Back of the Throat
Encyclopedia
Back of the Throat is a play
written by Arab-American playwright Yussef El Guindi. The play reflects the fear of the Arab-American community in the post-9/11 America.
It was first performed by San Francisco's Thick Description and Golden Thread Productions in April 2005.
It was performed in 2005 in Seattle, in 2006 at The Flea Theater
in New York City under direction of Jim Simpson, and has also been produced in other locations, including Chicago, Pasadena, California
(Los Angeles area), and London.
The play won the 2004 Northwest Playwrights' Competition held by Theater Schmeater, L.A. Weekly's Excellence in Playwriting Award for 2006, was nominated for the 2006 American Theater Critics Association's Steinberg/New Play Award, and was voted Best New Play of 2005 by the Seattle Times.
The play's title is a reference to the pronunciation of the Arabic “K” in Khaled’s name.
Play (theatre)
A play is a form of literature written by a playwright, usually consisting of scripted dialogue between characters, intended for theatrical performance rather than just reading. There are rare dramatists, notably George Bernard Shaw, who have had little preference whether their plays were performed...
written by Arab-American playwright Yussef El Guindi. The play reflects the fear of the Arab-American community in the post-9/11 America.
It was first performed by San Francisco's Thick Description and Golden Thread Productions in April 2005.
It was performed in 2005 in Seattle, in 2006 at The Flea Theater
The Flea Theater
The Flea Theater, founded in 1996, is a theatre in the TriBeCa section of New York City. It presents primarily new American theatre, and provides a venue for film stars to act on a very small stage. It is the home of "The Bat Theater Company", an Obie Award winning resident acting troupe of...
in New York City under direction of Jim Simpson, and has also been produced in other locations, including Chicago, Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
(Los Angeles area), and London.
The play won the 2004 Northwest Playwrights' Competition held by Theater Schmeater, L.A. Weekly's Excellence in Playwriting Award for 2006, was nominated for the 2006 American Theater Critics Association's Steinberg/New Play Award, and was voted Best New Play of 2005 by the Seattle Times.
Plot
The play is an approximately 75 minute one-act production, about a young Arab-American (Khaled) confined to his home by two government agents. The questioning of Khaled intensifes as the play progresses, with seemingly every item in his apartment a potential source of suspicion. It is revealed that his girlfriend first reported him for seeming suspicious in light of recent "attacks" which have occurred.The play's title is a reference to the pronunciation of the Arabic “K” in Khaled’s name.