OUTSTANDING
NEW WORK

Playwright Jamil Khoury

A WORLD PREMIERE

Written by Jamil Khoury
Directed by Michael Najjar

Studio Theatre of the Chicago Cultural Center
77 E. Randolph St., Chicago
January 16 - March 2, 200

About

Precious Stones boldly examines the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the "safe" yet turbulent terrain of American Diaspora. Set in Chicago in 1989, the story unfolds against a backdrop of disturbing images, as the first Palestinian intifadah rages in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Two women, one Jewish, the other Palestinian, join forces to organize an Arab-Jewish dialogue group, only to find themselves falling in love.

As they each cross "enemy lines," they stumble upon the disputed territories of sexuality and class. The political finally confronts the personal, as Andrea, the barely middle class Jewish lesbian, and Leila, the married, upper class Palestinian, discover new lines in the sand, once again raising the specter of difficult negotiations, painful compromises and distant resolution.

Cast

Production Staff