For thousands of years, the night sky, with all its constellations, has been the surface onto which humanity’s stories have been etched: from gods and heroes, to the minutiae of daily life, the sky has always been a stage. We all share the same sky and stars, and ultimately meet on the same stage. Storytelling is the means by which cultures carry on their traditions while growing to embrace the promise of the future. At Silk Road Rising, we’re creating a space for playwrights to reclaim and reshape their narratives, helping to define what it means to be American by illuminating and celebrating all our complexities. Crescent and Star: A Radiant Season of Arab and Muslim Journeys will run from November 2015 to September 2016. The plays presented are bold, funny, tragic, provocative, unapologetic in their honesty and ambition—they are stories as vivid and varied as the cultures from which they emanate. We look forward to hosting you at Silk Road Rising this season! |
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The season includes four exciting new plays, an animated short film, and a panel discussion.
My American Cousin Written & Performed by Jameeleh Shelo Embodying a diverse group of characters, this sketch comedy show offers a lovable view into the life of an Arab American woman from the South Side of Chicago as she navigates her way through cultural pressures and societal assumptions. What happens when the Mid-East meets the Mid-West? The answers are sure to make you laugh! Learn more and buy tickets here >>
Panic Intersecting: This panel discussion will feature zoning attorney Mark Daniel, civil rights attorney Rabya Khan, and DuPage County Board Member Tony Michelassi, and will be moderated by Artistic Director Jamil Khoury. The panelists will discuss their experiences confronting resistance to proposed mosques in the Chicagoland area. Learn more and reserve your FREE seat here >>
Ziryab, The Songbird of Andalusia Written & Performed by Ronnie Malley Take an enchanting musical journey back to 9th century Islamic Spain where we meet Ziryab, a former slave who rose to extraordinary fame in the court of Abd ar-Rahman II. Witness Ziryab’s story: a musician, poet, and polymath whose contributions—like Leonardo da Vinci’s in centuries to come—helped shape the world we live in today. Learn more and buy tickets here >>
Mosque Alert Written by Jamil Khoury Inspired by the “Ground Zero Mosque” controversy in New York City, and developed, in part, via online conversations and live community events, Mosque Alert tells the story of three fictional families living in Naperville, Illinois, whose lives are interrupted by a proposed Islamic Center on the site of a beloved local landmark. Mosque Alert explores the intersections of zoning, civil rights, and Islamophobia, with humor, family drama, and refreshingly blunt honesty. Learn more and buy tickets here >>
The Four Hijabs by Dr. Manal Hamzeh & Jamil Khoury This short film animates the theoretical framework developed by Dr. Manal Hamzeh in her book, “Pedagogies of Deveiling: Muslim Girls and the Hijab Discourse.” Bringing to life the four hijabs—visual, spatial, ethical and spiritual—this accessible and entertaining piece creates a dynamic way of engaging the multi-dimensional ideas surrounding the hijab. More information will be available soon so check back online here >>
Un-American: A Patriot Acts Written and Performed by Azhar Usman Famed comedian Azhar Usman takes to the stage with this brutally honest, unflinching one-man show exploring the tensions and paradoxes surrounding the complex identities and double consciousness of American Muslims today. Tickets will be available soon so check back online here >> |
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