Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program alum Lauren Goldman Marshall (Cycle 7) had the online streaming premiere of her musical ABRAHAM'S LAND presented via YouTube by Theatre of Possibility.
With book and lyrics by Marshall and music and orchestrations by collaborators Roger Ames, David Nafissian, and Paul Linnes, the original musical is set in Israel and Palestine during the First Intifada and tells the 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 the Ismail's ghost. Disguising himself as a Palestinian, Yitzhak journeys to Ismail's home in Gaza to return his identity card and ask his family for forgiveness. There, he experiences the dignity, suffering and humanity of the other side, while coming to terms with his own moral shortcomings. Can Ismail achieve in death, what he could not do in life, by getting Yitzhak to see him and his family as human beings, worthy of the same rights and opportunities to follow their dreams?
To view the show on YouTube CLICK HERE.