Davidman performs his solo performance in Providence for one night only: Tuesday, February 17 at 7pm at AS220’s Black Box Theatre, 95 Empire Street.
Aaron Davidman’s new monologue demonstrates the simultaneity of truths around the Middle East conflict. His acclaimed solo show, Wrestling Jerusalem,which opened last April in San Francisco, explores the complexities of the Middle East, translating his own heartbreak, conflicting feelings, hopes, and fears into a dramatic monologue. Davidman created the piece in 2011 when he visited Israel to do research on a play originally intended to be about two American civilians killed in the Middle East: Rachel Corrie and Daniel Pearl. While in Israel though, the piece changed direction, resulting in a monologue in the spirit of Anna Deveare Smith where Davidman plays twelve different characters, each inspired by the people he interviewed in the Middle East.
Brown University’s Department of Theatre Arts and Performance Studies is the sponsor of this one-man show as part of its season of performances and events that focus on performance as a way to communicate complex and challenging ideas. In the fall, the department presented My Name is Rachel Corrie, a solo show from a vastly different point of view. Performances of Wrestling Jerusalemare free and open to the public but reservations are required. A talk back with Davidman and Brown University Professor, Marcus Gardley, follows the show. Visit www.brown.edu/tickets to make a reservation.
The San Francisco Chronicle describes the show as a, “remarkable solo performance.” Writing for the Chronicle Rob Hurwitt says, "there's a sinuous, yearning beauty in Aaron Davidman's segue from a Hebrew song to a Muslim prayer. Deep sadness and wistful hope emanate from his portraits of Israelis and Palestinians in Wrestling Jerusalem"
The show’s director, Michael John Garcés, describes Davidman as, “a man grappling with his identity. There are times when you’re not watching a play of politics but of someone [struggling] with the nature of identity and violence. What does it mean when I believe in something and violence comes out of that, which I don’t accept or agree with? How do I [deal] with that morally?”
About Aaron Davidman:
Aaron is a playwright, director, actor, and producer. He served as Artistic Director of Traveling Jewish Theatre (TJT) in San Francisco from 2001 - 2011. Among many projects at TJT, he co-wrote and directed the international collaboration, Blood Relative about the Israeli-Palestinian story directed TJT’s critically acclaimed production of Death of a Salesman; and co-wrote and performed in God’s Donkey, which toured the United States. He originated the role of Momik Neuman in Corey Fischer’s Kennedy Center Award winning play, See Under: Love, based on the David Grossman novel.
Beyond TJT Aaron directed the world premiere of This World In A Woman’s Hands by Marcus Gardley at Shotgun Players. He also directed the world premiere of Gardley’s Love Is A Dream House In Lorin at Shotgun for which the East Bay Express named him Best Director of 2007. He directed the world premiere of Gardley's The Road Weeps, The Well Runs Dry at Perseverance Theatre in Juneau, Alaska.
Wrestling Jerusalem was commissioned by Theatre J in Washington DC and supported in part by the Sundance Institute Theatre Program, TJT, and Playwrights Foundation.
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If you have any questions or to schedule an interview, please contact:
Paul Margrave, Marketing Coordinator
(401) 863-2730 / paul_margrave@brown.edu / brown.edu/tickets