Written by Ping Chong and Sara Zatz, with Ryan Conarro
In collaboration with the performers: Tiffany Yasmin Abdelghani, Ferdous Dehqan, Kadin Herring, Amir Khafagy and Maha Syed
Directed by Ping Chong
followed by a conversation with the cast
Beyond Sacred is an interview-based theatre production exploring the diverse experiences of Muslim communities in the United States. The five cast members of Beyond Sacred vary in many ways, but share the common experience of coming of age in a post-9/11 New York City, at a time of increasing Islamophobia. They are young men and women that reflect a wide range of Muslim identities, including those who have converted to Islam, those who were raised Muslim, but have since left the faith, those who identify as “culturally” Muslim, and those who are observant on a daily basis.
Beyond Sacred is part of Ping Chong + Company’s Undesirable Elements project, an oral history theater project exploring issues of culture, identity, and difference in the lives of individuals in specific communities. Beyond Sacred was developed through a community-engaged process wherein Ping Chong + Company extensively interviews local participants, who then become the performers. These interviews become the basis of a script that weaves together personal, historical, and political narratives. The goal of Beyond Sacred is to use theater and personal testimony to foster greater understanding among Muslim and non-Muslim communities in New York and beyond.
NOTE: Capacity at BRIC House is limited, and admission is on a first come, first served basis, whether you have RSVP'ed or not. Please come early to ensure entry and seating.
The BRIC OPEN Festival aims shine a light on the power of inclusive, participatory arts & media programming to shake up our ideas about who makes and consumes culture, whose voices and stories sit at the center of artistic creation, and how we come together to imagine, and move toward, the future we want.
In an effort to make The BRIC OPEN Festival truly accessible, all events are FREE with RSVP, but if you have the means, and you value artistic and cultural work, please consider making a donation to support the continued health of this programming at BRIC. Donate here!
Venue Information:
The Stoop at BRIC House is a public cultural gathering space featuring free, drop-in programming, and offering a place to sit, observe, and participate in multi-disciplinary work.
Beginning Nov. 1, 2022, attendees of any BRIC House programming will no longer have to show proof of vaccination or a negative test to enter the building. Masks are encouraged but not required in all BRIC operated spaces. If you have questions regarding this protocol, please email Safety@bricartsmedia.org
BRIC OPEN Co-Sponsor:
