Song of the North is a large-scale, cinematic performance combining the manual art of shadow puppetry with projected animation to tell the courageous tale of Manijeh, a heroine from ancient Persia, who must use all her strengths and talents to rescue her beloved, Bijan, from a perilous predicament of her own making and help prevent a war. This epic love story employs a cast of 500 handmade puppets and a talented ensemble of nine actors and puppeteers, all of which come together to create a spectacular experience that advances the themes of unity, collaboration, and experimentation through performance and story. Song of the North, adapted from the Book of Kings (Shahnameh), challenges the Eurocentric worldview of art and storytelling through a contemporary multimedia experience of this classic Persian tale. (80 minutes)
Created, Designed and Directed by Hamid Rahmanian
Producer: Melissa Hibbard
Script written by Hamid Rahmanian and Melissa Hibbard
Based of the love story of Bijan and Manijeh from the Shahnameh
Original Score written & orchestrated by Loga Ramin Torkian
Featuring Vocalist: Azam Ali
Ensemble:
Sam Jay Gold, Harrison Greene, Jenny Hann, Esme Roszel, Sarah Walsh, Clay Westman, and Christopher Williams
Get to know our Ensemble
Voice Actors:
Mark Thompson, Christina Calph, Richard Epcar, and Rose Nisker
Stage Manager: Zach Perez
Company Manager: Ray Dondero
Musicians:
Robab, Kamaan, Saz, Lafta, Guitar Viol, Programming & Keyboards: Loga Ramin Torkian
Vocals & Percussion: Azam Ali
Percussion: Pejman Hadadi
Violin: Molly Rogers
Cello: Mahsa Ghassemi
Kopuz & Kaval: Sinan Cem Eroglu
Piano: Sufi Rahmanian
Cello: Iman Torkian
Puppets:
Design: Saba Niknam, Hamid Rahmanian
Construction and Mechanics: Zach Broome, Esme Roszel
Puppet Construction: Katayoun Amir Aslani, Weiyi Chen, Ray Dondero, Parisa Harandi, Neda Izadi, Neda Kazemifar, Negin Keyhanfar, Sonia Kim Shuhei Matsuyama, and Kevin Marinelli.
Background Animation and the technical support: Hoda Rami
Sound Mixing: Mehrnaz Mohabati
QLab Setup: Mo Talani
Fight Choreography: Rob Aronowitz
Script Consultants: Ahmad Sadri, Lauren Whitehead
Grant Writing: Alexandra Guglielminetti
Technical: Tyler Gothier
Carpenter: Kaveh Haghtalab
Laser-cut service provided by: Joseph Szegda Jr., Vahid Pourkay at Print Icon
Rehearsal Space provided by Brooklyn Academy of Music, Culture Lab, Flushing Town Hall, Target Margin, Mercury Store
Technical facilities provided by Pratt Institute and Peter Patchen
Photographer: Richard Termine
Click here to learn more about Song of the North
