THE SAND BENEATH THE CITY

by Abbey Fenbert

Leya Jahin is an Egyptian-American woman from a Muslim family who believes nothing and belongs nowhere. Yet somehow she’s the one who gets the news that Detroit is one hour from apocalyptic destruction. In this one-woman play, LJ must confront her (lack of) beliefs before a Voice goes full-on Sodom and Gomorrah over the city.

Leya Jahin is an Egyptian-American woman from a Muslim family who believes nothing and belongs nowhere. Yet somehow she’s the one who gets the news that Detroit is one hour from apocalyptic destruction. In this one-woman play, LJ must confront her (lack of) beliefs before a Voice goes full-on Sodom and Gomorrah over the city.

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THE SAND BENEATH THE CITY

Recommended by

  • Cheryl Bear: THE SAND BENEATH THE CITY by Abbey Fenbert
    “

    An explosively powerful exploration of identity and belief in the face of great upheaval and change. Incredible work!

    An explosively powerful exploration of identity and belief in the face of great upheaval and change. Incredible work!

    ”
  • Cassie M. Seinuk: THE SAND BENEATH THE CITY by Abbey Fenbert
    “

    A stunning solo play about family, revolution, and belief. The language is masterful, and in seeing this at the Kennedy Center in 2014, I was completely wrapped in Leya and her story. Looking for a solo play that tackles a world of "big issues" while also telling a truthful personal narrative full of humor and whit this play is for you.

    A stunning solo play about family, revolution, and belief. The language is masterful, and in seeing this at the Kennedy Center in 2014, I was completely wrapped in Leya and her story. Looking for a solo play that tackles a world of "big issues" while also telling a truthful personal narrative full of humor and whit this play is for you.

    ”
  • Stephanie K. Brownell: THE SAND BENEATH THE CITY by Abbey Fenbert
    “

    ’The Sand Beneath the City’ is an incredibly powerful portrait of a city in turmoil and a family stretched by experience, encompassed in the body of one woman, the reluctant savior Leya Jahin. Fenbert’s play is an expertly crafted juxtaposition of cultural allusion and call to action, adoration and honesty. Her musical language easily carries the weight of myth. Vast yet hilariously specific, ’The Sand Beneath the City' is a pinhole projector through which we may safely view the sun that is Fenbert's native city Detroit, a lens through which we may safely view ourselves.

    ’The Sand Beneath the City’ is an incredibly powerful portrait of a city in turmoil and a family stretched by experience, encompassed in the body of one woman, the reluctant savior Leya Jahin. Fenbert’s play is an expertly crafted juxtaposition of cultural allusion and call to action, adoration and honesty. Her musical language easily carries the weight of myth. Vast yet hilariously specific, ’The Sand Beneath the City' is a pinhole projector through which we may safely view the sun that is Fenbert's native city Detroit, a lens through which we may safely view ourselves.

    ”

Development History

  • Reading, Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, Region 1, 2014
  • Workshop, Boston Playwrights' Theatre , 2013
  • Reading, Ground Floor Reading Series, Boston Playwrights' Theatre, 2013

Production History

  • Fringe, KNOW Theatre , 2015
  • Fringe, Women in Theatre Festival (Project Y Company, New York), 2017

Awards

  • John Cauble Award for Outstanding One-Act Play
    Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival
    Semi-Finalist
    2013