OZ Arts Nashville Presents Shadow Play 'Song of the North'

The following is a press release:

Contemporary arts center OZ Arts Nashville announced that innovative multimedia artist Hamid Rahmanian and his company will present the visual splendor of their internationally acclaimed shadow play Song of the North, a theatrical adaptation of an epic Persian tale of love, courage, and an extraordinary heroine. 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.

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 stunning 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.

The themes of heroism and forgiveness the characters embody are reflected in the intriguing story of the show’s recent past. In late 2023, Rahmanian nearly lost the fruits of his years of work to craft a beautiful visual complement to the story of Shahnameh, as costumes and puppets from the production were stolen after a show in California. Rahmanian and his crew were not deterred by the incident, rebuilding and continuing to present their breathtaking show to audiences around the country. Rahmanian went so far as to publicly forgive the thieves who nearly destroyed his magnum opus, noting that Song of the North is a story of forgiveness itself.

“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.”

OZ Arts will present Song of the North on Friday and Saturday, April 19 and 20 in its expansive warehouse. Tickets start at $30 and are on sale now at www.ozartsnashville.org/hamid-rahmanian-song-of-the-north.

This performance is made possible with generous support from donors and grants. To learn more about upcoming performances, please visit www.ozartsnashville.org.