Waterwell’s dual-language adaptation of Hamlet begins performances May 10 at the Sheen Center for Thought and Culture. A trio of Tony nominees star in the Off-Broadway production: Arian Moayed takes on the title role, alongside Sherie Rene Scott and Micah Stock as Gertrude and Horatio, respectively.
The production, directed by Tom Ridgely, presents Shakespeare’s drama in both English and Farsi. The staging sets the action in Persia on the eve of World War I and incorporates traditional Persian and modern western elements.
Hamlet will officially May 21 and is scheduled to run through June 3.
“When simply looking Middle Eastern means living with an identity under siege, and with the current political leadership thin on the ground, where can we as a culture turn?” said Waterwell Artistic Director Tom Ridgely in an earlier statement. “This company of immigrants and first generation Americans is offering us a perspective on this seminal play that we simply haven’t seen before, which also marks the first professional production in the United States featuring an Iranian-born Hamlet.”
Rounding out the cast are Barzin Akhavan, Amir Arison, Maryam Ataei, Brendan Averett, Cary Donaldson, Andrew Guilarte, Abraham Makany, Arash Mokhtar, Ajay Naidu, Sathya Sridharan, and Sheila Vand. Iranian musician Mohsen Namjoo performs an original score live during performances as well.
The creative team is made up of set designer Jason Simms, costume designer Nina Vartanian, lighting design Reza Behjat, and sound designer Sinan Zafar.
Please visit SheenCenter.org/shows/hamlet/ for more information and to purchase.
(Updated May 10, 2017)
