AS SOON AS IMPOSSIBLE

A NEW PLAY BY BETTY SHAMIEH | FALL MAIN STAGE

ABOUT THE PRODUCTION

As Soon As Impossible is a comedy that explores the relationship between two older men, Ramsey and Arthur, an Iraqi-American and a WASP. Their annual summer fishing trip is interrupted by the unexpected appearance of Ramsey’s granddaughter, Layla, who claims to be on the run. With Arthur’s suspicions raised, Ramsey may get more than he bargained for when he begins to plan Arthur a surprise birthday party. A play about friendship in a time of war.

This play was originally commissioned by Second Stage with support from the Time Warner Commissioning Program.

 

ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT

Betty Shamieh

BETTY SHAMIEH (Denning Visiting Artist for Spring 2021) is an Arab-American playwright. Her American premieres include: The Black Eyed (New York Theatre Workshop), Fit for a Queen (Classical Theatre of Harlem), The Strangest (The Semitic Root), Territories (Magic Theatre) and Roar (The New Group). Selected as a New York Times Critics Pick, Roar is widely taught at universities throughout the United States. A graduate of Harvard College and the Yale School of Drama, Shamieh was named a Guggenheim Fellow, UNESCO Young Artist for Intercultural Dialogue, and a Radcliffe Playwriting Fellow. A Mellon Playwright in Residence at the Classical Theatre of Harlem, her works have been translated into seven languages.  www.bettyshamieh.com

 

 

 

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR

Samer Al-Saber

Professor SAMER AL-SABER, Assistant Professor at TAPS, is a director, writer, and scholar. As director, his work was seen in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and the Middle East and includes the Middle Eastern premier of Arthur Milner’s Facts and an Arabic adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. His written work appeared in Alt.Theatre, Performance Paradigm, Critical Survey, Theatre Survey, and other academic and trade venues, including the anthology Stories Under Occupation and Other Plays from Palestine, co-edited with Gary English.

 

 

 

 

CREATIVE TEAM

Director
Samer Al-Saber

Assistant Director & Dramaturgs
Marina J. Bergenstock, Suhaila Meera

Assistant Director
Ellen Abraham

Scenic Designer
Nina Ball

Costume Designer
Becky Bodurtha

Lighting Designer
Michael Ramsaur

Sound Designer
Dan Holland

Prop Designer
Christine Edwards

Intimacy Director
Maya Herbsman

Vocal Coach
Stephanie Hunt

CAST

Ramsey and Abdullah
Kal Naga (aka Khaled Abol Naga)

Layla
Margarita Belle Jamero

Arthur
Rush Rehm

Drew
Morgan Gwilm Tso

CREW

Stage Manager
Audrey Senior

Assistant Stage Managers
Chloe Chow, Kaiden Roberts

Light Board Operator
Espen Garner

Sound Board Operator
Emily Saletan

Dresser
Katie Dragone

Deck Crew
R. Tristan Ketterer

ASSISTANTS

Assistant Scenic Designer
Kiki Hood

Assistant Costume Designers
Tiffany Cartagena, Natassia Walley

Assistant to the Costume Designer
Catherine Sarca

Assistant Lighting Designer
Espen Garner

TICKETS

Due to the need for accurate contact tracing, names on tickets must match IDs presented on performance night

WHEN

Thursdays through Saturdays
November 11-13 + 18-20
8pm

WHERE

This production performs in the Harry J. Elam, Jr. Theater. located in Roble Gymnasium at 375 Santa Teresa Street.

RUNNING TIME

This production runs approximately 95 minutes and is presented without intermission.

SPONSORS

This production was made possible in part by the Roberta Denning Visiting Artist Program (Stanford ARTS), the Sohaib and Sara Abbasi Program in Islamic Studies, the Pigott Fund for Drama, the May Ellen Ritter Production Fund, and the Drs. Ben and A. Jess Shenson Fund.

IMPORTANT INFO

COVID-19 POLICIES

Proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 PCR test (taken with 72 hours of attendance) are required of all patrons. Masking is required during the performance. We ask that you closely review our COVID-19 policies and procedures at the link below.

LATE SEATING

For safety reasons, we cannot accommodate late admission to our performances. Please plan on arriving with ample time to find parking, locate the theater, move through COVID-19 safety procedures, etc.

ACCOMMODATIONS

For disability-related accommodations, please contact tapsinformation [at ] stanford.edu. Requests should be made by November 4th.

FILMING NOTICE

The November 13th performance will be recorded for future public viewing. Cameras in the theater may incidentally capture audience images and audio in the background. Ticket purchasers must alert all members of their party to this possibility, and refrain from purchasing tickets before receiving their party’s consent.

 

PRODUCTION PROGRAM

THE CREATIVE PROCESS

TAPS’s video series TABLEWORK features live roundtable discussions broadcast on social media, where members of production creative teams and casts talk through their processes, goals, and challenges, sharing a window into the immense scholarly and creative efforts that serve as the foundation of TAPS performances. This episode features As Soon as Impossible Director Samer Al-Saber; Costume Designer Becky Bodurtha; and Assistant Director and Dramaturge Marina J. Bergenstock.

A LOOK BEHIND THE SCENES