Kicking off the new year at the Center for the Arts is Hamid Rahmanian’s newest large-scale cinematic shadow play Song of the North on January 27. The thrilling multimedia adventure, adapted from the Shahnameh (Book of Kings), combines state-of-the-art animation with the age-old art of shadow puppetry to showcase a collection of ancient Persian legends and Iranian national treasures. Watch the video below for a preview of this epic love story.
Originally premiering in Paris, France, followed by the U.S. premiere at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Song of the North is a New York Times’ Critic’s Pick and offers ”breathtaking fireworks of creativity” (Le Monde). With over 500 handmade puppets and an original score by renowned Iranian composer Loga Ramin Torkian, the performance aims “to shed a bright light into Iranian culture,” as Rahmanian notes in a recent San Francisco Classical Voice article. He explains the project’s creation and inspiration, stating, “I migrated to the United States. And I felt that I needed to create something that would highlight Iranian culture... In Iran, people are still using the mythology for its characters and customs, which are all kept in this book [Shahnameh (Book of Kings)], to create slogans, moments — in many different ways.”
Unfortunately, this last October the team’s show rental truck was broken into, which resulted in lost electronic and tech gear but, most importantly, the loss of the incredible handmade puppets and costumes that took years to create. Rahmanian created a public fundraiser to raise money that would replace the custom-designed technical equipment and provide financial support in the creation of hundreds of lost puppets and costumes. Rahmanian noted, “Replacing the items that were stolen is a major undertaking comprised of both high value purchases and weeks of intensive labor and reconstruction/repair” and additionally noted the loss as “devastating” in a San Fransico Chronicle article.
In only a month, the fundraiser received more than enough contributions to bring Song of the North up on its feet prior to its upcoming performances this winter. Raising over $100,000, Rahmanian shares his excitement, “The incredible generosity of our community has blown us away... The fact that we've overcome the challenges of a nearly derailing catastrophic event fills us with gratitude and a deep sense of blessings. We're eagerly looking forward to our imminent return to the stage and the joy of reuniting with both familiar faces and new friends who have joined us on this incredible journey.”
It is with great pleasure that the Center presents Song of the North, sharing the incredible talent of these artists, musicians, and puppeteers with new and returning audience members. Additionally, the Center for the Arts is offering a free schooltime performance of Hamid Rahmanian’s Song of the North on Friday, January 26 at 11 a.m. The performance is free but recommended for grades 2-12 (for ages 7 and older) and registration is required. Additional information can be found on the Center for the Arts Field Trip webpage.
Song of the North was made possible with funding by the New England Foundation for the Arts’ National Theater Project, with lead funding from the Mellon Foundation and additional support from the Doris Duke Foundation. This engagement of Hamid Rahmanian is made possible in part through the ArtsCONNECT program of Mid Atlantic Arts with support from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Thank you to the City of Fairfax Parks and Recreation Everybody Plays Grant program for making free tickets possible for the schooltime matinee program. This grant was funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).