On March 14, Assistant Professor Samad Alavi and NELC Persian and Iranian Studies Program Advisory Board member Dr. Afshin Sepehri presented a very well attended pre-show talk at the Meany Hall. The pre-show talk is presented by Meany Center Director of Artistic Engagement, Elizabeth C. Duffell.
Feathers of Fire tells the magical tale of star-crossed lovers Zaul and Rudabeh from the 10th-century Persian epic Shahnameh (The Book of Kings). This all-ages adventure updates the classic shadow play traditions of Asia and the Near East with breathtaking cinematic “live animation,” shadow-casting actors and puppets along with projected imagery. Featuring an original score by the acclaimed Iranian-American musical team, Loga Ramin Torkian & Azam Ali.
Meany Center event played to a full house and received with enthusiastic applause. While Afshin Sepehri discussed Ancient Iranian mythology and history that is depicted in Ferdowsi's epic Shahnameh [Book of Kings] Samad Alavi talked about the manuscript tradition that transmitted the some 50000 verses epic poem. NELC is proud with its collaborations with Meany Center and has previously organized pre-show talks by Selim S. Kuru, Hussein Elkhafaifi and Susan Benson before.
Afshin Sepehri collaborates with his daughter Nusha for recordings of Shahnameh stories in original Persian and English translation. For more information see: http://shahnameh-audio.com/about/