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Farhang Foundation and Fictionville Studios
Present

SONG OF THE NORTH

Los Angeles Premiere

April 5–7

The Freud Playhouse - UCLA

A Cinematic Shadow Theater For All Ages

Conceived, designed and directed by Hamid Rahmanian

Join us for a magical evening of large-scale shadow puppetry that transports audiences into ancient worlds full of color, history, and stunning imagery at UCLA's Freud Playhouse. An inspirational epic from ancient Iran comes to life in this stunning multi-disciplinary performance created through shadow puppetry, projected animation, music, movement, and theater. More than 480 handmade puppets are used to tell the story of Manijeh, a courageous heroine who uses her strengths and determination to rescue her beloved and help prevent a war.

A New York Times Critic's Pick

Song of the North is created and directed by 2014 Guggenheim Fellow Hamid Rahmanian (Feathers Of Fire). The original score is written and orchestrated by Loga Ramin Torkian, featuring vocalist Azam Ali. The ensemble includes Ray Dondero, Sam Jay Gold, Harrison Greene, J Hann, Esme Roszel, Mo Talani, Sarah Walsh, Clay Westman, and Christopher Williams.

Song of the North is adapted from the Book of Kings (Shahnameh), a historical and cultural touchstone that is a national treasure in Iran.

Described by Le Monde as bursting with "breathtaking fireworks of creativity," this one-of-a-kind multimedia experience celebrates culture, collaboration, experimentation, and unity.

This show is a celebration of love, fate, and the enduring power of storytelling. It is a testament to the rich cultural heritage of the Shahnameh and its timeless relevance. For seasoned theater enthusiasts as well as those simply seeking an unforgettable night of entertainment, this production is not to be missed.

About Hamid Rahmanian

Hamid Rahmanian is a 2014 John Guggenheim Fellow and the recipient of the 2020 United States Artists Fellowship. His work centers on theater, moving image, and graphic arts. His work has been exhibited in international competitions and publications. His films have screened at Venice, Sundance, Toronto, Tribeca, and IDFA film festivals and broadcast on PBS, Sundance Channel, IFC, Channel 4, BBC, DR2, and Al Jazeera.

Mr. Rahmanian undertook the immense task of illustrating and commissioning a new translation and adaptation of the tenth-century Persian epic poem Shahnamehby Ferdowsi, entitled Shahnameh: The Epic of the Persian Kings (2013). This best-selling 600-page art book, which the Wall Street Journal lauded as a “masterpiece,” is currently in its second edition (Liveright Publishing). In 2017, he released an immersive audiobook version of Shahnameh: The Epic of the Persian King, with an introduction by Frances Ford Coppola. In 2018, he released a pop up book, entitled, Zahhak: The Legend of the Serpent King (Fantagraphics Books) in English and French which received the Meggendorfer Prize for the Best Pop Up Book and was hailed “Simply breathtaking” by Le Monde.

In 2014, Rahmanian shifted his focus to theater arts, working with shadows and digital media. To date, he has created five theater pieces: Zahhak: The Legend of the Serpent King (2014), Mina’s Dream (2016), commissioned by the Onassis Foundation), and UNIMA-USA award winning Feathers of Fire (2016) which toured in 23 cities around the world to an audience of over 100,000.

In 2019, he was commissioned by Yo Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble to create a video animation for their new multimedia project, Heroes Take Their Stand. Mr. Rahmanian completed his latest stage production, Song of the North, which premiered at the Booklyn Academy of Music in 2022 and is currently touring around the world. His most recent project, the new pop up book, The Seven Trials of Rostam is now available.

Download Hamid's full biography