"The extraordinary Sussan Deyhim, a computer age coloratura, has conquered unimagined realms." —Los Angeles Times

"Sussan Deyhim creates thrilling music that sounds in the ear long after you have left the show."
—New York Times

Event Details

Date/Time: 

Sep 11 2010 7:30pm - 9:30pm

Price: 

Premier $95, Level A $77, Level B $57

Where: 

The Broad Stage/Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center
1310 11th Street
Santa Monica CA 90401
Box office, 310.434.3200

Sussan Deyhim's Panoramic
with Richard Horowitz, John Beasley and Will Calhoun and guests
The Broad Stage

Sussan Deyhim's Panoramic: a unique performance
This Persian composer, vocalist and performance artist will take you on a magical journey to an entirely new musical experience. Sussan Deyhim transports audiences with her profoundly moving fusion of traditional orchestrations, Western vocal technique and the mysticism of Middle Eastern music. Guest appearance by Mohsen Namjoo and Ardeshir Farah.

 

Purchase tickets for Sussan Deyhim's Panoramic online and receive a special discount. First choose your seats, then select "20% Discount" on the drop down menu in your shopping cart to receive 20% off. This promotion may not be applied to previously purchased tickets. For more information, call our box office at 310.434.3200 (Mon-Fri, noon-6pm). 20% discount link

Visit the Sussan Deyhim site.

Event Details

Date/Time: 

Jun 20 2010 7:30pm - 9:30pm

Price: 

$15 in advance, $20 at the door

Where: 

World Famous Comedy Store
8433 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles CA 90069

At one time another most of these comedic characters have landed laughs as members of the Sultans of Satire, and Maz Jobrani headlined the world-famous "Axis of Evil Comedy Tour" with his buddies Ahmed Ahmed and Aron Kader (all three have been cultural ambassadors for the Levantine Center). Now Angela Tsarouchas, the great Greek comedian who moved to L.A. from Canada, headlines with Maz and Frank Spadone, while the show is hosted by the devilishly irreverent Ara Basil, with guest appearances by Noel Elgrably and Kira Soltanqvich.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jordan Elgrably, Nile El Wardani, Elie Karam
Levantine Cultural Center
310.657.5511 or 310.402.8866

[Los Angeles, May 20, 2010] Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's top aide, Special Representative to Muslim Communities Farah Pandith, will speak in a public forum on cultural diplomacy organized by the Levantine Cultural Center on Thursday, May 27, 2010, at 7 pm at the Mark Taper Auditorium in downtown Los Angeles.

The "clash of civilization" dialectic and the "war on terror" discourse require Americans to broaden our international outreach, to improve understanding of the Arab/Muslim world. In fact, the alchemy of change requires that we empathize with narratives that may differ from our own; and sometimes these narratives are strikingly similar. Cultural diplomacy efforts use the arts to address communities in conflict-or groups that appear to have opposing interests whether because of different religious traditions, political beliefs or ethnic identification.

Event Details

Date/Time: 

May 23 2010 2:00pm - 4:30pm

Price: 

$30 (opening night only), $25, $12.50 previews only

Where: 

Marilyn Monroe Theater
Lee Strasberg Creative Center
7936 Santa Monica Blvd
West Hollywood 90046

Behind the Gates"Behind the Gates"

(Talkback will occur immediately following the performance.)

Women's Role in Conservative Religion, with Professor Mehnaz Afridi & Rabbi Ruth Sohn

Contemporary Islam and Judaism each encompass a broad range of sects representing vastly divergent interpretations of their holy books and traditions. With scholars from both traditions, we ask: What is the role of women within these sects? When does a women's choice of piety cross the line into misogynistic oppression? How can ancient traditions live in harmony with the modern world? What are the similarities and differences between these two religions, and what can we learn from each other?

Professor Mehnaz M. Afridi teaches Judaism and Islam at Antioch University, Los Angeles. Originally from Pakistan, raised in Europe and the Middle East, she brings a multicultural perspective to Islam. She has a B.A. and MA in Religious Studies from Syracuse University and has studied at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Her Ph.D. was on “Mahfouz and Modern Islamic Identity” from the University of South Africa in Religious Studies. Her deep interest in Judaism and Modern Jewish Diaspora has led her to numerous interfaith conferences, and invitations by non-Muslims to expound on the intellectual and theological similarities between Jews and Muslims. She has served as an advisor to the Museum of Tolerance and runs the "Ask a Muslim" lecture series. She presented her talk, "An Illuminated History of Jewish-Muslim Relations" at Levantine Cultural Center.

Professor Afridi is very committed to non-profit work in the areas of women and Islam, Jewish-Muslim Relations, and Pakistani girls and development.  She is on the board and committees of the Arava Institute, Wise Women, Levantine Cultural Center, Rauol Wallenberg Institute, and International Education and Welfare Society.

She is currently teaching Islam and Judaism, Cultural Diversity, Genocide Studies and Humanities at Antioch University and National University.

Rabbi Ruth H. Sohn directs the Rabbinic Mentoring program and teaches rabbinical students at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles. She also teaches Jewish meditation and traditional Jewish texts to adults in various venues in Los Angeles. Prior to her work with rabbinical students, Rabbi Sohn taught Jewish Studies at the Milken Community High School for fifteen years, and served as a campus rabbi for ten years, first at Columbia University and then at Boston University.  Her articles, Biblical commentary, midrash and poetry have appeared in various periodicals, prayerbooks and anthologies. Ruth served on the Editorial Board and wrote several pieces for the award-winning The Torah: A Women’s Commentary. Much of her writing over the years has focused on reading traditional Jewish texts through the lens of Jewish women’s experience and feminist critique.

Rabbi Sohn is currently working to complete a book entitled Crossing Cairo: A Jewish Woman’s Encounter with Egypt, in which she shares the difficulties and discoveries she experienced, trying to reach across the barriers of religion, politics and culture while living in Cairo with her family for six months in 2006.  Her article, “The Arabic Lesson” was the cover feature story in Reform Judaism Magazine shortly after their stay in Egypt, and was based on her letters home from Cairo. Rabbi Sohn has lived in Jerusalem on several different occasions for a year at a time, and has been involved with a range of projects supporting co-existence efforts between Israeli Arabs and Jews over the last twenty years.

Event Details

Date/Time: 

May 1 2010 7:00pm - 9:30pm

Price: 

$20 in advance, $25 at the door. Students $10, children under 12 free.

Where: 

Eldorado Emerson Private School
4100 East Walnut Avenue
Orange CA 92869

Orphan WhispersOn Saturday, May 1st, the organizers of Orphan Whispers present their debut event to raise awareness about their work on behalf of orphans in Iraq. The Saadoun Albayati Ensemble, Wael Kakish and members of Kan Zaman, the Unison Interfaith Choir, as well as a children's "blind" choir and kirtan drummers are donating their time, in a dynamic concert to raise funds for Iraqi orphans.

Order tickets from unisonchoir.org.

The mission of Orphan Whispers is to aid orphans in conflict and post-conflict societies by providing basic necessities, educational scholarships and leadership development in order to rebuild communities.

Be the change you want to see in the world. —Mahatma Gandhi

Levantine Cultural Center presents a special cast and crew screening of The Stoning of Soraya M. (USA, 116 ms), with director Cyrus Nowrasteh and stars Mozhan Marnò and Navid Neghaban, along with David Diaan, as part of its "New Voices in Middle Eastern Cinema" series.

Why do some Iranians hate "Soraya"?

Reserve tix online here.

The drama was adapted from French-Iranian journalist Freidoune Sahebjam's 1994 book of the same name based on a true story. The film is directed by Cyrus Nowrasteh and stars Academy Award nominee Shohreh Aghdashloo, as well as James Caviezel (speaking Persian and English in the film). Stoning had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, where it was the runner-up for the Audience Choice Award. It was also the second runner-up for the Cadillac People's Choice Award. The book has been banned in Iran because of its perceived critical attitude toward the Iranian legal system.

Learn Arabic Drumming at Levantine Cultural Center

When: Every Tuesday night (join anytime)
Beginner: 7:00 - 8:00 pm
Intermediate: 8:15 - 9:15 pm

Where: Levantine Cultural Center
5998 W. Pico Blvd. (one block east of Crescent Heights)
Los Angeles CA 90035

Come and join us as we learn the fundamentals of one the most dynamic and exciting drums on earth…the Middle Eastern doumbek!

By Daiana Feuer, LA Weekly

Ariana Delawari channels the ghost of Janis Joplin
Ariana Delawari sn't your typical California girl singing folk-pop about lovers and the cosmos, though you'll find some of that on her debut album, Lions of Panjshir. A grand purpose entered her life before she was born: Just 20 days prior to Delawari's birth, her father's entire family fled Afghanistan for Los Angeles. The Soviet Union had invaded, initiating what took on the redolent nickname "Soviet Vietnam." Her father's raison d'être became Afghanistan: demonstrations, meetings at the house with mujahideen members, trips to Congress and establishing peace organizations. When the U.S. helped to push out the Taliban in 2001, her parents returned to rebuild the country. Dad helped institute a banking system, and Mom—who speaks six languages—worked for the United Nations.