Contemporary arts center OZ Arts Nashville will host multimedia artist Hamid Rahmanian and his company to present their shadow play Song of the North, a theatrical adaptation of an epic Persian tale of love, on April 19 – 20, 2024.
Seven performers combine the manual art of shadow puppetry with projected animation to celebrate Persian culture using 500 handmade puppets and film-like theatrical effects. The whole family will be enchanted by this cinematic performance as Rahmanian’s creativity shines in a vibrant visual display.
About Song of the North
Challenging Eurocentric worldviews of art and storytelling, Song of the North presents a compelling narrative as the richness of Persian culture takes center stage. The multimedia performance showcases Rahmanian’s remarkable adaptation of Persian poet Ferdowsi’s 10th-century epic Shahnameh (the Book of Kings). Viewers are invited to follow the tale of Manijeh, a heroine from ancient Persia, who must use all her strengths to rescue her beloved and help prevent a war. This story of a brave warrior serves as a vessel for a message of unity in the face of misunderstanding – an apt lesson for those in Western culture who seek to better understand Iranian culture. Rahmanian likens his home country to a symphony, but much of the world only hears one note.
“OZ Arts is a home for adventurous artists who are inventing new ways to tell stories, and Song of the North exemplifies that goal,” said Mark Murphy, OZ Arts Executive and Artistic Director. “We look forward to viewers young and old experiencing the visual splendor of Hamid’s stunning storytelling through an extraordinary cast of shadow puppets and brilliant cinematic innovation.”
Tickets start at $30 and are on sale now at ozartsnashville.org/hamid-rahmanian-song-of-the-north.
Ticket info
Performances:
- Friday, April 19 at 8 p.m.
- Saturday, April 20 at 2 p.m.
- Saturday, April 20 at 8 p.m.
Tickets: $30-$35
