Theater of Possibility
presents an original musical,
Abraham’s Land is again available for streaming on demand, as of September 22, 2024, 1 PM PDT.
Click here to see the edited live capture of the 2021 production.
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
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!
Please Contact Us to obtain a copy of the script and/or audio demos, or to join the email list.
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
François Ben-Saaid as Ismail
Watch the official Abraham’s Land trailer!
Join our mailing list for show updates and important information!
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. Following the production, an edited live capture video was made available between September 20 - December 12, 2021, under an agreement with Actors Equity Association, and shown at six venues in Rafah, Gaza in January 2022. Those who missed the live production will now have a chance to see the edited live capture, which is newly available for public viewing, starting September 22, 2024, thanks to a SAG-AFTRA license. Please join our mailing list at the Sign Up link below, if you would like to be periodically informed on news relating to this or other productions of Theater of Possibility. Abraham’s Land is available for licensing for production. The libretto and audio demos are available for viewing upon request. For production inquiries, please use this CONTACT link.
Meet the cast of Abraham’s Land!
It takes a Village.
Your support has helped to make this timely piece available for all who want to see it. Currently, our fundraising efforts are going to help individuals suffering from the devastating war in Gaza. Donations have also been made to help the Israeli victims of October 7. We encourage you to consider a tax-deductible donation to Palestine Charity Team, serving displaced families in Rafah, Gaza. In spring of 2024, the playwright and her friends brought 22 individuals out of Gaza to temporary safety in Cairo. Now we are working to help them get to more stable, long-term living situations, so that they can rebuild their lives and heal from their trauma. If you would like to support these efforts, focusing on individuals, you may contact us. Finally, you can support ongoing dissemination of Abraham’s Land and other projects of Theater of Possibility by making a tax-deductible donation and/or contacting 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
“I love when they say I’m a refugee and all I have is my story…. Your play deserves to be performed everywhere. And I’m so grateful that I got a chance to watch it.”
– Nada Alaloul, edited livestream viewer, Gaza
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.