Saturday evening’s program will be a staged reading of the award-winning play, The Orange Garden, by Joanna Garner, daughter of Iran RPCV Steve Horowitz (Maragheh, Rasht, 1968-71). Joanna was inspired to write the play from the stories, Farsi phrases, and Persian cultural traditions she grew up immersed in. The Orange Garden centers on a young Peace Corps volunteer who, in 1972, travels to Iran and finds himself caught up in a cultural whirlwind of danger and forbidden passion. Upon returning to America, he becomes lost between two very different worlds.
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Joanna Garner is a playwright and musician based in Santa Fe, NM; her work has been developed nationally and internationally. The Orange Garden was a winner of the 2018 Israel Baran Award, the 2016 Keene Prize for Literature, and was included on the 2016 Kilroys List.
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The director is Mahmoud Behroozian, who directs plays at the Persian Cultural Center in San Diego and Central Stage in Richmond, CA and studied under RPCV Don Laffoon (Hamadam, 1964-66). A post-reading panel discussion is planned.
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More about Mahmoud Behrouszian
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Born and raised in Iran, Mahmoud Behrouzian received his Bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts from the Faculty of Fine Arts at Tehran University..
His professional acting career began in theatre, working with some of Iran’s most distinguished directors such as, Mohammad Kowsar, Shahroo Kheradmand, and Bahram Beizaie, . His film credits include Bahram Beizaie’s acclaimed Marg-e-Yazdgerd (1980) and Khosro Massomi’s Childhood Times (1984).
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After moving to the US, Mahmoud compeleted his MFA in Drama at San Diego State University in 1987. His dedication and love of theatre ensured his continuous participation in theatrical productions in the United States.
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After 27 years of living in the US, Mahmoud returned to Iran in 2011, appearing in several movies and TV series. He currently works in both the US and Iran.
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Films
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Jamehdaran, directed by: Hamid Ghotbi (2014)
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Taboo, directed by: Khosro Masoumi (2014)
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Jumping From Low Hight, directed by: Hamed Rajabi (2014)
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The Sun Over The Roof, directed by: Ali Sedaghat (2013)
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Parviz, directed by: Majid Barzegar (2013)
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Portrait of Leily, A film for TV directed by: Khosro Masoumi (2011)
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Childhood Times, directed by Khosro Massomi (1984)
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Death of Yazdgerd, directed by Bahram Beizaie (1980)
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TV Series
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Jalaledin (Rumi’s Childhood) TV series, directed by: Shahram Asadi (2012)
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Raah e Toolani, TV series, directed by: Reza Karimi (2011)
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