DETROIT.   Detroit Public Theatre is thrilled to announce the Michigan premier of Noura by Heather Raffo.  Performances begin November 16, opening night is November 18 and performances run through December 18 at Detroit Public Theatre’s new home, a state-of-the-art performance venue at 3960 Third Ave in the heart of Detroit’s thriving cultural district.

The play tells the story of Noura and her family, who fled their home in Iraq eight years ago. She plans the perfect Christmas dinner to celebrate their new life in New York. But when the arrival of a visitor stirs up long-buried memories, she and her husband are forced to confront the cost of their choices and retrace the past they left behind. With compassion and startling clarity, this play by internationally acclaimed, Michigan-born, Iraqi-American playwright Heather Raffo charts the intricate pathways of motherhood and marriage — and the fragile architecture of what we call home.

Heather Raffo will play the title role of Noura in the DPT production. Raffo also appeared as Noura in the premier New York production at Playwrights Horizons. The New York Times review of that production, written by Jesse Green, began by asking “What does it mean to say an actor is radiant in a role?”

The cast also features Kal Naga (aka: Khaled Abdol Naga) as Rafa’a.  An Egyptian movie star, he is often tagged as “Egypt’s Brad Pitt.”  

CAST:

Mattico David

Moogie Fawaz

Kal Naga (aka: Khaled Abdol Naga)

Amanda Najor

Heather Raffo

PRODUCTION TEAM:

DIRECTOR: Mike Mosallam

PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER: Doran Konja

PRODUCTION MANAGER: Patrick Hanley

SCENIC DESIGNER: Jungah Han

LIGHTING DESIGNER: Jen Folk

COSTUME DESIGNER: Katherine Nelson

AUDIO DESIGNER: Katie Hopgood

ASST. STAGE MANAGER: Katheryn McIntyre

PROPERTIES DESIGNER AND MANAGER:  Katie Kim