AUIS Drama Department Blooms

AUIS Noor Company
The actors are standing for a group picture

by The Third Eye
These days, instead of shocking deaths and grieving losses, the Iraqi people are experiencing a new kind of dramatic situation. A group of the American University of Iraq, Sulaimani students is attempting to shine the candle of hope for all the Iraqis.

Here on campus, a group of of Kurds and Arabs, led by Peter Friedrich (the head of the AUIS Drama Department), Seth Voytek, Ryan Gorman and Zayne Amer is working hard to put Noor together.  These students are working hard in a precious window of time to rehearse the play, despite of the fact that they will not receive any academic credits.  They are trying to get rid of the troubled moments all Iraqis have faced so far. They are trying to bring a brighter and much better Iraq in 2012.

It is worth mentioning that the AUIS Drama Department, especially the AUIS Noor Company, is blooming around the globe today. There have been articles about that young group of actors and the AUIS Drama Department in several media outlets recently.

Ambassador Akbar Ahmed, who is the author of Noor and is currently the Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies at American University in Washington, met with Peter Friedrich in Washington during the Christmas.

Ahmed published an article about the AUIS Drama Department that is titled, “Drama lightening up Iraqi lives,” on Aljazeera’s official website.

“My new year began with full of cheer,” stated Ahmed in his article. “And it was coming from the story of some young students in Sulaimani in northern Iraq.”

It seems that Akbar knew about the AUIS Drama Department and its recent project from the mouth of Peter Friedrich when Ahmed hosted him in his home in Washington DC during the Christmas.

“My family and I had the opportunity to welcome Peter to our home in Washington DC a few days ago.” added Ahmed. “He was visiting his family for the Christmas and New Year holidays. We were most interested to learn of Peter's own background. Originally from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Peter moved to San Francisco to study at the American Conservatory Theatre. Other graduates of the institution included stars like Denzel Washington.”

It is worth mentioning that “Light in a Time of War,” is another article that has recently been published by Aja Anderson, who is the Program Coordinator & Chief of Staff for the Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies at American University’s School of International Service in Washington, D.C.in The American Muslim (TAM)’s website.

In her article, Anderson indicates how the Noor play booms within the American University of Iraq Sulaimani.

“As troops are welcomed home from Iraq,” Anderson wrote. “We read of a renewed sectarian violence whose timing seems almost ominously orchestrated. The news is grim, but a beacon of hope shines from the north of the troubled nation. Noor, which means ‘light,’ has “caused a sensation like never before” on the campus of the American University of Iraq-Sulaimani (AUIS).”

The last words that should be said about the AUIS Drama Department is that the department should be considered by the AUIS administration. That department should be counted as important as the other departments. It should be equipped with all the necessity materials that the department needs.

It is worth mentioning that the AUIS Drama Department has achieved that position without even having a stage. Therefore, it is time for the AUIS Administration to provide at least a stage for that department. Moreover, the Drama Department used to have some financial supports from AUIS, but neither that financial nor the funding is certain so far.

We all have experienced, are experiencing, and will experience the great job that the Drama Department has performed so far. Thus, that AUIS Drama Department deserves to be rewarded and supported by all means.