HARAM! IRAN! Makes New York Premiere at TADA! Tonight

After successful engagements in London and at Los Angeles's Celebration Theater, Creative Concept Productions has announced that Haram! Iran!, a new play by Jay Paul Deratany, will make its New York premiere in a strictly limited nine performance engagement at TADA! (15 West 28th Street) beginning tonight, March 3, 2017.

Nominated for a GLAAD Award for its Los Angeles engagement, Haram! Iran! is based on the true story of the trial of two Iranian teenagers in Mashad, Iran in 2005. Fifteen and coming of age, Mahmoud Asgari and Ayaz Marhouni struggle with their identities - not only as minority Arab Iranians, but as typical teenagers longing to discover their place in the world. When an innocent moment between two friends is misconstrued, the hardline Iranian justice system takes over.

The cast of Haram! Iran! is led by Naama Potok, whose credits include My Name is Asher Lev, based on her father, Chaim Potok's best-selling book of the same title. Playing her son is Roberto Tolentino, a California born actor who is currently an MFA candidate at Columbia University. Completing the circle is Rahul Rai, best known for the film When Harry Ties to Marry, and who attained his martial arts black-belt at age 13. They are joined on stage by Sahar Bibiyan, Kal Mansoor, Colin Mulligan, Russel Jordan and Thamer Jendoubi, all under the direction of Rick Leidenfrost-Wilson.

Performances of Haram! Iran! will take place at TADA! (located at 15 West 28th Street) according to the following schedule: Friday, March 3, 10 & 17 at 9pm; Saturday, March 4, 11 & 18 at 7pm; Sunday, March 5, 12 & 19, and Wednesday, March 8 at 2pm. Tickets are $20 each and can be purchased online at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2828302. For more information about Haram! Iran!, visit www.haramiran.org.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:

Jay Paul Deratany (Playwright) is a writer and actor (SAG) who recently obtained his MFA from the University of California Riverside for Screenwriting. He has written several plays including "Haram Iran" which has been produced in Chicago, Los Angeles, and soon London. Haram Iran was nominated for a GLAAD award for best theatrical play of 2011, and Jay Paul received a grant from the London Arts Counsel to further develop the play for London audiences. In addition, Jay Paul has written "Lincolns Dilemma" a novel; multiple articles advocating for human rights and is a well-known human rights lawyer in Chicago. In 2008, Permoveo Productions was incorporated to serve as Jay Paul's Production Company

Sahar Bibiyan is thrilled to be making her debut with Emerging Artist Theatre. Sahar's recent credits include "Chicago Justice," " Mr Robot," " Price For Freedom" and "A Persian Affair." Sahar is honored to be a part of Haram Iran and hopes that it will raise awareness for the rights of all people in her beautiful country of Iran.

Thamer Jendoubi is a (native) New York based actor, making his off-Broadway debut in Haram! Iran! He's thrilled to be back working on this exciting and important project after taking part in the staged reading last October. He received his training at the Maggie Flanigan Studio and earned his MA in Acting from the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School in the United Kingdom.

Russell Jordan is a New York Innovative Theatre Awards nominee and a two-time Planet Connections Theatre Festivity outstanding actor award recipient. He is an adjunct lecturer at York College of The City University of New York, where he teaches PERFORMANCE FOR TELEVISION.

Kal Mansoor has worked extensively in television and theatre in London, Paris, Los Angeles and New York, primarily in comedy. He also has a degree in French language and European politics and turned down a career with the European Union to focus on acting. Most of his work can be seen on his Funny Or Die channel

Colin Mulligan was born in St Louis, where he performed regularly in youth productions. After earning his MA, Colin moved east to begin a twelve-year teaching career. In 2011, as he entered the world of professional modeling, Colin also returned to the stage in Shirin Nashat's off-Broadway show, 'Overruled.' Colin is represented by Wilhelmina models. He and his wife Masha live in NYC and Los Angeles.

Naama Potok. Credits include Rivkeh Lev in My Name is Asher Lev (FST, Penguin Rep, Westside Theatre), Christine in Two Mothers at A Roadside Cafe (Schreiber Shorts), Eileen Rafferty in Slides (WTF dir. Geraldine Fitzgerald), Scheherazade in Arabian Nights (dir. Mary Zimmerman), Greek Princess in Mirror of the Invisible World (Goodman Theatre), Katherine in Henry IV, and Manke in God of Vengeance (A Contemporary Theatre). Film credits: Christie, Waiting for Marilon Cotillard (Mediane-Art &Communication); The Chosen (20th Century Fox); Carol, Reindeer Games.

Rahul Rai is an actor that spends his time between NY and LA. While Rahul spends most of his time honing his craft in acting and dance, he also finds time for his other passions, martial arts and philosophy. He trained in Tang Soo Do, a Korean-based martial arts made famous by Chuck Norris, and at the age of 13 attained his black belt. Most recently he started training in Jeet Kune Do, a martial art created by the one and only Bruce Lee.

Roberto Tolentino is a California born actor who recently moved to NYC after graduating from UC Santa Barbara with a degree in Biology and a BFA in acting. He is currently an MFA candidate at Columbia University. He is thrilled to have the chance to work on this wonderful play with extraordinary people. He'd like to thank his mother, his professors and classmates, and the girl in his life with the cold toes.

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