Photo Flash: First Look at Arena Stage's LOVE IN AFGHANISTAN
By: BWW News Desk Sep. 12, 2013
The world premiere of LOVE IN AFGHANISTAN began rehearsals at Arena Stage on Tuesday, September 10. Get a sneak peek at the cast in action below, along with Resident Playwright Charles Randolph-Wright and director Lucie Tiberghien! LOVE IN AFGHANISTAN runs October 11-November 17 at Arena Stage.
Charles Randolph-Wright, a Resident Playwright through Arena Stage's American Voices New Play Institute and director of Motown the Musical currently on Broadway, joins forces with director Lucie Tiberghien (MCC Theater's Don't Go Gentle) to bring to life the tale of two fantastically different people discovering love in the most unlikely of places: war-torn Afghanistan. One, an emerging hip-hop artist, the other, a high-level Afghan interpreter, both fight to navigate the pitfalls of romance, religious differences and political unrest.
Arena Stage introduces Melis Aker as young interpreter Roya and Khris Davis as American music star Duke. Aker, a recent graduate of Tufts University and native of Turkey, and Davis, a Philadelphia-based actor, make their D.C.-area debuts. They are joined by Joseph Kamal (last seen at Arena Stage in Anthems: Culture Clash in the District directed by Randolph-Wright) as Roya's father Sadeed and D.C.-area actress Dawn Ursula (Woolly Mammoth's The Convert) in her Arena Stagedebut as Duke's mother Desiree.
Randolph-Wright began his three-year residency with Arena Stage in January 2011, and through his research for Love in Afghanistan took the opportunity to connect with numerous individuals and organizations to deepen the authenticity of the script. To further explore themes in the play, Arena Stage will host panel discussions focused on Afghan women's issues, the potential effect of U.S. troops pulling out of Afghanistan and Afghan culture beyond what is portrayed in the media. Details for these events are included in the Public Arena section below.
The creative team for Love in Afghanistan includes Set Designer Daniel Conway, Costume Designer Kathleen Geldard, Lighting Designer Mark Lanks, Sound DesignerElisheba Ittoop, Institute Dramaturg Jocelyn Clarke and Stage Manager Christi Spann.
Tickets for Love in Afghanistan are $40-$90, subject to change and based on availability, plus applicable fees. For information on savings programs such as student discounts, Southwest Nights, Pay-Your-Age tickets, HOTTIX and Hero's Discounts, visit arenastage.org/shows-tickets/single-tickets/savings-programs/. Tickets may be purchased online at arenastage.org, by phone at 202-488-3300 or at the Sales Office at 1101 Sixth St., SW, D.C.
Photos courtesy Arena Stage.
The cast of Love in Afghanistan (Dawn Ursula, Khris Davis, Joseph Kamal and Melis Aker)
Artistic Director Molly Smith and Resident Playwright Charles Randolph-Wright
The cast of Love in Afghanistan with Resident Playwright Charles Randolph-Wright and director Lucie Tiberghien
Cast members Khris Davis and Melis Aker
Director Lucie Tiberghien and Director of Artistic Programming David Snider
Cast members Joseph Kamal and Dawn Ursula
The cast and creative team of Love in Afghanistan gather together for the first time at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater.
Artistic Director Molly Smith addresses cast, creative team and staff members
Resident Playwright Charles Randolph-Wright and director Lucie Tiberghien speak at the first rehearsal of Love in Afghanistan at Arena Stage
Director Lucie Tiberghien speaks at the first rehearsal of Love in Afghanistan at Arena Stage
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