Noor Theatre

fouad of nazareth

by fouad Dakwar

Directed by Sivan Battat

Music direction By Ben Covello

Percussionis By Nathan Repasz

Stage Managing Sarah Samonte

featuring Fouad Dakwar, Olivia Abiassi, Sahar Milani, Saum Seyed, And Danny Bryck

ABOUT THE SHOW

Based on a true story, FOUAD OF NAZARETH follows a Palestinian New Yorker at the awkward-crux-of-adolescence as he revisits his birthplace for the first time. Little does he know, the new-old home that awaits him in Nazareth is an Americanized summer camp. Literally campy, this new darkly comedic musical about finding home features an Arabic infused pop-punk score as its title character learns to become Fouad of Nazareth.

The inspiration behind the inception of the piece, in the playwright’s words: If I told you that FOUAD OF NAZARETH recounts the true story of a Palestinian living in diaspora who's searching for home amidst his parents' recent divorce plus the devastating political reality in Palestine today, it might come as a surprise to hear that I’m writing a comedy. However, I've experienced firsthand that comedy breaks down barriers (although maybe not the physical barriers quite yet...), comedy reveals truths and has a particular ability to bring marginalized stories to those who might not hear them otherwise. Inspired by the Arab-American dramedy series MO and RAMY, I wanted to draw upon the unifying power of laughter and the universally recognized story of searching for home in order to reclaim my own narrative.

Meet the Team

Fouad Dakwar

PLAYWRIGHT/PERFORMER

FOUAD DAKWAR (he/him) is a Palestinian composer, lyricist, and writer for both stage and screen. His semi-autobiographical musical, 'Fouad of Nazareth,' premiered to two sold-out concerts at Joe's Pub and was featured on Playbill's Songwriter Series which described Fouad as "a darkly comic pop-punk composer on the rise." Fouad is also an arts educator and current Assistant Director of the New York Youth Symphony's (NYYS) Musical Theater Songwriting program. Fouad holds an Honors Bachelor’s degree from Swarthmore College and a Master's in Writing and Design for Musical Theater from Berklee NYC where he is currently the Post-Master's Admissions Fellow. You can find Fouad on Instagram and TikTok (@notfouad) where his theatrically satirical content has garnered over 5 million likes.

SIVAN BATTAT

DIRECTOR

SIVAN BATTAT (she/they) is a theatre director & community organizer, and the Director of New Work Development at Noor Theatre. Recent credits include: Wish You Were Here (Yale Rep), Layalina (World Premiere, Goodman), Heroes of the Fourth Turning (Studio), Brass Knuckles (Ensemble Studio Theatre), Trouble in Mind (AD, Broadway). Fellowships include: Roundabout Directing Fellow, Drama League Directing Fellow, TCG Rising Leaders of Color & The Workshop, centering the work of JOCISM (Jews of Color, Jewish-Indigenous, Sephardi & Mizrahi) artists & culture-makers. sivanbattat.com

BEN COVELLO

MUSIC DIRECTOR

BEN COVELLO (he/him) is a New York Music Director, Pianist/Conductor, Guitarist, Orchestrator, and Collaborator. He is heavily involved in the developmental processes and workshopping of new musicals and experimental theater pieces at spaces including BAM, the Manhattan Theater Club, PaperMill Playhouse, Goodspeed Opera House, the Athens Conservatoire in Greece, and at Lincoln Center. When not on these projects, Ben could be found in 2021-2022 on the 25th Anniversary Farewell National Tour of RENT playing keys/guitar, playing keys on the 50th Anniversary National Tour of Jesus Christ Superstar at various points throughout 2023 and 2024, or subbing in on Wicked on Broadway. He believes in using art to unite people and to spread love and provoke thought. He is honored to be at Noor collaborating with Fouad.

Olivia AbiAssi

PERFORMER

OLIVIA ABIASSI (she/her) is a Lebanese-American actor + writer based in Brooklyn. Recent theater credits include: What Else Is True (A.R.T.), Hound Dog (Ars Nova), First Down (59E59), Eh Dah? Questions For My Father (NYTW Next Door), and The Commons (59E59). Additionally, she is working on a new motion-capture video game project, performing stand-up, and completing the editing process of her co-written comedy pilot. IG: @justoliviadoingthings.

Sahar Milani

PERFORMER

SAHAR MILANI (she/her) is a Lebanese-Iranian-American actress, singer, and musician based in Brooklyn. Off-Broadway: The Visitor (The Public Theater), Hound Dog (Ars Nova/PlayCo) TV: “The Endgame” (NBC), “Let the Right One In” (Showtime), “Law & Order” (NBC). Her new EP “Temple Cabin Tapes” released with her band, Yeller Tooth, is available now across all streaming platforms.

Saum Seyed

PERFORMER

SAUM SEYED (he/him) is thrilled to be working with Noor for the first time with such a great creative team! He previously appeared in Fouad of Nazareth at Berkley and the sold out concerts at Joe's Pub earlier this month. Favorite credits include "Kismet" (dir. Lonny Price) "Disaster!" (Original Off Bway cast) "A Year With Frog and Toad" (Atlantic Theatre Co) and 10 years as a producer for "The World Series of Poker" on ESPN.

Danny Bryck

PERFORMER (VOICE ACTOR)

DANNY BRYCK (he/him) is an actor, singer, playwright and dialect coach based in New York. Select theatre credits include Remember This Trick (Target Margin Theater), Iphigenia Point Blank (In Parentheses/ Lailou Productions), Be the Death of Me (The Civilians), Only Place I Belong (The What Co.), Just Outside the Door (Broadway Bound Festival), Chill (Merrimack Repertory Theatre), The Cherry Orchard (Actors’ Shakespeare Project), RENT (New Repertory Theatre), The Donkey Show (American Repertory Theater), Sila (Central Square Theatre), Cyrano de Bergerac (Apollinaire Theatre), and Tales from Ovid (Whistler in the Dark Theatre/ ArtsEmerson). Danny holds a BFA from Boston University and is a member of Actors’ Equity Association. www.dannybryck.com

Nathan Repasz

PERCUSSIONIST

NATHAN RESPAZ (he/him) is a New York-based drummer, vocalist, improviser, theatre artist, music director, and composer. His solo language+percussion practice explores the liminality of sense/nonsense and groove/noise. He collaborates with experimental theatre company CHILD, whose show “1-800-3592-113592” will run Mar. 9-16 at Theater Mitu. He has performed in Iceland, Poland, Germany, Czechia, and the U.K., and at Carnegie Hall, The Kitchen, SXSW, NPR’s Mountain Stage, Philly Fringe, and numerous DIY clown shows and experimental performance nights. He works as a choral singer, session/pit musician, and goat-cheesemonger in the NYC area. He is proud to be a part of “Fouad of Nazareth” and joins the chorus of millions in calling for an immediate end to the horrific and ongoing genocide in Palestine.

Sarah Samonte

STAGE MANAGER

SARAH SAMONTE (she,her) is a Filipina American Event and Theater Production Human. Born in NYC, raised in the desert of Arizona, based in Brooklyn. Recent credits include, Terce (ASM, Here Arts), Healing Shipment (PSM, La Mama), Thurgood Marshall Legacy and Legends Gala (ASM, Eventique), Society (SM, Williamstown), While We Wait (PSM, New School), while experimenting and developing various projects at the Mercury Store.