Assi Hallani Nadine Rassi Are The Sun And The Moon عاصي الحلاني ونادين الراسي شمس وقمر

Music theater in Beirut is making a comeback. A play about unity among people and working without the elite running their country.  Assi Hallani is Qamar--a guy who revolts against the dictator. Shams is his lady friend who buys into his idealism. There are ten songs in the play and they seem to have a high level of energy.

I am reading that the script is missing, and the focus is not on the dialogue but the music as one is attending a concert. Plus the plot seems a little tired and presents little fresh ideas.  

I do not know much about music theater, but I have seen few shows, I think they burn through money very quickly, good writing helps, but art direction is where the money should be. A star is not important, there are so many unknown artists who came to be famous after playing a role live theater. The dazzle element need to be there, the production cannot go cheap, there has to be props, lights and sound equipment that work. This is why the play is now at the Casino Lebanon stage.

Assi seems to want to answer his critics, "I still got it", dancing on stage, singing, acting and looking good. The only weak point I see, is that Assi is the main attraction while the lead female is a delight to watch, Assi seems to hog the time and reduce Nadine into a supporting role. To his credit he has few years on her as a showman and an entertainer -this is his turf. The opening night had to much attention from the press, the politicians, and the industry.

يا أهل الزمن - الفارس عاصي الحلاني ونادين الراسي


أغنية ودبكة عاصي الحلاني من مسرحية شمس وقمر ...


عاصي قبل العرض الأول بلحظات ... شمس وقمر


إفتتاح مسرحية شمس وقمر

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Have You Bought Your Tickets Yet? Carole Samaha - Al Sayedah ... 9 December 2013 | كارول سماحة - السيدة ... 9 ديسمبر

The biggest show on earth will debut on December 9th 2013. The same year when Lebanese pop diva and celebrity Carole Samah released her most celebrated album to date, the same year she was wed, and now comes her big show...the lady.

The producers are Rotana, and it seems Pepsi labeled itself as a partner. This is the Broadway grade show that has been in the works for more than a year. There will be music, dance, acting and some crazy stage stunts....and sure some kind of message.

The teaser for Al Sayedah where it feels like an ad for a hair product or a razor company, I guess we have to wait and see what is the big deal? Carole is an intellect entertainer....she has a good head on her shoulder and now she has been talking up about this show....This will be some high budget show that's well-rehearsed....lucky these Lebanese residence they get to enjoy this show. I know the show will be touring around the Arab World and maybe ultimately to the States...

I hope the critics let us in on how they really feel.....


Carole Samaha - Al Sayedah ... 9 December 2013 | كارول سماحة - السيدة ... 9 ديسمبر 2013

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WATCH: Ziad Rahbani Triumphant Return To Theater زياد الرحباني يعود للمسرح

The larger than life Lebanese composer, pianist, performer, playwright, and political commentator returns with a new play. And the lines were long as people wanted to see his triumphant return to theater. It's a play that challenges the political narrative--the narrative is similar to the American, Arab and African reality.

This is his first play in more exactly 20 years, this time Ziad acts. Elaph caught up with the cast and interviewed them about the work. Think there are the types of intellect who are well-informed as they are talented. needelss to say, this is will be an important show once officially released to the masses.

From what we can see, these is a very chatty play, I hope it does not come across as preachy. However, it seems this is one bold play that digs deep.

زياد الرحباني يعود للمسرح وندى بوفرحات تحلق شعرها لأجل مجنون يحكي

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RIP Legendary Composer Ammar El Sherei Dies At 64

Ammar El Sherei has not moved to a better place. He will be missed by the working entertainers in Egypt and the audiences who have come to love the man and adore his work. Egypt's living legend and link to the past musical glory, the blind man who helped shape Egyptian music has passed away this morning at the age of 64. While Ammar made classical music, he has also dedicated some time for pop and the young voices he has come to appreciate.

He has been sick for a really long time, and last news item I read was that of the President of Egypt promising to pay for all his medical expenses. He passed way in AlSaffa Hospital after a long struggle with illness.

Among his many achievements for the past 30 years, composing music for more than 50 films, 150 TV dramas, 20 radio shows and 10 plays. His first piece was in 1975. But in 1980 he formed the first pop music band "Al-Asdiqa'a" that owned that era and helped define Arabic pop for many generations to come. Ammar also took interest in kids songs, he has made so many of them through out his career.

From 1991 to 2003 he was commissioned to be the musical director for the October victories celebrations -a huge deal in Egypt. He was also a professor at the Egypt Art academy where he has worked with students on their Masters and Doctorate degrees. His greatest gift was his vision which made up for his lack of sight. He went own to put some of the great and most defining musical pieces and soundtracks.

عمار الشريعي - ذكريات Ammar El-Sherei

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Why Is The British Council Promoting Indie Music?

I have to admit something, I was not one of those kids who grew up talking about the British Council, most of my friends talked it up so much. Since I was interested in English, I never gravitated toward that institution. I must say, everyone who went there spoke highly of it. I just did not care for the attitude of people who have attended classes there and socialized in the various clubs over there.

Now, I see a concert video, the entire concert video is in the video below. For an indie band from the heart of Egypt, the guys who rock and roll, Masar Egbary The band is sporting a unified scarf theme.

 The video below reveals the artsy side of this popular band, the prelude to their concert starts with a play, a dialogue with loaded meaning that will sure please the college crowds who always want to be one inch closer to sophistication. I like the slides accompanying the performance.

 مسار أجباري وجماعة المسرح البديل - سطور من دفاتر مصر

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Lindsey Stirling Re-imagines Phantom of the Opera

I have never been a big fan of operas, but there is one that everyone was talking about, the Phantom of the Opera which was later made into a movie, but that was not enough to convince me to buy into it. A little clip on YouTube has manged to do the trick.

The lady behind it is a 25 years old Lindsey Stirling who has attended BYU, the same school that I happen to also hold a degree from. She makes it a lot more fun, exciting and whole new level of spunky. The customs, and the cinematography are captivating. Lindsey is a violinist who rocks out, she makes this art form accessible to so many of us without tarnishing this classical instrument.

I love the bits and the concert scene, Lindsey looks very comfortable performing this song in a number of settings. I cannot wait to see and hear more of Lindsey Stirling who is promising an album in September of this year.

Phantom of the Opera- Lindsey Stirling

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Yara Nseir From Theater To Calling For Freedom

Yara Nseir is a Syrian activitst who was detained for handing out political leflets. She was jiled for 18 days and she was only released becasue she is Christian. She is a member of the oppostion and now she is based in Lebanon.

But before she was relased, her freinds made this clip calling for her realese. Yara used to run the Damscus theater company and sh was a force in bring the Arab capiutal of culutre to Damascus. Her stuggle presses on as she contuies her role in the oppostion by helping the activists on the ground.

This is a Fayrouz song, for Yara and for those who were robbed of their live.
Free Yara Nseir الحرية ل يارا نصير

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A Show About Arabs, With No Arabs

The Arena Stage in Washington DC latest play is a take on the Arabian Nights, but it does not seem that the most famous Arab story or stories has no actual Arabic in it. It brings Islam and the culture of the Middle East to the art scene here in DC. This play like countless others have been adapted from "The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night"

Watch this segment from the actual play and the interviews afterward with the audience. While the concept to bring this play to the stage is noble and might forgive the lack of Arabs in this tale, I feel that this might be another attempt of white washing, where white actor and actress fill in for Arab characters. There are however a list of the cast members who seem to come from different backgrounds and countries. That's a great attempt by the director Mary Zimmerman.

Maybe there are no actors in DC who are Arabs, maybe the company has no Arab talents to tab. Maybe Arabs do not enjoy this tale that is full of stereotypes and mis- characterizations that make is a lot harder to be an Arab in the West. I do know there are many Arabs in the DC area and many of them are talented enough to appear on this stage. I would love to see the show and judge for myself, but everything I read does not help me make up my mind.

"The Arabian Nights" at Arena Stage

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