PHARAOH Comes to Theater For the New City

THEATER FOR A NEW CITY has announced the world premiere production of Rabbi Misha Shulman's PHARAOH, directed by Michael Posnick. PHARAOH will play a three-week limited engagement at Theater for the New City (155 First Avenue, New York, NY). Performances begin Thursday, March 19 and continue through Sunday, April 5. Opening Night is Saturday, March 21 (8 p.m.). Tickets are $18 and available at BrownPaperTickets.com.

Grieving at the fresh grave of his first-born son, PHARAOH recounts his version of the ten plagues and the Hebrews' Exodus from Egypt. Based on the biblical tale and inspired by the gestural dynamism of the ancient South Indian dance-theater form, Kudiyatam, the play offers a cross-cultural, highly unorthodox challenge to monotheism and the traditional received narrative.

"To me this play is as much a religious or spiritual event as it is an artistic one, and as much a political event as a religious one," says Shulman. "Presenting the play from the point of view of our arch-enemy, who we are taught to hate, makes it a political event as well. As a kind of preparation for Passover, PHARAOH underscores the seriousness with which we are taught to take the work of liberation. This play aims to take us back to the religious origins of the theater, In a world which has rarely been more divided, this play offers hope for coming together, by helping us to see the "other" -those that we judge to be heartless and cruel - as full, loving and complex human beings. At its core, PHARAOH answers the call at the heart of our tradition and at the heart of Passover: to ask questions, to seek truth, to continuously work for our own and others' liberation."

The production features scenic design by Andrew Carr, with art by Tamar Ettun, costume design by Nicole Slaven, and lighting design by Andrew Carr. Hanako Rodriguez is the stage manager. Music is performed by John Murchison on the qanun and Tripp Dudley on the drums.

Tickets are $18 and are now available online at BrownPaperTickets.com or by calling 800-838-3006. Tickets may also be purchased in-person at the theater, half hour prior to performance.
Running Time: 70 minutes
Website: https://theaterforthenewcity.net/?vh_show=pharaoh

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