How does an anxious, asthmatic child of immigrants navigate religion in the American South? “Zara” is a one person show about identity, God, marijuana, and an actual 400-pound gorilla.

Join us this March for the workshop premiere of Zara, a brand new one-person show about race, religion, and identity in the American South. Zara is a comedic account of an anxious, asthmatic Muslim kid’s search meaning and the chance encounters that impacted him, including a friendship with the man who mugged him and a love affair with marijuana. Drawing on personal stories, philosophy, and the history of monotheism, Zara is Andrew Aghapour's story about how identity is inherited and remade in 21st-century America.

The project won the Durham Arts Council’s Catalyst Grant, a program supported by their Annual Arts Fund and the N.C. Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural & Cultural Resources. Additionally, “Zara” is supported by UNC Chapel Hill's Performing Arts Special Activities Fund and the Humanities for the Public Good Initiative.

Performed, written and produced by Andrew Ali Aghapour
Directed and produced by Ashley Melzer 
Executive produced by Jeff Polish

This special workshop premier features a post-show panel with invited community members to provide feedback and answer audience questions. Special guests include Samah Choudhury, JaMeeka Holloway-Burrell, and Dr. Jason Bivins.

**Note: Because this is a special presentation, student and other members of the Mettlesome community must buy tickets if they wish to attend**