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New York Performing
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New York Performing
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In this enchanting story-theater production of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, one of the best loved tales from the Thousand and One Arabian Nights, a solo actress/dancer, accompanied by an on-stage band of three Middle Eastern musicians transport your imagination to an ancient land where a poor woodcutter named Ali Baba faces disaster when he discovers a fabulous treasure cave. Only his clever slave girl, Morgiana, can save him from certain death at the hands of the wicked forty thieves who inhabit the cave. You will meet the good Ali Baba, his greedy brother Kassim, the beautiful and clever Morgiana, the ferocious captain of the robbers, and many more -- a total of twelve different characters in all, played to perfection and underscored with musical virtuosity by the Caliph’s royal storyteller and musicians. Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves was part of the repertory of Lincoln Center Institute, has toured to major arts venues including Nashville Institute for the Arts, Philadelphia Institute for the Arts in Education, and is currently presented by Arts Horizons for school tours in the NY/NJ/CT area. Interactive workshops are also available. |
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Celeste Varricchio |
(Actress / Dancer / Storyteller) | ||||||||||
 Celeste
Varricchio has performed and directed in New York City, at regional and
stock theaters throughout the US, in roles of all types of theater
ranging from classical drama to musical comedy. She
has worked as production assistant for several Broadway productions. She tours her one-person shows
and storytelling workshops to school and universities, festivals and
major arts institutes both in the US and abroad. An accomplished Middle
Eastern dancer, she performs under the
name of Morgiana in clubs, restaurants and at special events. A
recipient of the Greer Garson Theater Arts Award, Ms. Varricchio holds
an MFA from Trinity University, San Antonio, TX and a BA from Lehigh
University, Bethlehem, PA. |
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Donald Brenner |
(Director) | ||||||||||
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Richard Khuzami |
(Musical Director, Percussion: Darbouka, Def, Bendir, Dabbl) | ||||||||||
 Richard
Khuzami has been involved with music since the age of ten, with
particular emphasis on the music of the Mediterranean. Mr.
Khuzami has worked with numerous theater and dance companies in New
York, on tour throughout the world and is a member of the Omar Faruk
Tekbilek Ensemble. He is President and producer of
Dahdoo Productions presenting world music artists on tours throughout
the US. |
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Maurice Chedid |
(Oud / Vocals) | ||||||||||
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Michael Hess |
(Kanoon, Violin, Nay) | ||||||||||
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New York Performing Artist Company
Bloomfield, New Jersey
nypaco@att.net
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Donald
Brenner lists among his New York directing credits the American premiere
of Smetana's opera The Secret, Charlie's Aunt, The
Madness of Lady Bright, and Strindberg's Pariah.
He lists more than fifty
regional theater directing credits, including his production of 1776
which was named one of the Top San Diego Productions of the Year by PBS.
He
assisted Susan H. Schulman on the City Center Encores!
presentation of the Boys From Syracuse. He assistant directed Murder at Mincing Manor with Everett
Quinton, The Ballad of Little
Jo, for the Harold Prince Musical Theater
Program. Mr. Brenner is an Artistic Associate with the Lark Theatre
Company, a member of the National Music Theatre Network's Directors
Forum. 
Maurice
Chedid studied at the Lebanese Conservatory of Middle Eastern Music. As
a member of the Lebanese Folkloric Group, he toured internationally for
four years and has since played the oud and sung in a variety of
nightclubs in Lebanon and throughout the world. Mr. Chedid has recorded
over twenty song and dance pieces and appears regularly at Cedars of
Lebanon in Manhattan, and major Arabic nightclubs in the New York
City area.
Michael
Hess has played violin and viola professionally for more than 25 years.
He attended the Manhattan School of Music in New York City. He has
studied viola in Paris and went on to play with the Virginia State
Symphony. Mr. Hess has performed internationally with Middle Eastern and
Jewish ensembles, including a Judeo-Spanish group. He works with numerous Oriental dancers and
dance troupes and at top nightclubs in New York.