Arlington, Virginia's Signature Theatre has its cast and creative team in place for its upcoming production of the Pulitzer Prize finalist Selling Kabul by Sylvia Khoury. Performances begin February 21 in Signature's ARK Theatre and will run through April 2.
Broadway's Mazin Akar (The Kite Runner) will lead the cast as Taroon, joined by television familiar Neagheen Homaifar (Houston, Killing It) as Leyla, Yousof Sultani (A Thousand Splendid Suns, This Is Who I Am) as Jawid, and Awesta Zarif(Selling Kabul, Jane Eyre) as Afiya. Serving as understudies will be Raghad Almakhlouf (In This Hope – A Pericles Project) and Ramtin Vaziri (The White Snake).
Set in 2013, the play follows Taroon, a translator, and his sister Afiya who shelters him in secret from a growing Taliban as he waits for the arrival of a promised—and much delayed—America visa. As the birth of his son arrives, the danger rises for Taroon and his family as the walls close in.
Shadi Ghaheri will direct the production which will feature scenic design by Tony Cisek (columbinus), costume design by Moyenda Kulemeka (Detroit ’67), lighting design by John D. Alexander (Daphne’s Dive), and sound design by Matt Otto (Nell Gwynn). Humaira Ghilzai will serve as cultural consultant and Dramaturg. Casting is by Jorge Acevedo and JZ Casting, Geoff Josselson, and Katja Zarolinski. Lauren Pekel is production stage manager and Erica Feidelseit is production assistant.
“While the war may be over for Americans, the conflict continues for Afghans impacted by the American withdrawal,” said Ghaheri in a statement. “Over the past twenty years, America has caused a human crisis in Afghanistan, and it is imperative that we see the humanity of the people affected. Selling Kabul is a story about the dreams and fears of four Afghans trying to survive in these complicated and unjust circumstances and asks you to see these individuals and their lives in full. It is my hope that within the specificity of this story, we can think of the human rights that ought to be honored for all individual Afghans!”
Sponsored by the Jenna and Paul Segal Foundation, Selling Kabul is dedicated to the memory of sponsor Bruce A. Cohen.
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