EDESSA OF BAGHDAD
Book and Lyrics by Dalia Ashurina, Music by Avi Amon
1958 Baghdad, Iraq. The sun is shining and opportunity is in the air as this "new" country forms an identity of its own. A young girl, Edessa, gets her first chance in the spotlight and can't look back. Her mother, who runs the busiest shop in the bazaar, does everything in her power to keep the family together. With a score infused with Middle-Eastern sounds and a pop sensibility, EDESSA OF BAGHDAD follows one family’s journey as society changes all around them. They must look to the past but keep an eye on the future to find out who they really are - and who they want to be.
PRODUCTION HISTORY
EDESSA OF BAGHDAD began development after receiving a grant from the National New Play Network’s Bridge Program, and completed a workshop for the New American Play Festival, produced by IN THE MARGIN and B-Street Theatre in Sacramento, California. EDESSA had a showing of selected songs and scenes in October 2021 for the New American Play Festival.
1958 Baghdad, Iraq. The sun is shining and opportunity is in the air as this "new" country forms an identity of its own. A young girl, Edessa, gets her first chance in the spotlight and can't look back. Her mother, who runs the busiest shop in the bazaar, does everything in her power to keep the family together. With a score infused with Middle-Eastern sounds and a pop sensibility, EDESSA OF BAGHDAD follows one family’s journey as society changes all around them. They must look to the past but keep an eye on the future to find out who they really are - and who they want to be.
PRODUCTION HISTORY
EDESSA OF BAGHDAD began development after receiving a grant from the National New Play Network’s Bridge Program, and completed a workshop for the New American Play Festival, produced by IN THE MARGIN and B-Street Theatre in Sacramento, California. EDESSA had a showing of selected songs and scenes in October 2021 for the New American Play Festival.