[Haifa, Israel] "The trial is this weekend," my boss said without feeling the need to fill in the details regarding which case she was referring to. She had assumed that, as an American female and empathizer for Palestinian rights, I would know about Rachel Corrie. The truth is, I should have known about Rachel Corrie, but before that moment I had never heard her name. This was the summer of 2011, and Rachel had passed away in 2003. I was almost fourteen years old in March of 2003, but her story is one that I was not confronted with in my rather sheltered home. It was a story I would have to go out and find. The story of a US-funded bulldozer that was used to demolish Palestinian homes in the Gaza Strip, and which killed one of our own—a not-yet 24 year old American girl from Olympia, Washington—is not one that our country likes to tell.

By Nicole Marie Tellier 

Sarah's War is a fictional look at the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, suggested by the real-life experiences of the late American activist Rachel Corrie. Sarah's War may be less polarizing than some previous dramatic treatments and includes Palestinian, Israeli and American perspectives, revealing humanity on all sides to avoid the pitfall of objectification of the Other.

A special wine reception with cast & crew follows this gala opening performance of Sarah's War, is a fictional look at the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, suggested by the real-life experiences of the late American activist Rachel Corrie. Sarah's War may be less polarizing than some previous dramatic treatments and includes Palestinian, Israeli and American perspectives, revealing humanity on all sides to avoid the pitfall of objectification of the Other.

Sarah's War is a fictional look at the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, suggested by the real-life experiences of the late American activist Rachel Corrie. Sarah's War may be less polarizing than some previous dramatic treatments and includes Palestinian, Israeli and American perspectives, revealing humanity on all sides to avoid the pitfall of objectification of the Other.

Sarah's War is a fictional look at the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, suggested by the real-life experiences of the late American activist Rachel Corrie. Sarah's War may be less polarizing than some previous dramatic treatments and includes Palestinian, Israeli and American perspectives, revealing humanity on all sides to avoid the pitfall of objectification of the Other.

Levantine Cultural Center presents in association with Chapman University's Documentary Film Club, Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, and the Peace Studies Program, Wilkinson College of Humanities and Social Sciences, a director's screening and panel discussion of the powerful, award-winning* documentary Israel vs. Israel, on Thurs., Feb. 09, 7:00 pm.

The function of art—one of the functions of art—consists in bringing spiritual [geistigen] peace to humanity. I believe one cannot characterise the state of consciousness in contemporary art any better than by saying: more and more people are becoming conscious that spiritual peace is not enough because it has never prevented, nor could it ever prevent, real strife, and that perhaps one of the functions of art today is also to contribute to real peace - a function that cannot be foisted upon art, but must lie in the essence of art itself.

—Herbert Marcuse, Society as a Work of Art

[Doha, Qatar]—Cai Guo-Quiang's exhibit in Doha was exquisite. Incorporating techniques from Islamic artistic heritage such as miniature paintings, Saraab ("mirage"), the celebrated artist's inaugural solo exhibition in the Arab world creatively synthesised the hitherto unexplored historical and cultural dynamics of the Arab Gulf and China.

In March 2009, I travelled to Gaza with an international peace delegation organized by CODEPINK, Women for Peace. Our mission was to witness the aftermath of Operation Cast Lead, Israel's 22-day assault on Gaza and to celebrate International Women's Day with the women and children of Gaza. One of the most disturbing experiences occurred when we visited children's centers and saw their drawings of people being killed and wounded. They showed their homes destroyed, their family's olive trees uprooted, and planes and helicopters dropping bombs and white phosphorus. They drew images of their traumas that no children anywhere should ever have to experience.

Press/media contact: Philip Sokoloff, 626.683.9205

WORLD PREMIERE: SARAH'S WAR OPENS FEBRUARY 11 AT THE HUDSON THEATRE

WHAT: Sarah's War World Premiere engagement of a new play.
WHO: Written by Valerie Dillman. Directed by Matt McKenzie. Produced by Jordan Elgrably for Freedom Theatre West. Executive producer: Amani Jabsheh.
WHERE: Hudson Theatre, 6539 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90038.
WHEN: Previews Feb. 9 and 10. Gala Opening Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 8 p.m. Runs through Sunday, March 18. Thurs.- Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 3 p.m.
ADMISSION: Regular performances- $30 preferred, $25 general; Gala Opening- $40 preferred, $30 general; Previews $10.
RESERVATIONS: 310.657.5511
ONLINE TICKETING: www.Plays411.com/sarahswar, www.levantinecenter.org

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