LAFPI

BOSTON COURT PASADENA PRESENTS THE WORLD PREMIERE PRODUCTION OF A GOING AWAY PARTY PLAY

Boston Court Pasadena opens the world premiere production of A Going Away Party Play, written by Keyanna Khatiblou and directed by James Fowler on Saturday, September 28.

A Going Away Party Play is a celebration of multicultural identities and an exploration of what it means to leave or lose your home country. The story centers on Mina, who is throwing a party for her closest friends – and the audience. Over the course of the party, the friends play games, reflect on the current American socio-political landscape, and discover truths about the story of Mina’s parents falling in love and staying in love while fleeing the Iranian Revolution.

A Going Away Party Play features scenic design by Stephen Gifford, costume design by Mylette Nora, lighting design by Gavan Wyrick, sound design by John Nobori, and properties design by Cindy Campos. The production is supported by production stage manager Camella Coopilton, dramaturg Adrian Centeno, casting director Julia Flores, cultural consultant Dr. Mehdi Faraji, and dialect coach Keri Safran.

Artistic Director Jessica Kubzansky says, “We are so excited to share this play with the world. Keyanna had moved to Los Angeles just six months prior to when she submitted the play to us through our Los Angeles Playwrights Open Submission Window, and when we read it, the entire artistic team knew we needed to program it in the 2022 New Play Reading Festival. And as the reading concluded, we all turned to each other and said, ‘we just found our next full production.’”

Director James Fowler first met Khatiblou in 2022 when Boston Court asked him to direct the New Play Reading Festival reading at BCP. The partnership was so exciting that two years later, he is back to direct the full production.

Fowler says, “Keyanna’s play is a love letter to this current generation. A mash-up of scenes that focus on multiculturalism, identity, and love. I am grateful to be trusted with a work of such thoughtful depth and intentionality. The joy I have working with this creative team and cast is beyond my wildest imaginings!”

Kubzansky adds, “Full of humor and delicious social commentary, Keyanna’s play is so powerfully speaking to our world today. It’s speaking to the complexity of what it means to be an immigrant in the United States right now, what it’s like to leave or lose your home country, and how we constantly have to define what home means…”

WHEN:
Preview Performances: September 19, 20, 21, 26, 27 at 8PM; September 22 at 2PM

Opening Night Performance: Saturday, September 28 at 8PM

Benefit Fundraiser Performance: Sunday, September 29 at 3PM

Performances:

Friday, October 4, 8PM

Saturday, October 5, 2PM (ASL Interpreted Performance)

Sunday, October 6, 2PM

Monday, October 7, 8PM

Saturday, October 12, 8PM

Sunday, October 13, 2PM

Saturday, October 19, 8PM

Sunday, October 20, 2PM

Monday, October 21, 8PM

Friday, October 25, 8PM

Saturday, October 26, 8PM

Sunday, October 27, 2PM

This production is partially underwritten by our very generous funders: The National Endowment for the Arts, the Pasadena Community Foundation, and the City of Pasadena. The Farhang Foundation is this production’s Cultural Partner.

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Located in Pasadena, California, Boston Court Pasadena is an intimate performing arts center that creates and nurtures innovative, boundary-pushing art that invokes the power of collective imagination to illuminate our common humanity. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Jessica Kubzansky and Executive Director Manuel Prieto, the 70-seat Marjorie Branson Performance Space and the 99-seat Main Stage serve as homes for Boston Court’s season of adventurous theatre, its richly eclectic music series, the annual New Play Reading Festival, and a rotating visual art program, among other engagement and education offerings. Boston Court Pasadena was founded in 2003 by philanthropist Z. Clark Branson and Founding Producing Director Eileen T’Kaye.

Boston Court Pasadena is located at 70 N Mentor Ave., Pasadena, CA 91106. Parking is free in the on-site lot. For reservations and information, call (626) 683-6801 or go to bostoncourtpasadena.org.