WAM COALITION PRESENTS THE NEW YORK PREMIERE READING OF THE LAND, A NEW PLAY BY LYNNE ROBINSON, DIRECTED BY SHELLEN LUBIN
EXPLORING CO-EXISTENCE AMIDST WAR, OPPRESSION, AND VIOLENCE
WOMEN IN THE ARTS AND MEDIA (WAM) COALITION is pleased to announce the reading of Lynne Robinson’s THE LAND, directed by Shellen Lubin. THE LAND will have a private industry reading and conversation, moderated by Roberta Wall, as part of Conversations in America - The Middle East, Women, and Art at The Actors Temple on Monday, March 23. The free tickets are by invitation only; email a request to conversations@womenartsmedia.org.
Set against the devastating backdrop of the Second Intifada in 2000 through Operation Cast Lead in 2009, THE LAND looks at the catastrophic mistakes in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that have led to the present cycle of violence through the eyes of two women, the Palestinian Amirah and the Israeli Tamara, on either side of the political divide. The play explores the roots of the ongoing violence throughout the decade following the Oslo Accords, and ends with Operation Cast Lead that devastated Gaza in late 2008. The play's setting is Jerusalem, but its story is a powerful, emotional, and provocative exploration of humanity's universal struggle to co-exist on a fragile planet
This powerful drama offers a moving, human-centered perspective on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, compelling audiences to confront the cycle of violence and recognize the shared, fundamental humanity of all those caught in its devastating wake.
“There is perhaps no more volatile subject in the realm of foreign affairs than the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Arabs,” says Robinson. “I have attempted to go to the root of the crisis by drawing on my knowledge of both ancient and modern Israel and the journey of my people, the Jews, throughout both Diasporas. With the assistance of women and men from all over the region, I have sketched out a possible scenario that offers Hope and Renewal after so many centuries of common despair."
The production stars Esra Dayani (Three Tall Persian Women at Shakespeare & Company), Haneen Arafat Murphy (People of the Book, Urban Stages) as Amirah, and Cynthia Straus (Eleonora Duse in DUET, by Otho Eskin at The Theatre at The Tabard, Chiswick, London UK.) as Tamara.
Megan Hanlon is the stage manager. Publicity by Katie Rosin/Kampfire PR.
THE LAND event will take place on Monday, March 23.
Running Time: 2 Hours, including the conversation
Website: www.wamcoalition.org
@womenartsmedia
Photos from a previous reading:
BIOGRAPHIES
SHELLEN LUBIN (Director) works professionally as a Director/Dramaturg, Playwright, Actor, Songwriter/Singer, Voice Teacher & Coach, and Arts Activist and Advocate. She directed Carol Campbell’s Chicks in Heaven at Open Jar Studios; Pamela Weiler Grayson’s Observant at the Chain Theater in EAT’s Spark Festival; When Zaydeh Danced On Eldridge Street (Rael/Lubin/Gandolfo) at the Museum of Jewish Heritage; Between Pretty Places (Merson/Lubin/Gandolfo) at Here Arts Center (NY) and at Pacific Resident Theatre (CA); and eleven yearly Bistro Awards. Her plays and musicals have been produced and workshopped at Manhattan Class Company, the Public Theatre, Hubbard Hall, the West Coast Ensemble, the American Jewish Theatre, et al., and two songs have been featured in Milos Forman’s first American film, Taking Off.
Co-President of the WAM Coalition (Women in the Arts & Media) and Past President of the League of Professional Theatre Women, Lubin's reflections on life as an artist (and living with artistry) have been featured in Back Stage Publications and are read weekly in her Monday Morning Quotes think-pieces. SDC, DG, AEA, et al. www.shellenlubin.com @shlubin @shellenlubin @monmornquote on social media
LYNNE ROBINSON (Playwright) is a published poet and writer. Most recently, her poetry (The War Stories: Psalms of Sorrow) was featured in a pop-up art exhibition in the old city of Jerusalem. Robinson is an award-winning journalist who has authored several Art Books in Taos, New Mexico, where she is the Editor of Tempo, the Arts & Entertainment weekly magazine, at the Taos News. She contributed six profiles to the award-winning Taos Portraits Volume l, and edited Taos Portraits, Volume II, both of which feature notable Taos artists. She is also an annual contributor to trendmagazineglobal.com
ROBERTA WALL (Moderator) is a trained and experienced facilitator of conversations related to Israel/Palestine. She received certification as a trainer in Nonviolent Communication (NVC) 20 years ago, after retiring from her profession as a civil rights attorney and New York State court mediator. Since then, she has shared NVC on 5 continents, focusing mainly on bringing together Jewish Israelis and Palestinians in Israel/Palestine. For the past 15 years, Roberta has been devoted to supporting Nonviolent Communication training in Israel and the West Bank. She leads retreats and trainings globally, integrating Nonviolent Communication, Mindfulness, and spiritual traditions, including Buddhism and Jewish teachings. She is an activist for transformational nonviolent change. Read more on her blogs: robertaindia.wordpress.com and website: steps2peace.com
The WAM COALITION (Women in the Arts & Media) is a centralized resource for professional women in the performing arts and media industries. Members include unions, guilds, industry organizations, and individuals. The WAM Coalition presents awards periodically, including Collaboration (Women Working with Women on an arts or media project) and VintAge (advocacy for women in the arts and media industries). They also host Signature Events, including Women Arts Day (the last Saturday in March) and Conversations in America (on difficult topics of the day), as well as various workshops and networking events.
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