Theater of Possibility
presents an original musical,
Abraham’s Land was screened in Gaza, Palestine in January 2022 as a fundraiser for Palestine Charity Team.
Click here to learn more about this event!
Set in Israel and Palestine, during the time of the First Intifada, ABRAHAM’S LAND tells a story of two men, brought together by one tragic moment. Ismail, a Palestinian philosophy student, wants the Israelis to see his humanity and that of his people. But when he takes to the podium at a demonstration in East Jerusalem, he is fatally shot by Israeli Sergeant Yitzhak, who perceives him to be a threat. Filled with guilt to discover that his victim was unarmed, Yitzhak is haunted by Ismail’s ghost and travels to Gaza to ask for forgiveness from Ismail’s family. Disguising himself as a Palestinian for the journey, Yitzhak experiences the dignity, suffering and humanity of the other side while coming to terms with his own. Can Ismail achieve in death what he could not do in life, by getting Yitzhak to truly see him and his family as human beings, worthy of the same rights and opportunities to follow their dreams?
Closed captions are available in English, Arabic and Hebrew
تمت الترجمة للعربية بواسطة آدم آدم و علاء الدين أبو عساكر
כתוביות זמינות בעברית
Our streaming period has ended. Please Contact Us to request access to the archival video and/or the script, or to join the email list. We will notify you if we are able to stream it again in the future.
Graphic designed by Luis Iran Reyes.
ABRAHAM’S LAND began thirty years ago as a Jewish-Arab collaboration between writer Lauren Goldman Marshall, composer David Nafissian and director Hanna Eady. Marshall further developed the script with Israeli and Palestinian teens at Seeds of Peace International Camp in 1999. This revised version features an exciting new libretto by Lauren Goldman Marshall and a score that will capture your heart by Pulitzer-nominated composer Roger Ames. ABRAHAM’S LAND holds a mirror up to who we think we are and asks us to see who we need to be.
The racially and culturally diverse, Broadway-caliber cast is drawn from New York City, Los Angeles and Seattle, with key roles played by Israeli, Palestinian-American and Jewish-American actors.
ABRAHAM’S LAND was previously workshopped at Village Theatre, Issaquah, and Nautilus Music-Theatre, Minneapolis-Saint Paul
Michael Strauss as Yitzhak
Maira Habeeb as Amira
Netanel Bellaishe as Ismail
Watch the official Abraham’s Land trailer!
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Abraham’s Land premiered at Kirkland Performance Center, July 15-18, 2021, in a stunning production, directed by David Grabarkewitz. Ours was the first live theater production to open in Washington state following fifteen months of closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and we followed all government and union guidelines for COVID safety. With both in-person and livestream viewing, our production has reached audiences nationally and internationally. Those who missed the live production had a chance to see the edited livestream, which was available for free public viewing November 1 - December 12, 2021. We hope to offer the video again at a future date. Please join our mailing list to be among the first to be notified should it become available! For access to the archival footage or to peruse the libretto, please use CONTACT link below.
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Meet the cast of Abraham’s Land!
It takes a Village.
We need your support to make this timely piece available for all who want to see it. Your support will help defray production costs and go towards the editing and distribution of the film version. We pay our wonderful, professional actors every week that the film is in circulation, so your contributions will help expand the reach of this work. If you would like to help out, you can make a tax-deductible donation or contact us at one of the links below.
Bobbi Kotula as Hadas, with Hersh Powers, Lila Bahng, Hugh MacDonald, & Mira Gross-Keck. Photo by Ben Kerns.
What people have to say about ABRAHAM’S LAND
“A crowning achievement. Simply excellent!"
— Susan Moffitt, audience member
“I watched it and wept and wept. It is unfortunately so very timely, not to mention beautiful.”
— Gail von Hahmann, audience member
Hassan Nazari-Robati as Fat’hi and the ensemble of ABRAHAMS LAND. Photo by Ben Kerns.
“I watched this amazing, thought-provoking performance. It is a true work of (he)art and soul.”
— Coni Pursley, audience member
“The content shows political knowledge of the situation, and it has characterization, psychological depth and transformation. The writing is amazing. Not didactic, not judgmental, not righteous, just heart and human.”
— Vibha Thompson, audience member, 2019 workshop
“The writing, amazingly, did not demonize one side or the other. Rather it showed the humanity while not shying form hard facts of what needs to be done.”
— Bert Sacks, edited livestream viewer, 2021 production
“You hit the mark on Arab nuance and culture, authentic while artistically represented. . . . It culminated in raw emotional turmoil as it should have, stirring up tears.”
—Dana Anwar, edited livestream viewer, 2021 production
“[Roger’s] music paired with [Lauren’s] powerful lyrics were, imo, Broadway-ready.””
— Tonia Steed, former reviewer, The Stranger
“Although my empathy is much more with the Palestinian people, I feel that in the play both sides were given equal voice.”
— Nel Mascal-Vanderlinden, audience member, 2019 workshop
“A beautiful story with a universal appeal.”
— Lenore Bensinger, playwright, audience member
“One of the most important works I have [done] (and may ever do) in my career. So grateful for this work, I want to see it on Broadway and beyond!!!!!!”
– Chandry Abreu, cast member
This project is supported, in part, by a grant from 4Culture.
We want to thank our project Donors and Supporters
Vincent Mancuso as Yitzhak, 1992 New Image Theatre production of ABRAHAM’S LAND.