New Arab American Theatre Works Launches Summer Festival in Minneapolis

Minneapolis (April 3, 2015) — This summer, New Arab American Theatre Works will produce a three-week festival of new Arab American productions by three locally accomplished Arab American theatre artists. Hosted by Mixed Blood Theatre in Minneapolis, this first-of-its-kind Twin Cities festival will run June 26 - July 12, 2015.

New Arab American Theatre Works is a new collective of Minnesota-based Arab American theatre artists founded by Taous Claire Khazem, Kathryn Haddad, and Mohammed Yabdri. With a wide variety of strengths as writers, performers, educators, and theatre makers, these artists have been presenting work locally, nationally, and internationally for more than 20 years. New Arab American Theatre Works was created to present new works by Arab Americans, filling a void in the local and national theatre scene where Arab American artists lack opportunities to present their own stories.

Three new works will be produced for the festival, and will run in repertory June 26 and July 12:

Road to the City of Apples
By Kathryn Haddad

Road to the City of Apples tells the story of Ahmed and Khairy — two undocumented Palestinians on a road trip from New Jersey to Wisconsin. Their individual stories intertwine as they discover the meaning of friendship and cope with changing cultural norms — both American and Arab on their winding road to an American dream. The Israeli occupation, gay rights, American treatment of Arabs and Muslims, and the plight of undocumented immigrants are explored in this show.

In Algeria They Know My Name
By Taous Claire Khazem. Directed and dramaturged by Zaraawar Mistry

This one woman show is based on Khazem’s experiences and interactions living in Algeria from May 2008 to August 2011. She explores intercultural communication, cross-cultural marriage, trying to make a living as an artist in Algeria, and living with the in-laws. 

A Clown in Exile
By Mohammed Yabdri with Noah Bremer

Mohamed Yabdri's tragic clown goes on a journey to overcome his sense of cultural inferiority. After searching the world for a place to call home, he discovers that his dreams sit on the wings of a paper plane. A Clown in Exile premiered at the Alliance Française in Minneapolis, MN and went on to perform in Paris at the Algerian Cultural Center, at the National Theatre of Algiers, at the French Cultural Institutes of Oran, Tlemcen and Constantine, Algeria, and at the 2013 Minnesota Fringe Festival.

These three works will present a diverse range of perspectives about the Arab experience for audiences. The core group of artists come from diverse backgrounds, including Lebanese, Berber, Arab, Algerian, White American, Christian, and Muslim. Arab Americans in the community will have an opportunity to see themselves represented on stage and those from outside the community will see representations of Arabs by Arabs. The festival will also give new perspectives to the public when thinking about the meaning of “Arab,” “Middle Eastern,” and “Muslim.”

The New Arab American Theatre Works Festival runs June 26 - July 12, 2015 at Mixed Blood Theatre, 1501 S. 4th Street, Minneapolis. More information is available at newarabamericantheatreworks.com. Tickets will go on sale on May 26. Tickets are $15 per show, free for residents of 55454 area code, $35 for a 3 show pass, or $25 for a 2 show pass.

Each weekend will include all three productions with audience talkbacks after performances.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board and the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

Taous Claire Khazem is a fiscal year 2015 recipient of an Artist Initiative grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature; and by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.