ABOUT BACK OF THE THROAT:
Two government officials pay an Arab-American man, Khalid, a seemingly innocuous visit. What begins as a "friendly" inquiry soon devolves into a chilling, full-blown investigation of Khalid's presumed ties to terrorists. At times surreal and comic, Back of the Throat examines the way in which facts, evidence and (mis)perceptions are used to distort the truth and how notions of cultural "otherness" impact the relationship between the accusers and the accused.
The staged reading will be followed by a Q & A session with playwright Yussef El Guindi.

WHEN: Sunday, January 30 at 12:30 pm.

WHERE: The Chicago Temple, First United Methodist Church (77 W. Washington St., Chicago), 2nd Floor - Dickson Chapel

COST: Free and Open to the Public.

For further information, visit Silk Road Theatre Project’s web site at www.srtp.org or call the theatre’s administrative office at 312-236-6881.

WHAT IS AL KASIDA STAGED READING SERIES:

Silk Road Theatre Project’s Al Kasida Staged Reading Series is Chicagoland’s first and only staged reading series dedicated to showcasing playwrights of Asian, Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean backgrounds. In Arabic, "al-kasida" means "the ode." The word is meant to evoke the rich tradition of storytelling and epic poetry in the lands of the Silk Road.

Just as written and oral narratives helped convey the cultural and historical realities of antiquity, Al Kasida Staged Reading Series promises to illuminate for Chicago audiences the contemporary realities of a part of the world that is vast and diverse, and yet sorely misunderstood.

The series also exists to introduce leading Silk Road playwrights to Chicago’s theatre community, in hopes of encouraging collaboration between the playwrights and Chicago’s many outstanding theatre companies. Silk Road Theatre Project measures its own success partly by the number of play’s other theatre companies produce with Asian, Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean themes.

Primary funding for this year’s Al Kasida Staged Reading Series is provided by The Joyce Foundation.

All staged readings are free and open to the general public.

ACLU of Illinois Table
Before and after the Reading, the ACLU of Illinois will have a table where people can sign up as ACLU members, become activists, and get information on what to do if called in for an FBI Interview.

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