Veils
by Tom Coash, directed by Lia Sima Fakhouri.
macha theatre works 2018-2019 season
Intisar, a veiled African-American Muslim student, thought she might finally fit in when she enrolled for a year abroad at the American Egyptian University in Cairo. Samar, her non-veiled Egyptian Muslim roommate, enlists Intisar’s help in creating an internet blog about the practice of wearing veils (or not), in hopes of challenging Western assumptions of Muslim culture and bridging the gap between the West and the Middle East. As Egypt hurtles toward revolution, Intisar and Samar are surprised to find themselves on opposite sides of a bitter cultural divide. Will the violent events and emotions leading up to the revolution salvage their friendship or shatter it?
Cast: Fathiya Ritter, Alaji.
Production team: Parmida Ziaei (Scenic Design), Sadiqua Iman (Costume Design), Johanna Melamed (Sound Design), Suzi Tucker (Projections Design) and Zanna King (Lighting Design).
Produced at West of Lenin.
West Coast Premiere.
Photos by Joe Iano Photography and Amy Poisson.
Reviews:
Macha Theatre Works’ “Veils” one of the best plays of 2018 12/14/2018 Seattle Gay News
A play explores the complicated decisions behind wearing a veil 11/27/2018 Crosscut
“Veils” the Story of a Hijabi American Muslim in Cairo and Her Conflicts with her un-Hijabi Egyptian Friend 11/24/2018 Goltune
Opening Now at West of Lenin - Northwest Premiere of “Veils” by Tom Coash 11/28/2018 The Fremont Centrist
“One of the best plays of 2018!”
“Veils imagines how the students’ two conflicting views are bridged by a slowly developing friendship that gathers mutual understanding and respect.”
“This play is very well written and avoids difficult pitfalls of didacticism while writing about ‘ideas’ like what a veil represents. The characters are distinct and fully fleshed out and the two young actors manage their characters beautifully.”
awards
Suzi Tucker - Nominee, Excellence in Video Design, 2018 Gypsy Rose Lee Awards
