Rohina Malik's YASMINA'S NECKLACE Opens 16th Street Theater's 9th Season Tonight

Rohina Malik, author of last year's Jeff Nominated The Mecca Tales and writer/performer of the powerful and popular one-woman show Unveiled, comes back to her artistic home to open 16th Street Theater's ninth season with the world premiere of YASMINA'S NECKLACE written by Rohina Malik and directed by Ann Filmer, tonight, January 21, through February 27, 2016 at North Berwyn Park District's 16th Street Theater, 6420 16th Street in Berwyn, with a press opening of Thursday, January 28 @ 7:30 PM.

Meet Abdul Samee: his father is Iraqi, his mother is Puerto Rican, but if you ask him, he'll say he's Italian. Longing to shed his cultural identity he changes his name to Sam, marries an American and does everything in his power to turn his back on his heritage. But when Sam meets Yasmina, a beautiful war refugee from his father's homeland, he begins to learn that a tree without roots cannot stand for long.

"While hostility and fear of refugees and Muslims flare up in our country, Rohina Malik brings us an American love story," says Director Ann Filmer. "This one happens to be arranged between two families of the Muslim faith: Yasmina and her father Musa are recent Iraqi war refugees while Sam succeeds in the art of Western assimilation, much to his parents' chagrin. Rohina's comedic and powerful story of love, family and faith once again uncovers the humanity in us all."

Featuring Susaan Jamshidi, (The Mecca Tales, The Who and The What) Michael Perez(Funnyman), Mark Ulrich (Assassination Theatre), Miguel Nunez (The Play About My Dad), Laura Crotte (The Sins of Sor Juana) Amro Salama (film: The Siege) and introducing Salar Ardebili as Amir, YASMINA'S NECKLACE is the first offering in 16th Street's Season Nine 2016: LOYALTY.

With designs by Joanna Iwanicka (scenic), Barry Bennett (sound), Cat Wilson (lights), Rachel Sypniewski (costumes) and Jessica Mondres (properties), and stage managerWendye Clarendon.

Running time: Under two hours including one intermission. Performances run January 21 - February 27, 2016. Previews: Jan 21 & 22 @ 7:30 PM, Jan 23 @ 8:30 PM. No 5pm Sat Jan 23. Press Opening: Thursday, January 28 @ 7:30 PM. Regular Run: Thursdays & Fridays @ 7:30 PM, Saturdays @ 5:00 & 8:30 PM. All performances at 16th Street Theater, 6420 16th Street in Berwyn. Purchase tickets online at www.16thstreettheater.org, by phone (708) 795-6704 or in person at North Berwyn Park District, 1619 Wesley Ave., Berwyn. General Admission: $20, Berwyn Residents: $18 Group Tickets $16 for 8+. Free parking one block west in lot at 16th & Gunderson across from Lincoln School.

The world premiere of YASMINA'S NECKLACE is made possible thanks to the generous contributions of Dilnaz and Qaiser Waraich, John W. and Jeanne M. Rowe, and Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation. Moderated post-show dialogues follow Thursday and Friday performances and will feature the playwright, director and members of 16th Street's Interfaith Advisory Council.

ROHINA MALIK is a critically acclaimed playwright, actress and solo performance artist born and raised in London, England, of Pakistani heritage. Rohina's play The Mecca Tales was commissioned by Goodman Theatre's Playwrights Unit in 2010, produced by Chicago Dramatists and nominated for a Joseph Jefferson Award for Best New Play. She is an artistic associate at 16th Street Theater, a resident playwright at Chicago Dramatists and a company member at Voyage Theater Company in New York. Her one woman playUnveiled was developed and had its world premiere at 16th Street, directed by Ann Filmer, where it received critical acclaim before moving on to Victory Gardens and then productions across the country including Crossroads Theater (New Jersey), Next Theater (Evanston), Brava Theater (San Francisco), Voyage Theater Company (New York City), Silk Road Rising (Chicago) and Theater Project Baltimore. Yasmina's Necklace was developed at 16th Street, Goodman Theatre's New Stages Festival, Chicago Dramtists and Silk Road Rising. Rohina is a proud member of the Dramatists Guild of America.

ANN FILMER is a director, adaptor and producer of new plays. She founded 16th Street Theater in 2007 where she has produced 44 new plays including directing The Ascension of Carlotta, The Scarlet Ibis, Kita y Fernanda, Mixin' It Up, Fires in the Mirror, Unveiled, The Last Barbecue, This Train, Menorca, The Beats, Our Dad is in Atlantis, Our Holiday Stories, Nickel History: The Nation of Heat, Love and Drowning, "8", Broken Fences (with Ilesa Duncan), Do-Gooder, Pinkolandia, The Art of Disappearing and Merchild. Ms. Filmer also has directed at such theatres as Remy Bumppo (The Clean House), Victory Gardens (Disconnect), Goodman (Chicago Boys; Almost Done, Reunion, and Dark Pony), Red Orchid (Eric LaRue), Shattered Globe (House of Blue Leaves), Live Bait (Us and Them), Stage Left (Spare Change, In Times of War), Chicago Dramatists, CollaborAction, Circle (Golf), Theatre on the Lake, Porchlight, The Aardvark (The Last Barbecue). While Producing Director of Chicago Dramatists, Ann co-produced the National Showcase of New Plays and won an After Dark Award for her direction of The Liquid Moon as well as editing the anthology New Plays from Chicago. She adapted and directed The Midnight City, her fourth collaboration with renowned visual artist Tony Fitzpatrick and Stan Klein at The Steppenwolf Garage.

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