FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRESS CONTACT: Sarah Holswade or Tara Marie Good, 310.657.5511
Or David Elzer 818.508.1754

SALAM SHALOM
Enemies...Another Love Story
Written by Saleem
Directed by Ty Donaldson

Limited Engagement will open on Saturday, March 6
at the Greenway Court Theatre in West Hollywood!

"Salam Shalom pleads sympathetically for universal respect and understanding..."
  — The San Francisco Bay Guardian, San Francisco

[February 5, 2010...West Hollywood] While the Israeli-Palestinian conflict wages on, what are the human consequences of the barriers created? When a visiting Palestinian Ph.D candidate is housed with an Israeli graduate student at UCLA, their obviously disparate backgrounds and cultures are obstacles that seem insurmountable. As their own personal walls come down, they find themselves in an unexpected love affair. But when the two men return to the Holy Land political unrest, family expectations, and ancient traditions threaten to destroy the happiness they found together.

Playwright Saleem has re-written and substantially revised his award-winning play (last produced in Los Angeles in 2005) to reflect the current political realities on the ground in the Middle East-where Gaza is under siege, the Wall divides the two peoples, and the issue of West Bank settlements remains unresolved. This new version of SALAM SHALOM features an impressive cast, with the lead roles commanded by Saleem and Korken Alexander, along with Eileen Barnett, Rafael Feldman, Avner Garbi, and Christine Joëlle. Produced by Lee Almoral Productions LLC, and Buddha-Cowboy Productions in association with the Greenway Court Theatre and sponsored in part by the Levantine Cultural Center.

SALAM SHALOM won the GLAAD award for Best Original Writing in 1996 when it was first produced at the Open Fist Theatre. The play has gone on to award-winning performances in San Diego, San Francisco and Sydney, Australia, before returning home for this new production in 2010 under the direction of Ty Donaldson. The play runs Feb. 26-April 16 at the Greenway Court Theatre, 544 N. Fairfax Blvd. in West Hollywood. SALAM SHALOM is sponsored in part by Levantine Cultural Center, which promotes greater understanding of the Middle East and North Africa by presenting artistic and educational programs that bridge political and religious divides.

ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM

SALEEM (Playwright) is a Palestinian-American performer/playwright. He studied at the Lee Strasberg Institute before joining the Open Fist Theatre Company, where he performed in the play After the Bomb by Roxy Ventola and Vieux Carre by Tennessee Williams. He then wrote and performed a workshop production of Salam Shalom in 1995, which premiered at the Open Fist Theatre a year later and went on to win the 1996 Harvey Firestein GLAAD award for Best Original Writing for Salam Shalom... A Tale of Passion, based on his own life.

Salam Shalom toured to San Diego (The Diversionary Theatre), Palm Springs (The Bookstore Theatre), then on to Sydney, Australia (The Pact Theatre), where it was sold-out for the complete run. The play returned to Los Angeles in 1998 in conjunction with the North Hollywood Arts Festival at The Bitter Truth Theatre (now the Avery Schreiber); and in 2003, Saleem received a grant to produce the play at The New Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco, in conjunction with the Pride Festival. The production received a Certificate of Recognition from the State of California Legislature.

He premiered his second play Getting into my Skin at the Open Fist in 1998. It was eventually developed into Whispers of the Soul—a personal revelation of an Arab who migrates to America, A semi-autobiographical play with music, dance and poetry, which he has also performed around California.

Saleem performs frequently at Highways Performance Space and was part of the creation of Ghurbah at The Cornerstone Theatre Company, the first-ever production to spotlight the Arab-American community in the US.

TY DONALDSON (Producer/Director) is a graduate of Bard College, and started in the entertainment industry as an actor. He has been involved with producing, directing (theatre and film) and graphic design for over twenty years. His theatre credits include Israel Horowitz's Line (Producer) at West Coast Ensemble, Lone Star by James McClure (Producer, Brookdale, NJ), You Can't Take It With You (Assistant Director). He directed the World Premiere of Whispers of the Soul and Salam Shalom by Saleem; Suitehearts by William Van Zandt and Jane Milmore (Director, NY); and directed the West Coast Premieres of Beltway Roulette by Mark Scharf; Rocks by Al Sorci, Bar Room Trilogy and Heaven's Den.

Donaldson's film producing credits include Bunny Whipped, with Joey Lauren Adams and Rebecca Gayheart; Co-Producer and Line producer on Soldier of God and Tru Loved, all now out on DVD.

JORDAN ELGRABLY (Co-producer) is the cofounder and artistic director of Levantine Cultural Center, where he has produced more than four hundred public arts programs on the Middle East and North Africa, with particular emphasis on Israeli and Palestinian cultures, Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan.

ABOUT THE CAST AND THE DESIGN TEAM

The cast of SALAM SHALOM features Saleem (Vieux Carre, Whispers of the Soul), Korken Alexander (The Kite Runner, Sojourn at Ararat, Cabaret), Jay Ali (Wednesday's Child), Eileen Barnett (Fiddler on the Roof, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Street Scene), Rafael Feldman (A Bed and A Bar, Come Back to the Five & Dime, Jimmy Dean; The Fisher King), Avner Garbi (credits TBA), and Christine Joëlle (Wicked Lit, Violet Sharp, Nicholas Nickleby).

SALAM SHALOM has assembled an award-winning design team. The Scenic Design is by Victoria Profitt (Better Angels, Educating Rita). The Lighting Design is by Lisa D. Katz (Floyd Collins, The Grapes of Wrath). The Sound Design is by Cricket Myers (The Marvelous Wonderettes, Life Could Be A Dream). The Costume Design is by Juan Rousolio (The Theatre @ Boston Court, Intiman Theatre). The Stage Manager is Cate Cundiff.

SCHEDULE AND PRICING

SALAM SHALOM previews Feb 26-27 at 8 pm, Feb 28, 7 pm, and Mar 4-5 at 8 pm. Opening night Sat Mar 6 at 8 p.m. Runs through April 16 at the Greenway Court Theatre, 544 N. Fairfax Blvd. in West Hollywood. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Saturday Matinee's at 3pm; Sundays at 7:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at www.SalamShalomThePlay.com or by calling 323.655.7679 x100. Single ticket prices are Preferred Seating $25; General Seating $22; Seniors and Levantine Cultural Center members $20; Rush $15; Previews are $20.

Contact Sarah Holswade or Tara Marie Good at Levantine Cultural Center, 310.657.5511.