Rumi X 7 = A lyrical fusion of circus arts and classical Persian poetry

Rumi x 7 = Tales from the Masnavi

A Poetic Circus Extravaganza

Directed by Hafiz Karmali

Presenting at La Peña Cultural Center May 4, 2013 10:30 am

Golden Thread Productions proudly presents Hafiz Karmali’s Rumi X 7 = Tales from the Masnavi, a poetic circus extravaganza that is both entertaining and inspiring. Seven tales by the globally admired Sufi poet Rumi selected from his masterwork, the Masnavi are presented as fun-filled vignettes that fuse classical Persian poetry with circus arts and commedia dell arte. Performed by a seven-member ensemble of actors, acrobats, musicians and dancers, the fables include familiar tales such as The Elephant in Darkness and The Grammarian and Boatman, as well as lesser-known gems; together they celebrate the cycle of life and humanity’s universal bond. Originally performed in the mountains of Northern Pakistan and subsequently in a mosque courtyard in Tashkent Uzbekistan, Rumi X 7 = Tales from the Masnavi premiered in the US in November 2011 and is slated to tour in spring and fall 2012.

Rumi comes to life as never before through this lively adaptation of one of the world’s greatest poets in Rumi x 7= Tales from the Masnavi. Rumi’s timeless tales explore the ties that bind human kind to the natural world, to their dreams and to their infinite potential. Seven breathtaking vignettes fuse classical Persian poetry with a dazzling panorama of circus arts and commedia dell arte. Let your imagination soar through this awe-inspiring journey that celebrates the cycle of life and humanity’s universal bond.

With Rumi X 7 = Tales from the Masnavi Golden Thread embarks on a ground-breaking program to create innovative professional performances based on Islamic arts and ideas presented in an eclectic style fusing eastern and western traditions. Offering youth and families an opportunity to experience Islam in an inspiring and entertaining way, Golden Thread aims to provide the general public alternative images of Islam while providing the Muslim community self-affirming narratives that help connect the younger generation with their heritage’s playful side. Rumi X 7 is the first play in a new series, Islam 101, designed to educate the public about Islam through theatre. Director Hafiz Karmali has undertaken the development of this series which will first and foremost explain the emergence of Islam as an Abrahamic faith that is the third dimension of what until now has been exclusively known as the Judeo-Christian tradition. Karmali has a special interest in cross-cultural performances with a view to showcasing indigenous performing arts of the Islamic world. He began his tenure at Golden Thread in 2006 directing the US premiere of Island of Animals based on encyclopedic writings by Ikhwan al-Safa (Brethren of Purity, a group of Muslim scholars). In addition to Rumi x 7, Karmali directed Tawfiq al-Hakim’s War & Peace at ReOrient 2012, and the world premiere of Night Over Erzinga, by Adriana Sevahn Nichols in 2011 at Golden Thread Productions.

RUMI’S MASNAVI is widely recognized as one of the greatest collections of Sufi poetry ever written and is revered throughout the Middle East and around the world as the Quran in Persian. The thirteenth-century Sufi poet Jalal al-din Rumi composed this edifying work for the benefit of his students in the order named after him, popularly known as the whirling dervishes. In order to convey his message of divine love and unity he threaded together entertaining stories and allegorical homilies. Drawing from folk tales as well as sacred history, Rumi’s poetry is often comic as well as spiritually profound. The Masnavi was composed during the final years of Rumi’s life. He began dictating the first book around the age of 54 circa 1258 and continued composing verses until his death in 1273. The sixth and final book would remain incomplete.

Performed by an ensemble of actors, acrobats, dancers and musicians.

Golden Thread Productions

Golden Thread Productions is a nationally recognized non-profit organization acknowledged as the leading theater company devoted to Middle Eastern voices and experiences. Founded in 1996 by Torange Yeghiazarian, Golden Thread’s mission to give voice to Middle Eastern writers is a national treasure, made more urgent and vital given current events in the Middle East.

For 15 years, Golden Thread has pioneered the field of Middle Eastern-American theatre. The organization’s mission is to make the Middle East a potent presence on the American stage and a treasured cultural experience. Through its work, Golden Thread aims to create a world where the common human experience supersedes cultural and political differences. To that end, Golden Thread has supported countless Middle Eastern artists in all phases of their careers. From live performances to educational outreach, Golden Thread plays a vital role in the production of original stories about topics rarely explored on the American stage.

In 2008, Golden Thread launched a multifaceted Education program. The main elements are: Theatre Curriculum inspired by Middle Eastern Arts & Literature; Teaching Residencies; Student Matinee Performances of Main Stage Productions; and the Fairytale Players: Inspired by popular performance traditions in the Middle East the Fairytale Players employ epic story-telling, physical theatre and circus arts techniques in creating performances based on stories from the Middle East.