This is Who I Am

World Premiere

Separated by continents, an estranged father and son reunite over Zoom. From their respective kitchens in Ramallah and New York City, they recreate a cherished family recipe and struggle to bridge the gap between them, one ingredient at a time.

Best of Virtual Theater, 2020 (WBUR Boston)

"Intimate, potent, and universal... The play, with focused direction from Evren Odcikin, pulses with emotion." —WBUR Boston

"Evren Odcikin directs the digital two-hander, and mines the rising tension and release in the script to great effect." —The Oregonian

"Evren Odcikin does a wonderful job as director. The cooking keeps the actors busy with their hands and bodies while they peel back their history and expose their pain and emotions. This Is Who I Am is a fantastic example of the power of live theater, and how the skillful use of technology can enhance it." —DC Metro Theater Arts

"Zuabi and Odcikin have created a play of universality... It is poignant and imperfect, evocative of humanity’s complexity in the simplest of things." —The Theatre Times

Cast
Ramsey Faragallah and Yousof Sultani​​

Creative Team
Rachael Danielle Albert (Livestream Manager), James Ard (Sound Designer), Reza Behjat (Lighting Designer), Dina El-Aziz (Costume Designer), Joseph Haj (Dramaturg), Ido Levran (Video and Streaming Systems Designer), Mariana Sanchez (Scenic Designer), and X Casting (Casting Director)

"Director Evren Odcikin and his cast pitch their performances to a realistic level, such that one can forget they’re actors in performance and share their pain when the emotional floodgates burst open." —New York Stage Review

"This Is Who I Am transcends politics and makes Palestinian identity personal... Smoothly directed by Evren Odcikin, actors Sultani and Faragallah tackle the heightened text and tense moments of the script astutely." —Rescripted