EVREN ODCIKIN
World Premiere
THIS IS WHO I AM by Amir Nizar Zuabi
Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company and PlayCo
in association with American Repertory Theater, Guthrie Theater and
Oregon Shakespeare Festival (2020)
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
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
"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
"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
"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
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)