People of the Book
Price range: $15.00 through $15.95
Description
Jason returns from war to literary glory after writing an international bestseller, but his celebrity is underscored by his marriage to Madeeha, an Iraqi woman he saved. When he reunites with old friends, Amir and Lynn, questions emerge about the veracity of the book and its particular patriotic American gaze. Lust, jealousy, and personal politics bring things between old friends to a boiling point and we are asked “what is the expense of lies — personally and as a country?”
Production Info
Full Length Drama (about 100 minutes)
Minimal Set Requirements
Contemporary Costumes
Production Video
Press Quotes
“PEOPLE OF THE BOOK is an accurate portrait of humanity that is beautiful in demanding that we see every human being and every combination of human beings as a contradiction, a duality, a balanced scale. Stories like this are important cultural building blocks to uncovering and enjoying the coexistence of lies and truth. Celebrating humanity involves celebrating our flaws, not just our victories. This show is the embodiment of embracing other people, navigating boundaries without just walking out, and finding the spark of humanity in the least likely places. PEOPLE OF THE BOOK is, without a doubt, a true masterpiece.” —Mason Pilevsky, Pages On Stages
“PEOPLE OF THE BOOK is exactly what the play doctor ordered. It is a real play, real theater, and a reminder of how rare that can be, drama distilled to the bare bones of good directing, acting and writing, at a time when Broadway’s houses are occupied not only by musicals but by often lightly edited and structured plays. It’s just plain … good.” —David Solloway, Encore! Theater Reviews
“PEOPLE OF THE BOOK is a play that is reminiscent of how Off-Off-Broadway used to be … quality, raw edge and good acting as well as good underground writing. Unfortunately today, Off-Off gives us preachy, poorly written political play. But not this one!” —Robert M Massimi, Beat
“The play’s meltdown climax is truly shocking … And as with any tragedy, including a Euripidean tragedy, there are no answers — only consequences, which leave the theater with you.” —Oregon ArtsWatch
“It’s a climax I never saw coming which made it all the more exciting … I love that a play can still surprise me like this and when one does, I need to give it its due. And so, with my three-letter rating system, I give ACT’s World Premiere of PEOPLE OF THE BOOK a ‘still geeking out about those final moments’ YAY+.” —Broadway World
“Truth, infidelity, artistic jealousy, and sexual tension come together in this powerful and concise new play.” —The Stranger
“The dialogue tends to be nimble, witty and unpredictable. Reason enough to check out El Guindi’s latest play, PEOPLE OF THE BOOK.” —Crosscut
Author
Yussef El GuindiBorn in Egypt, raised in London, and now based in Seattle, Yussef El Guindi's work frequently examines the collision of ethnicities, cultures, and politics that face Arab-Americans and Muslim Americans. El Guindi holds an MFA in playwriting from Carnegie Mellon University and has worked as resident playwright at Silk Road Theatre Project; literary manager for Golden Thread Productions; and playwright-in-residence at Duke University. He is the recipient of many honors, including the Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award and the 2010 Middle East America Distinguished Playwright Award. El Guindi's most recent productions include THE TALENTED ONES at Artists Repertory Theatre in Portland (Santa Barbara Independent Indy Awards); THREESOME at Portland Center Stage, ACT, and at 59E59 (winner of a Portland Drammy for Best Original Script); PILGRIMS MUSA AND SHERI IN THE NEW WORLD (winner of the Steinberg/American Theater Critics Association's New Play Award in 2012; and the 2011 Gregory Award) also at ACT, and at Center Repertory Company (Walnut Creek, CA) 2013; and LANGUAGE ROOMS (Edgerton Foundation New American Play Award), co-produced by Golden Thread Productions and the Asian American Theater Company in San Francisco; at the Wilma Theater in Philadelphia (premiere), and at the Los Angeles Theater Center. Other productions: OUR ENEMIES: LIVELY SCENES OF LOVE AND COMBAT was produced by Silk Road Theater Project and won the M. Elizabeth Osborn award. His play BACK OF THE THROAT (winner of L.A. Weekly's Excellence in Playwriting Award for 2006), PILGRIMS MUSA AND SHERI IN THE NEW WORLD, JIHAD JONES AND THE KALASHNIKOV BABES, SUCH A BEAUTIFUL VOICE IS SAYEDA and KARIMA’S CITY have been published by Dramatists Play Service. TEN ACROBATS IN AN AMAZING LEAP OF FAITH, COLLABORATOR, THREESOME, and THE TALENTED ONES have been published by Broadway Play Publishing Inc. OUR ENEMIES: LIVELY SCENES OF LOVE AND COMBAT is published in the anthology FOUR ARAB AMERICAN PLAYS published by McFarland Books. In January 2019, Bloomsbury will publish SELECTED WORKS BY YUSSEF EL GUINDI. Currently a Core Company playwright member at ACT in Seattle, 2018.
Book Information
| Publisher | BPPI |
|---|---|
| Publication Date | 12/4/2023 |
| Pages | 86 |
| ISBN | 9780881459913 |
Special Notes
by special arrangement with Broadway Play Publishing Inc, NYC
www.broadwayplaypublishing.com
