The Wound Where Light Enters at the Kaye Playhouse is a multidisciplinary performance inspired by the poetry and life of the 13th-century Persian mystic Jalal al-Din Rumi.
Blending music, recitation, dance, live drawing, and theatrical storytelling, the evening traces Rumi’s transformative encounters with Attar and Shams of Tabriz. Through four evocative scenes—prophecy, encounter, loss, and awakening—the performance explores timeless themes of displacement, grief, resilience, and renewal. The second part of the program will feature music by leading contemporary Persian composers, including Hossein Alizadeh’s beloved Ney Nava for ney and string ensemble.
The program features Silkroad Ensemble members, Kevork Mourad (live visual artist, and Shane Shanahan (percussionist) alongside Hunter College artists Farzad Amoozegar (Setar), Deniz Khateri (multidisciplinary artist), Peter Romano (actor), Xheni Rroji (piano), Richard Sayama and Chisato Yanagisawa (dancers). They are joined by a remarkable string ensemble including Rubin Kodheli (cello), Miranda Cuckson and Holly Workman (violins), Milan Milisavljević (viola), Marguerite Cox (bass), featuring Eren Erdogan (kaval and ney), creating a rich and dynamic blend of musical traditions and artistic voices.