Stories: Artistic Arrest

Stories: Our American Journey was an endeavor of a lifetime. Something that no one in the cast, crew, or program team will ever forget. 

Fall of 2017, I sat on my Palm Springs patio writing scenes inspired by real people as well as characters in my head.  I was sweating like mad out in the desert heat, but I liked working outside, bantering with sweet little Saleem and Noori (if you watched the show you’ll know who I’m talking about). They were funny, annoying, and as real as ever.    

Above: a scene performed by Noori and Saleem

I was, in a way, assembling the project in addition to writing it. The documentaries that we recorded before I had started scripting would become the centerpiece of the show, and boy oh boy, did they move me.  The subjects of the documentaries impressed upon me a kind of hope and pride that I’d never felt before. 

As such, I knew the Stories universe well. Somewhere in my heart the whole thing had already been created. 

Once the children stopped chattering in my head, musical stories came to me.  Unlike most musical experiences in my life, this one was remarkably graceful. Ideas came without resistance and musicians came along to take the reigns at rehearsals -- each person finding their own truth within the scores I handed to them. 

Stories: Our American Journey | Playwright and Musical Composer Samira Noorali

Somewhere within the scripting process, dance concepts filled up my soul, too. I wrote movement ideas into the script not knowing that talented choreographers would wring them out and bring them to life in their own unique and glorious fashion. They would turn mere words into profound, visceral, meaningful dance. 

Above: Performance of the “Snow Dance”

Watching the recent video of Stories that came out on Ismaili USA, there were a few moments that caused me to enter a sort of artistic arrest.  One was when I heard the musicians playing the “Snow Dance” that contained the choral Salwat. They were so good. So full of innocence and peace.  Another was when I got a chance to see Farah Alwani, my co-director, do her production magic during the Uganda piece. The dancers were perfection as always, but Farah’s lighting made it surreal. 

Etched in the memory forever.

Above: A scene from the Uganda story