TOWARDS AN ARAB AMERICAN THEATRE Panels, Screenings and More Set for the Segal Center, 12/8

Join us for an evening investigating contemporary Arab American Theatre and for the launch of the new Segal Center journal, Arab Stages, by Editor-in-Chief, Marvin Carlson. "Towards an Arab American Theatre" will present readings, panels, screenings and a book celebration for free on Monday, December 8, with screenings starting at 4 p.m. and readings and conversation set for 6:30 p.m. at the Segal Theatre at The Graduate Center, CUNY.

Panelists will discuss the representation of Arab Americans on the New York stage (from Nine Parts of Desire to the controversial Aladdin) as well as a vision for a new Arab American Theatre.

Invited speakers are Marvin Carlson, Faisal Al-Juburi, Leila Buck, Maha Chehlaoui, Lameece Issaq, Jamil Khoury, Michael Malek Najjar, Heather Raffo, and Edward Ziter. The event is curated by Jamil Khoury, Lameece Issaq, and Michael Malek Najjar with Frank Hentschker.

The playwrights and actors will read brief excerpts of Michael Malek Najjar's new anthology Four Arab American Plays: Works by Leila Buck, Jamil Khoury, Yussef El Guindi, and Lameece Issaq & Jacob Kader.

Screening Schedule:

4:00pm
On Orientalism
by Edward Said
Introduced by Jamil Khoury

5:00pm
Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People
by Sut Jhally
Introduced by Michael Malek Najjar

Evening 6:30pm

Panels:

Representations of Arabs on Stage
with Marvin Carlson, Jamil Khoury, Faisal Al-Juburi, and Edward Ziter
Moderated by Michael Malek Najjar

Towards an Arab American Theatre Movement
with Leila Buck, Maha Chehlaoui, Lameece Issaq, Michael Malek Najjar, and Heather Raffo
Moderated by Jamil Khoury

Readings:

ISite
by Leila Buck

Precious Stones
by Jamil Khoury

Our Enemies: Lively Scenes of Love and Combat
by Yussef El Guindi

Food and Fadwa
by Lameece Issaq & Jacob Kader

In addition, The Segal Center's new digital journal Arab Stages will be launched, and the editorial board will be announced by Marvin Carlson, founder and Editor-in-Chief.

The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center is located at The Graduate Center CUNY, 365 Fifth Avenue at 34th Street. For more about the Segal, visit www.theSegalCenter.org.

Pictured: Stripes and Stars Opalescent oil on canvas, Doris Bittar, 2007.