Set in the foothills of Jerusalem in 1947, “Oud Player on the Tel” follows a family of Jewish refugees from Europe, after the destruction of World War II. “Oud Player on the Tel” uses forensic history to expand the conversation around the Jewish-Muslim dynamic.

This special “Meet the Playwright” presentation will feature a pre-show conversation with three interfaith thought leaders, along with a post-show talkback with the creative team.

Playwright: Tom Block

Director: Jesica Garrou

Stage Directions: John Druzba*

Actors: Mark Peters*, Mark Quiles*, Emile Lacheny, Zach Canter

*Actors appearing courtesy of Actors Equity Association*

Pre Show Discussion Panel:

• Dr. Sarah Sayeed (Moderator): Chair and Executive Director of the Civic Engagement Commission. Dr. Sayeed was a Senior Advisor to former Mayor Bill de Blasio in the Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit, where she worked with a diverse, multi-ethnic and multi-lingual Muslim constituency to strengthen civic engagement. Her public service builds upon seven years of bridge building projects at the Interfaith Center of New York.
• Rasha Abdel Latif: Director of MENA and Civil Society Strengthening at PartnersGlobal. Rasha has been awarded the 40 under 40 award by the Arab America Foundation for the year 2022. Rasha holds a master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom, Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from the University of Jordan, and a Community Organizing Certificate from the Harvard Kennedy School.
• Michelle Koch: Co-founder and Executive Director of the Muslim-Jewish Solidarity Committee. Under her leadership, since its founding in 2015, MJSC has created ‘brave’ dialogue spaces for thousands of people to form genuine relationships and partnerships founded on mutual recognition, mutual understanding, empathy, and trust. She is a passionate believer in the power of dialogue, empathy, and personal relationship-building to bring sustainable social change.

Actors Equity Association (AEA), founded in 1913, represents more than 50,000 actors and stage managers in the United States. Equity seeks to advance, promote and foster the art of live theatre as an essential component of our society. Equity negotiates wages and working conditions, providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans. AEA is a member of the AFL-CIO, and is affiliated with FIA, an international organization of performing arts unions. The Equity emblem is our mark of excellence. www.actorsequity.org