Yussef El Guindi to Receive ACT’s New Play Award for Language Rooms

Seattle-based playwright Yussef El Guindi has been named the A Contemporary Theatre (ACT) 2008 New Play Award winner for his new work,Language Rooms. ACT will present two, free staged readings, to be directed by Kurt Beattie, on March 7-8 at 7:30 p.m.

The play is about an Arab-American interrogator at a Guantanamo-like facility whose loyalty comes into question when he is faced with the challenge of interrogating his father. The readings will be followed by post-play discussions with the playwright and director. In addition to the staged readings, the winner receives $2,500 and an opportunity to workshop the play.

The cast for Language Rooms will include Khanh Doan (Esther), John Farrage (Nasser), Ray Gonzalez (Ahmed), William Hall, Jr. (Kevin), and a fifth actor to be announced.

El Guindi’s previous plays include Back of the Throat, Ten Acrobats in an Amazing Leap of Faith, and Acts of Desire.

For more information, visit www.acttheatre.org.