ACQUITTAL
WHO
Pan Asian Rep
WHEN
08/14/2018 – 08/15/2018
WHERE
Victory Gardens Theater
ConFest 2018 | Chicago
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By Shahid Nadeem
Translated by Tahira Naqvi
Directed by Noelle Ghoussaini
Presented by Pan Asian Repertory Theatre
Tisa Chang, Producing Artistic Director
Tuesday, August 14 @ 3:30pm
Wednesday, August 15 @ 6pm
Victory Gardens Theater
Acquittal weaves together the story of four women unjustly imprisoned in Pakistan during General Zia-ul-Haq’s discriminatory Hudood Ordinances: Zahida, an activist jailed for her political activity; Marium, a pregnant rape victim in prison because she refused an abortion; Jamila, a woman denied divorce by Islamic law, who murdered her abusive husband; and Jannat Bibi, incarcerated in place of her son for theft. In this bleak 1980s prison, the women forge a bond that transcends their differences in class, ideology, and religious practice.
Set design by You-Shin Chen, Costume Design by Hyun Sook Kim, Lighting Design by Leslie Smith, and Sound Design by Sinan Refik Zafar.
About Pan Asian Repertory Theatre
Now in its 41st milestone season, Pan Asian is the pioneer Asian American theater in New York City, the second most veteran in the nation, and is at the forefront of promoting pan-Asian cultural stories previously unseen on the American stage. It was founded in 1977 by Tisa Chang with the vision that Asian American artists can equally follow their artistic aspirations to reach the zenith in American theater. Its mission is to provide professional theatre opportunities for diverse Asian American artists to work under the highest standards of excellence and create new works that dignify and dispel stereotypes, focusing on stories of probing social justice issues. Pan Asian’s artistic distinction is seen in Off-Broadway productions, tours, educational outreach, and community service. The company has nurtured thousands of artists, with notable alumni including Lucy Liu, Daniel Dae Kim, and Wai Ching Ho from Marvel’s Defenders series.