Ohio State University’s Theatre Department partnered with the Middle East Studies Center and YOMA Art Productions in 2010 to produce Youssef Idris’s "House of Flesh" (adapted for theatre by Rasha Khairy). Assem Nagaty directed the performances and the roles were played by Assem Nagaty, Amany Seleem, Razan Mustafa, Alison Vasquez, and Aziel Dunkin. The performances were co-sponsored by the Near Eastern Languages and Cultures Department and the Columbus Performing Arts Center. I was a producer, overseeing budget management, ensuring venues for performances auditions, designing the program, curating educational aspects, and standing in for actors during rehearsals. Amany Seleem and I co-translated the script from Arabic into English.



Staff Writer

The Columbus Dispatch

Three poor girls struggle to live with their mother after their father's death in House of Flesh, an Egyptian drama about the plight of Egyptian women that will have its central Ohio premiere this weekend. YOMA Art Productions will present Arabic and English performances of Rasha Khairy's stage adaptation of Yusuf Idris’ short coming-of-age story, which will open at 8 p.m. Saturday Sept. 11(English) and 9:30 p.m. Saturday (Arabic) at the Columbus Performing Arts Center.

Ohio State University’s theater department, Middle East Studies Center and department of Near Eastern Languages and Culture are cosponsoring the production, directed by Assem Nagaty, which will continue Sept. 16-24 Sept.at The Green Room, 1556 N. High St. "There is a need for improving understanding between the cultures of the Middle East and the cultures of America and Europe. Plays such as this one, with social themes, and which address critical issues people face in daily life around the world (poverty, struggles due to social class and gender), provide ideal opportunities for cultural exchange and initiating dialogue," the troupe said in a statement.

The play was popular in Egypt, where it ran for 100 consecutive nights with a full house and received rave reviews. The original production also was featured in the Cairo International Experimental Theatre festival in Egypt, and the Theatre and the Society Movements festival in Jordan. . For the Columbus production, Alison Vasquez and Amany Seleem will be among the performers under Assem Nagaty's direction. The English-language performances will use a script translated by by Amany Seleem and Melinda McClimans.

Performances:

Arabic and English performances of House of Flesh, with English performances at 8 p.m. Saturday Sept. 11, 2010 and 3 p.m. Sunday Sept. 12, 2010 and Arabic performances at 9:30 p.m. Saturday and 4:30 p.m. Sunday at the Columbus Performing Arts Center, 549 Franklin Ave. Shows at 8 p.m. (English) and 9:30 p.m. (Arabic) on Sept. 16-18 and 23-24, 2010 were performed at The Green Room, 1556 N. High St.