Sarah's War/Freedom Theatre West Fundraiser, Friday, Jan. 20, 2012, 8 pm, Hudson Theatre, Theatre Row Hollywood, 6539 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood CA 90038. Performances, discussion with cast & crew, refreshments and delicious food. Donate in any amount or suggested ticket prices $100 best seats, $75 supporters. 

Actor Shiva Rose, Playwright Valerie Dillman, Director Matt McKenzie, Activist Amani Jabsheh and many Friends of the Levantine Cultural Center invite you to join us in supporting the founding production for the first Middle Eastern theatre company of Los Angeles, Freedom Theatre West (FTW), named in honor of Juliano Mer-Khamis' Jenin company, the Freedom Theatre. The objective is to raise completion funds to underwrite the first FTW production, Sarah's War, by Valerie Dillman. We have raised a significant contribution toward the $25,000 goal and iook forward to raising the balance by Jan. 20, 2012, with your help.

You may reserve your seats by donating online, by phone, 310.657.5511, or with a check to the Levantine Center ("Sarah's War" in the memo line to Levantine Cultural Center, 5998 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90035. We will thank you on the upcoming FTW web site and in the theatre programs.

At the Hudson 2/11-3/18ABOUT FREEDOM THEATRE WEST & SARAH'S WAR

Abica Dubay stars as "Sarah," with Terry Davis as "Ann," Lindsey Ginter as "Neil," Allan Wasserman as "Uncle Don," Ayman Samman as "Ryad," Dina Simon as "Noura," Will Rothaar as "Danny," Marley McClean as "Caitlin," Will Green as "Matthew," Ann Bronston as "Linda," Avner Regev as "Captain Ha'as," and Adria Tennor Blotta as "Liz." 

Advanced praise for Sarah's War by audience members who saw the workshop version at the Pacific Repertory Theatre:

"What a great piece of theatre! What a great theatrical experience." —William Lithgow

[Sarah's War] is a thrilling emotional adventure, gorgeously, tenderly written by [an] amazing playwright." —Suzanne Ford

"It is your civic duty as a human being, your allegiance to the human race, to see this important, thought-provoking, deeply compassionate work of art...Like the Greek philosophers, Valerie Dillman challenges us to question our humanity. As if this weren't enough, it is also funny. Bravo to this beautiful ensemble." —Sharron Shayne-Simeone

The greater Los Angeles region, home to a million Americans of Middle Eastern/North Africa heritage, desperately needs a theatre company devoted to the Middle East/North Africa. Good theatre enriches, provokes and often changes civil society, using cultural diplomacy to bridge religious and political divides while addressing potentially charged issues that rarely receive enough public attention. Theatre creates a safe space for dialogue and cultivation of new friendships.

In honor of our friend Juliano Mer-Khamis, the Israeli-Palestinian actor-director and founder of Jenin's theatre company, Freedom Theatre, who was assassinated in April of this year, we will launch Freedom Theatre West in Los Angeles in February/March 2012 by producing Sarah's War at the Hudson Theatre on Hollywood's Theatre Row.

Freedom Theatre shirts

You may donate online at the above link, by phone, 310.657.5511, or with a check to the Levantine Center ("Sarah's War" in the memo line to Levantine Cultural Center, 5998 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90035. We will thank you on the upcoming FTW web site and in the theatre programs.

Sarah's War is based on the true story of Rachel Corrie story, a young American peace activist with the International Solidarity Movement who was killed by an IDF bulldozer in Gaza. We will produce Sarah's War for an 6 week run at the Hudson, a 99-seat theatre. The production will draw attention to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and how it affects Americans, Palestinians and Israelis. We fully expect Sarah's War to garner critical acclaim, and as a result shine more light on the good works of the Levantine Cultural Center, and on the importance of our community and underwriters like you.

Be a pioneer, join us on Jan. 19, 2012. Reserve  your seats today. If you are unable to attend, please pledge your contribution online at the above link.

The approximate expense of underwriting this play and at the same time launching Freedom Theatre West is a modest $25,000. Learn more by reading the attached proposal.

http://membersonly.pacificresidenttheatre.com/PRTArchives/SarahsWar.shtml