Broadway's The Kite Runner is set to begin previews July 6, with opening night set for July 21.
At a recent press event, the cast and creatives shared with Playbill what to expect from the production, along with giving us a sneak peek at the play's music. Watch above.
Leading the cast is Amir Arison as Amir and Faran Tahir as Baba. They will be joined by Mazin Akar (u/s Amir, Hassan/Sohrab, Assef, Kamal/Zaman/Husband/Radio Announcer), Barzin Akhavan (u/s Baba, General Taheri, Rahim Khan/Russian Soldier #2/Dr Schneider/Omar Faisal, Ali/Farid), Demosthenes Chrysan (u/s Baba, General Taheri, Ali/Farid, Rahim Khan/Russian Soldier #2/Dr Schneider/Omar Faisal), Azita Ghanizada (Soraya), Danish Farooqui (Wali/Guard/Pakistani Doctor, u/s Hassan/Sohrab), Joe Joseph (Merchant/Russian Soldier #1, u/s Assef, Kamal/Zaman, Wali/Guard/Pakistani Doctor), Déa Julien (u/s Soraya, Hassan/Sohrab, Merchant/Russian Soldier #1, Pomegranate Lady/Wife/Andrews), Dariush Kashani (Rahim Khan/Russian Soldier #2/Dr. Schneider/Omar Faisal), Beejan Land (Kamal/Zaman/Husband/Radio Announcer, u/s Amir), Amir Malaklou (Assef), Christine Mirzayan (Pomegranate Lady/Wife/Andrews, u/s Soraya, Wali/Guard/Pakistani Doctor), Haris Pervaiz (u/s Assef, Ali/Farid, Wali/Guard/Pakistani Doctor, Merchant/Russian Soldier #1), Alex Purcell (u/s Amir, Rahim Khan/Russian Soldier #2/Dr Schneider/Omar Faisal, Kamal/Zaman/Husband/Radio Announcer, Merchant/Russian Soldier #1), Eric Sirakian (Hassan/Sohrab), Houshang Touzie (General Taheri), and Evan Zes (Ali/Farid). Salar Nader plays the tabla, a percussion instrument.
Christine Mirzayan will join the ensemble and Salar Nader will play the tabla, a percussion instrument. Understudies include Demosthenes Chrysan for Baba, Taheri, and Ali, Joe Joseph for Assef, Kamal/Zaman, and Wali/Doctor, Dea Julien for Hassan/Sohrab, Christine Mirzayan for Soraya, Haris Pervaiz for General, and Alex Purcell for Amir.
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini follows Amir from a young boy living in Kabul, Afghanistan, who finds ways of escaping the terrible events unfolding around him through to adulthood as he searches for atonement in an exploration of father-son relationships and friendships. The bestselling novel was published in 2003, and has since been sold 31.5 million copies published in 70 countries. Matthew Spangler has adapted the novel for the stage.
The production comes to New York after premiering in the U.K., including two runs in London’s West End. Giles Croft will direct, having previously directed the production in the U.K., and will be joined on the creative team by scenic and costume designer Barney George, lighting designer Charles Balfour, sound designer Drew Baumohl, projection designer William Simpson, composer and musical supervisor Jonathan Girling, movement director Kitty Winter, casting director Laura Stanczyk, cultural advisor and script consultant Humaira Ghilzai, and associate director Damian Sandys.
The work is produced by Victoria Lang, Ryan Bogner and Tracey McFarland of Broadway & Beyond Theatricals, and Jayne Baron Sherman in association with UK Productions Ltd. and Flying Entertainment Ltd/Kilimanjaro Group Ltd. Daryl Roth serves as executive producer.