, email to deepakchitnis@americanbazaaronline.com