Set in present day Cairo, Egypt, Tom Coash’s Khamaseen explores a culture-shocked, young, American woman’s triumph over psychological dislocation, fear of terrorists, and a troubled relationship.  Although dealing with serious subjects the play is alive with belly-dancing, music, and sparkling humor.

The production can be seen February 24 – March 1 at 8pm each night and on Sunday at 3 pm.

Playright and director, Tom Coash recently commented on his play’s relationship to current events saying,

“‘Mabruk!’ This Arabic word for ‘congratulations’ has been joyously ringing through the streets of Egypt these past two weeks ushering in the birth of a new era, both in Egypt and most probably throughout the Middle-East. As Bob Dyan said ‘The times, they are a’changing…’.

We have just witnessed a remarkable and in many ways miraculous moment in history in which the people of a nation risked imprisonment, torture, and death, to rise up and depose a brutal dictator. Egypt has had a civilization for over 5000 years and they showed it with one of the most peaceful and civilized revolutions in memory.

When I wrote the first draft of this play in Cairo several years ago, I wanted to show the warm and friendly Egypt that I had come to know and love rather than the distorted view of a supposedly very dangerous place as sensationally portrayed by Western media. The Egypt I knew was not filled with with heavily veiled, suppressed women and toothless, bearded men shouting hatred and burning American flags. The Egypt that I had come to know was full of warm and friendly people who would go miles out of their way to do anything for you..a guest in their country. We feel lucky and privileged to be working on this very play at such a timely moment in Egyptian history and hope that it will help you all see this remarkable country for what it is…a country full of intelligent, hardworking people who want nothing more than the things we Americans cherish and often take for granted…a chance to work and get ahead, a good education and future for their children, and a chance to have a say in running their own lives. We Americans should identify with and support this amazing birth of a new democracy. To risk using an old cliche…these are the first joyous days of the rest of their brand new lives and we should welcome this change, not with fear and trepidation but with open arms and loud, heartfelt shouts of “mabruk”!

 

Tickets are $11 for adults and $9 for students. Tickets for Main Stage productions may be purchased in advance.  For tickets, please contact the ticket office at (270) 745-5222.

Seats for the Studio Series, Next Stage Series, and Before Broadway Series cannot be reserved and are only sold at the door. 

The box office opens 30 minutes before the curtain rises.  For more information, please contact the

Department of Theatre & Dance at (270) 745-5845 or theatreanddance@wku.edu

To learn more about upcoming events please visit our website at

www.wku.edu/theatre&dance