LAFPI

Skylight Theatre Company Launches a Second World Premiere this Season:
Hostage by Michelle Kholos Brooks, directed by Elina de Santos

Worlds collide in this drama, revisiting the backlash that a family endures when it has the courage to make the political become very personal. Based on true events, a mother deals with the aftermath of traveling to Tehran to gain the release of her son, a marine held captive during the Iran hostage crisis.

In our increasingly polarized society, perhaps there is inspiration to be gathered from the idealism of an everyday person,” says Michelle Kholos Brooks. “A mother, having the courage to stand outside politics for the love of her son.”

Michelle Kholos Brooks is an award-winning playwright whose work is currently being staged across the U.S. and Canada. Hostage was a finalist for the Woodward/Newman Drama Award, the Fratti Newman Political Play Contest, and was a Showcase finalist for the National New Play Network. Hitler’s Tasters, winner of the 2017 Susan Glaspell Award, made its world premiere at Centenary Stage Company this year, and will be produced by New Light Theatre Project in New York, October 2018. Kalamazoo, co-written with Kelly Younger, won the 2014 Riva Shiner Comedy Award, Bloomington Playwrights Project. It has been published by Dramatists Play Service and produced across the country. Family Planning made its world premiere at the Colony Theatre and was a finalist for the 2014 Riva Shiner Comedy Award. Chair was a finalist for the Firehouse Theatre’s Festival of New American Plays.

The cast includes Vaneh Assadourian (Tehran Mary), Jack Clinton (Kenny), Zachary Grant (Kevin), Christopher Hoffman (Richard), Tracie Lockwood (as Barbara), and Satair Pouvasei (Ebrahim)

Skylight continues their popular series, “Beyond Conversation.” The weekly post Sunday matinee discussion panels allow audiences to gain deeper insights into the contemporary themes of the play. Curated by Josh Gershick, scheduled topics include: Women of the Revolution: 40 Years Later, How Hollywood Affects Our Perception of Muslims, Tehrangeles: Iranians in Los Angeles, and more.  Full list of guest speakers, dates and topics on Skylight’s website: www.skylighttheatre.org

HOSTAGE opens at 8:30pm on Saturday, May 26th and continues Fridays and Saturdays at 8:30pm; 2:00pm on Sundays; and 8:00pm on Mondays through June 24, 2018.

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