Unholy Wars
World premiere at Spoleto Festival, USA
Dock Street Theatre - Charleston, SC
Conceived and Performed by Karim Sulayman
Directed by Kevin Newbury
Music Direction by Julie Andrijeski
Featuring Raha Mirzadegan, John Taylor Ward and Coral Dolphin
Visual Design by Kevork Mourad
Choreography by Ebony Williams
Associate Choreographer - Coral Dolphin
Original Music by Mary Kouyoumdjian
Lighting Design by Jennifer Fok
Assistant Lighting Design by Malory Hartman
Costume Design by David Woolard
Projection Design by Michael Commendatore
Stage Managed by Lindsey Turtletaub
Production Managed by Brian Freeland
Produced by Jecca Barry and Up Until Now Collective
Photos by Leigh Webber and William Struhs
Julie Andrijeski, Music Director and Violin
Manami Mizumoto, violin
Daniel Elyar, viola
Katie Rietman, cello
J. Tracy Mortimore, violone
Adam Cockerham, archlute and guitar
Daniel Swenberg, theorbo
Michael Sponseller, harpsichord

When the Crusades are taught in schools, is the humanity of the other—the humanity of the Arabic people—considered? In this intimate new work, well-known musical selections surrounding the Holy Wars are stitched together through song, dance, and intricate animation. Yet these European standards, by composers including Monteverdi, Rossi, and Handel, are reframed by the Grammy Award-winning tenor Karim Sulayman to reveal a new story of belonging and the resilience of marginalized people