“Our Player On the Tel” a Play Exploring Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Through History & Friendship Gets Much Deserved 3-Week Residency at HERE Arts Center

‘Oud Player on the Tel’ by Tom Block Brings a Story of Cross-Cultural Friendship and Tension to HERE Arts Center, November 8-24th, 2024

Amid ongoing global discussions around the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, absurdist playwright/philosopher Tom Block’s new work, OUD PLAYER ON THE TEL, gets a 3 week run at HERE ART Center to offer a unique lens on the historic roots of the issue. The production is directed by Jesica Garrou and is presented by the International Human Rights Art Movement.

OUD PLAYER ON THE TEL is a heightened, historically-based play set in a 1947’s middle east when the founding of Israel could have been a catalyst for peace, and instead became 75 years of conflict, into the war of today. When Palestinian olive farmer, Amir, welcomes a family of Jewish refugees, he immediately envisions a future of coexistence that can never be. Amir instantly befriends Melke, the patriarch of the newly arrived Jewish family, teaching him about growing olives and promising a better life for both of their families. This sincere friendship is pitted against an absurd rivalry where Amir’s nephew and Melke’s son, both change their names to Herb Gordon, an American car salesman, after discovering the commercial possibility of American cars. The land isn’t big enough for two Herb Gordons. Amid rising tensions, Melke’s son falls in love with Amir’s niece. Using both archaic and contemporary language, Block uses surrealist examples to highlight the absurdity of a conflict between two peoples who at one point wished to simply coexist. Inspired by Fiddler on the Roof, the play is underscored by a live musician improvising on the oud, an Islamic pear shaped lute-like instrument, and takes place on the tel, a small hill built up over several centuries of occupation.

OUD PLAYER ON THE TEL will have its World Premier with a 3-week residency at historic HERE Arts Center @ 145 6th Ave, New York, NY 10013, presented by the International Human Rights Arts Movement with Jesica Garrou at the helm. Tiered tickets ($35-$150) are now on sale via the HERE website, and will run for 15 performances, November 8th-24th, 2024 (times vary per day).