Lauren Goldman Marshall is a Seattle-based Jewish-American playwright. She wrote and produced Abraham’s Land, a musical focusing on the conflict between Palestine and Israel. She is currently working on an updated version of her play, to be produced soon. Lauren talks to Sara Jamshidi on the Peacemindedly podcast on when she realized that Israel’s stance against Palestine was unjustifiable.
Abraham’s Land Musical:
Set against the backdrop of the Israeli occupation of Palestine, during the time of the First Intifada, and framed by the ten days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, Abraham’s Land tells a story of atonement. Israeli Sergeant Yitzhak prides himself on righteous conduct, but when a Palestinian demonstration in Jerusalem appears threatening, he fatally shoots the provocateur, Ismail, only to realize that the victim was unarmed.
Haunted by Ismail’s ghost, Yitzhak travels to Gaza to return Ismail’s identity card and ask forgiveness of his family. Disguising himself as a Palestinian for the journey, Yitzhak experiences the humanity of the other side and the darker aspects of his own. He must eventually choose between his desire to make amends and his duty to his country.
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 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.
Lauren Marshall
| Abraham’s Land Excerpt 1: Gaza by the Sea
Abraham’s Land excerpt 2: Garden of Infinite Path Abraham’s Land Excerpt 3: Written in Stone Israel cannot fulfill its promise perpetuating apartheid (Marshall’s oped for Seattle Times) The Theater of Possibility (interview with Marshall for Seattle’s Child) You can buy tickets to the show at Broadway Performance Hall in Setpember, 2020. Contact Marshall via her website or Colin Hovde, abrahamslandproductionmanager@gmail.com |
Quotes by Lauren:
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Raw footage of YouTube interview with Lauren Marshal for Peacemindedly podcast
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