Brind School of Theater Arts Presents '9 Parts of Desire'

April 29, 2010

The Ira Brind School of Theater Arts at the University of the Arts presents the final installment of its 2009 – 2010 Studio Series of intimate, experimental works with Heather Raffo's topical "9 Parts of Desire" about the stark reality of being a woman in modern-day Iraq.

                     

Originally written as a one-woman show, the play features monologues that bring to life nine distinct Iraqi women whose very different stories convey their complex and harrowing lives. These monologues quickly become a series of overlapping conversations leading to a breakdown in communication as the chaos of Iraq intensifies. Nine University of the Arts students play the nine roles.

The production is directed by Rick Stoppleworth, assistant professor of Acting and Musical Theater and Assistant Director of the Brind School. He last directed "Bat Boy: The Musical" during the Brind Sc

hool's 2008 – 2009 season. The production stars Musical Theater juniors Kat Borrelli as "Nana" (above right), Alyssa DiPalma as "Layal" and Michelle Vezilj as "Umm Ghada" (above center); Acting seniors Sam Tower as "Huda," Haley McCormick as "American," Sarah Van Auken as "Doctor" and Dariela Sanchez as "Mullaya" (right); Acting freshman Maddy Kolker as "Iraqi girl"; and Directing, Playwriting and Production sophomore Adriana Lopez Villarreal as "Amal" (above left). School of Music freshman Darryl Jackson serves as the composer and Design/Tech junior Michael Leon created the sets.

The show will be staged at the University’s Caplan Center for the Performing Arts (211 S. Broad St.) and runs April 29 – May 1 at 8 p.m.; May 1 – 2 at 2 p.m.; and May 2 at 7 p.m. Tickets are sold out.