CREATIVE TEAM
Tom Block​
Playwright
Tom Block has been operating in the field of Jewish-Muslim peace-building and forensic history for more than two decades. His groundbreaking study, Shalom/Salaam: The Story of a Mystical Fraternity, offered a novel exploration of Jewish-Muslim spiritual entanglement.
Ambassador Sallama Shaker (Former Deputy Foreign Minister of Egypt, and Egyptian Ambassador to Canada) noted: "Block's narrative is an eye-opener for peace activists and politicians who are in search for genuine peace built on mutual respect and full acknowledgment of contemporary wrongs committed in the name of God. This is a 'must-read' book.” And Rabbi Abraham Ingber (Founding Director for Interfaith Community Engagement at Xavier University in Cincinnati) noted: "Block opens up an entirely new area of consideration in the study of the Golden Age of Spain - an era of unbridled mystical growth both in the Jewish and the Islamic world. His theories of interrelationships and mystical cross-fertilization wake up our historical senses and unabashedly challenge our contemporary assumptions." This book was also published in Turkey in 2010 (Bilim + Gonul Publisher, Istanbul). He then penned a novel entitled The Fool Returns, in which the streams of Jewish and Muslim mystical history run together in one New York City bartender’s spiritual quest. Tom was one of two Jewish participants at the first-ever interfaith conference at Al-Azhar University (Cairo), chief centre of Islamic and Arabic learning in the world. His series of paintings of medieval Jewish and Muslim mystics visually presented the stories of spiritual intermingling between the tribes of Israel. “Oud Player on the Tel" uses true, forensic history to expand the conversation around Jewish-Muslim history, and how it too-often is viewed through the scrim of current enmities, instead of historical realities. tomblock.com
Jesica Garrou​
Director
Jesica Garrou believes in the power of Art in Social Activism. She belongs to the League of Professional Theatre Women whose mission is to create parity for women theatre-makers. In addition to directing Oud Player on the Tel, Jesica directs and produces at New Perspectives On Her Shoulders series- bringing plays by female playwrights historically overlooked to the light of the stage. Back in her home state of Maine, she is the founder and former president of Royal River Players where she has directed a plethora of shows for audiences of all ages by actors of all ages.
Other NYC projects include The LPTW Award Show with Anna Deavere Smith, the G/C International Theatre Award Ceremony featuring Anne Bogart and directing a number of pieces for Theatre Resources Unlimited. In addition she has worked with Ogunquit Playhouse, Threshold Stage, Bowdoin College, and other theaters throughout New England.
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Rachid Halihal
Composer and Oud Player
Growing up in Fez, Morocco, Rachid played the nei and sang, imitating the famous singers of the time. At age fourteen he entered the Fez Conservatory of Music, later playing in the Andalus Orchestra of Fez. In addition to his voice, his strongest instruments are the oud (similar to a lute without frets) and the violin, playing in both the classical manner or upright for folkloric music. For fourteen years, Rachid presented his music with extended stays in Ivory Coast, Sweden, and Finland, including Helsinki International Music Festival. In 2005, Rachid toured the U.S. and Canada with Algerian / French singer and activist, Rachid Taha and his Rai-rock band. With his New York based band, Layali el Andalus, Rachid played throughout the metro area. In 2008 they were presented at MOMA (Museum of Modern Art), in 2010 at "Festival du Monde Arabe de Montrèal" and in 2011 Rachid took them to D.C. to perform at the Kennedy Center in Washington Revels production "Andalusian Treasures". Rachid played oud and sang Egyptian style at L.A. County Museum of Art for the inaugural King Tut exhibit. He's been presented at United Nations cultural events, embassies, museums, and universities, including Columbia, Brooklyn Museum, Metropolitan Museum of Art, and music festivals: Genesis at the Crossroads, Chicago; and International Human Rights Festival, in NYC. Later in 2010, he did a residency teaching and conducting the premier SF Bay Arab music ensemble, ASWAT, which consists of both Arabs and Americans all learning and enjoying this style of music together.
The Production Team
Richie Ouellette (they/them) is a member of United Scenic Artists Local USA 829 IATSE. Upcoming Design: Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Signature Theater. Associate Designer for David Korins, Assistant Designer for Scott Pask. Recent design credits include Which Way to the Stage, Signature Theater; Into the Breeches, Barnstormers 2024; Baskerville, Barnstormers 2023; P.Y.G. or The Misedumacation of Dorian Belle, Studio Theatre; Mary Stuart, Olney Theatre Center; UMPO, Cape Rep Theatre; Hand to God, Watertower Theatre; Spotlight Series, Theatre Row; Erminia/The Enchanted Forest, The Kennedy Center/Opera Lafayette; Orfeo ed Euridice/Orphee Aux Enfers, Maryland Opera Studio; The Freshest Snow Whyte, Imagination Stage; The Full Monty, Cape Rep Theater; Clove, University of Maryland MFA.
