Shesh Yak
By Laith Nakli
Rattlestick Playwrights Theater
224 Waverly Place New York City
In Shesh Yak, it’s spring of 2011, five weeks into the civil uprising in Syria. Jameel, a 30-something-year-old Syrian-American writer is in his New York apartment waiting for a houseguest to arrive from DC. An older Syrian ex-patriot and a leader in the anti-Syrian government movement, Haytham, has come to New York on business. Jameel is overwhelmed with excitement to have someone of Haytham’s stature in his home and the two share stories from their younger days in Syria. An unclear tension arises, leading them into a re-examination of their lives and a revelation of how their different pasts have intertwined and forced them into choices that neither ever imagined.
January 15 – February 28, 2015
![sheshyak[1]](https://s3.amazonaws.com/theatregold.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/sheshyak1.jpg)
Reviews
Cast
Zarif Kabier
Laith Nakli
Creative
Set: John McDermott
Costume: Lisa Renee Jordan
Lighting: Peter West
Sound: Janie Bullard
Production Stage Manager: Michal Mendelson
About the Playwright
Laith Nakli (Playwright) is a Syrian-British actor/writer who began his acting career 14 years ago in NYC. He graduated from the prestigious William Esper Studio Professional Actor Training Program and quickly became one of the most sought after Arabic-speaking actors in the US. Laith made his stage debut in War at the Rattlestick Playwrights Theater Company. Other credits include Cry of the Reed –Huntington, Inana – Denver Center, Aftermath – NYTW,Lidless – Page 73 and Food & Fadwa – NYTW. Over the years, he has worked with many acclaimed directors in film, television and on stage. He portrayed Nasim in Thomas McCarthy’s award winning film The Visitor which premiered at Sundance. He also co-stared in the award-winning filmArranged. Co-Director, Stefan Schaffer, later wrote a leading role with Laith in mind for My Last Day Without You with Nicole Behari and Ken Duken. Other film credits includeRecalled, directed by Mike Connors and Sam & Amira which recently premiered at the Seattle International Film Festival to rave reviews. Laith’s credits in TV include such series such as as I Just Want My Pants Back, Without A Trace, Traveler, Third Watch, The Sopranos, L&O: CI andRescue Me, among others. As a writer, Laith has written many short pieces for the Annual Arab American Comedy Festival, which recently celebrated its 9th year. He has also written 11 screenplays including Wudu, which is slated to begin production later this year. Finally, he is a founding member of the sketch comedy troupe “Sketchy Arabs,†which produces short videos and presents live comedy. Laith is thrilled to have the world premier of Shesh Yak at the Rattlestick.
