Refugee Rhapsody

by Yussef El Guindi

Sakinah, an Arab American woman, undergoes a mental health evaluation to determine what led to the violent crime she committed against Emily, a rich heiress. The play explores race, class, privilege, and how those factors collide and play out in today’s culture.

Sakinah, an Arab American woman, undergoes a mental health evaluation to determine what led to the violent crime she committed against Emily, a rich heiress. The play explores race, class, privilege, and how those factors collide and play out in today’s culture.

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Refugee Rhapsody

Recommended by

  • Brianna Barrett: Refugee Rhapsody by Yussef El Guindi
    “

    I really liked this play. Cool stage directions – drew me in right away, it’s a cool convention and would be very curious to see it staged. A compelling commentary on race and class and activism. The story keeps us in suspense as we watch the events unfold between Sakinah, Foaud, and Emily. There are a lot of lines of dialogue that have been sticking with me for a long time -- "nothing at no point in history has ever been changed by thinking things will work themselves out." <3

    I really liked this play. Cool stage directions – drew me in right away, it’s a cool convention and would be very curious to see it staged. A compelling commentary on race and class and activism. The story keeps us in suspense as we watch the events unfold between Sakinah, Foaud, and Emily. There are a lot of lines of dialogue that have been sticking with me for a long time -- "nothing at no point in history has ever been changed by thinking things will work themselves out." <3

    ”
  • Daniel Olivas: Refugee Rhapsody by Yussef El Guindi
    “

    I had the great pleasure of watching a streamed reading of Yussef El Guindi's 'Refugee Rhapsody' which was featured in The Road Theatre's Summer Playwrights Festival. This play is a brooding, brilliant, complex examination of race and class that are the underpinnings for various forms of physical and psychological violence. Theatre craves work such as this. It is my sincere hope that this play makes it to the stage.

    I had the great pleasure of watching a streamed reading of Yussef El Guindi's 'Refugee Rhapsody' which was featured in The Road Theatre's Summer Playwrights Festival. This play is a brooding, brilliant, complex examination of race and class that are the underpinnings for various forms of physical and psychological violence. Theatre craves work such as this. It is my sincere hope that this play makes it to the stage.

    ”
  • Ross Tedford Kendall: Refugee Rhapsody by Yussef El Guindi
    “

    A stunningly rich piece that explores the complex situations revolving around class, race, and the haves and have-nots. The characters are brought into a world they long for, but the prices they all pay are high. Adept use of flashbacks, mindscapes, and straightforward scenes make this highly theatrical.

    A stunningly rich piece that explores the complex situations revolving around class, race, and the haves and have-nots. The characters are brought into a world they long for, but the prices they all pay are high. Adept use of flashbacks, mindscapes, and straightforward scenes make this highly theatrical.

    ”
View all 6 recommendations
(5 actors needed: 3 women, 2 men.)
SAKINAH..........Arab American. Age range: can be from mid-to-late 20s to mid-to-late 30s. The accused. Works at a “Goodwill” type store.
JENNY............African American. Age range: can be from late 20s to mid-to-late 30s. Psychologist. Works for the lawyer of the accused.
FOUAD...........Arab American. Age range: can be from mid-to-late 20s to mid-to-late 30s. Sakinah’s boyfriend. Works at a “Goodwill” type store.
RICHARD.........African American. Age range: can be from mid-to-late 20s to mid-to-late 30s. Jenny’s husband, works at a non-profit arts organization.
EMILY..........European American. Age range: can be from mid-to-late 20s to mid-to-late 30s. Philanthropist, charity organizer, daughter of a tech tycoon.
WALEED......West African. Age range: can be from mid-to-late 20s to mid-to-late 30s. A character from a painting come to life.
(Note: One actor will play both Richard and Waleed)

Development History

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