From the official website of the Ismaili Muslim Community
Using the experimental medium of visual projection, ALI TO KARIM transports viewers to 8th century Arabia, 12th century Persia and 17th century France. Spectators will lose themselves in a lyrical world that draws on legends and tales, poetry and paintings, film and historical sources.
Developed in London, the cast of ALI TO KARIM includes an ensemble of established performers from the United Kingdom, supported by a group of talented Jamati actors from the United States.
ALI TO KARIM, a Golden Jubilee International Programme, will tour the United States, premiering in Los Angeles on 19 July 2008. Hosted by the Ismaili Council for the USA, the production will travel to Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Orlando and New York this summer.
Ismailimail 
Ali to Karim – USA tour…
A Tribute to the Ismaili Imams…
Exciting & Full of Knowledge. Once in a Life Time – See 1400 years together…
Rich with ceremony, pageantry and glorious tradition, Ali to Karim is a docu-theater production about the Ismaili Imamat and its contributions to Islam and Muslim civilizations over the past 1400 years.
Ali to Karim will share contemporary field research including photographs and recent video footage of Ismaili heritage sites such as Cairo and Alamut; the modern period will be portrayed using radio archives, newsreels and film documentaries.
Ali to Karim is staged with the wondrous world of books, enticing actors and Theater-goers alike to enter a realm where events of the past come to life from the time of Prophet Muhammad (may peace be upon him and his family) declared Hazrat Ali as the first Imam, to the Takht Nashini (investiture) and Golden Jubilee of the present 49th Imam, Shah Karim al-Hussaini.
Ali to Karim tells the story of Ismaili Imams – from the seminal moment when Prophet Muhammad (may peace be upon him) is declared to have designated Hazrat Ali as his successor to the present day.
a. Drawing from primary sources (chronicles, letters, court poetry, artifacts, manuscript paintings) critical studies, legends and tales, Ali to Karim relates the story of 7 cycles (periods) of Imamat over 1400 years.
1. Early Ismailism
2. Pre-Fatimid
3. Fatimid
4. Alamut
5. Post Alamut
6. Modern, Aga Khan I to lll
7. Post Modern, Aga Khan lV
b. The Paris-based Director, Hafiz Karmali, has a special interest in cross-cultural performances with a view to showcasing indigenous performing arts of the Islamic world.
If you have time and would like to join us at our Ismaili historical ALI TO KARIM, a Golden Jubilee International Program will tour the United States, premiering in Los Angeles at 2 pm on 19th July 2008 at Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, 1935 Manhattan Beach Blvd. Redondo Beach, California, followed by shows in six other US cities including in Dallas, Miami, Chicago, New York, Atlanta, Houston, later this summer.
26th – 27th July — Dallas, TX
Charles W. Eisemann Center,
2351 Performance Drive
Richardson, TX 75082
3rd August — Miami, FL at 1:00 pm
Gusman Center, 174 E Flagler St Miami, FL 33131
Saturday, 9th August — Chicago, IL
Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph Street, Chicago, 1st show at 2:30 pm & second show at 8:30 PM
16th August — New York, NY
Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway, New York, NY 10025
22nd – 24th August — Atlanta, GA
The Rialto Center for the Arts at Georgia State University, 80 Forsyth St. NW
Atlanta, GA 30303
30th – 31st August, Wortham Center, 550 Prairie, Houston, TX 77002
It is just an open to public show. As far as I know, several professors from various universities and non Ismailis who have shown interest in the subject of religion will be attending this show. Today, the general public has questions about each others faith/practice, and this is a great opportunity for non Ismailis to learn about Shia Ismaili Muslim’s Chain of Imamat. I hope you attend the event and have the benefit of learning more.
Most sincerely,
Sadruddin Noorani
Chicago
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Dear Sadruddin Noorani Sahib,
As-salam-o-Alaycum. First of all let me congratulate the entire Ismaili community on putting together such a superb play – an informative work of art which paves the way to a 1400 year old devotional journey. It was a pleasant surprise to see the Harris Theater nearly full on a Saturday afternoon…considering much of the community lives out in the suburbs.
The play was crafted beautifully and the actors portrayed stories of our Imams in a very creative and powerful manner. Tears did run down my cheeks as the the scenes of Karbala were presented before us. Very dramatic and emotionally moving. Thank you for thinking of Jafer and myself and introducing us to this outstanding Muslim performance.
Just a couple of suggestions for you….
1. Lets try to have the performance come and perform in Chicago again. Much of our community I am sure would be interested.
2. You can hold the next ‘Ali to Karim’ performance somewhere out in the suburbs.
3. Not necessary that you use the same actors to perform. Along with the Ismaili community we can use local talent to put on the show.
4. Target the entire Muslim (Ummah) communities to come together and see how a creative play to convey common religious stories to our youngsters.
Once again, thank you and looking forward to seeing you soon.
Regards,
Arshia Hasnain
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Sadruddin Noorani Saheb, AoA.
First off, I am forwarding this message to my wife Arshia so she can provide her own comments. Mine are below.
I thought that the idea was brilliant – I wish every group of Muslims used such a medium to present the story of their history and contributions to the world as we saw yesterday afternoon. The positive and fun reinforcement of our place in this global society is critically important to raising a community that has self-confidence and is well-adjusted to dealing with the modern world.
The material, of course, was beautifully presented. I enjoyed the manner in which the tragedy of Karbala was presented – as a lesson in how to engage in civil disobedience and how great things were born from this tragedy. I speak in those terms myself and so of course was pleased to see this interpretation.
I am much more familiar with Ismaili scholars and philosophers and poets but much less familiar with the Ismaili Imamat so found the material educational.
I would imagine that the main audience for this event was Ismaili Muslims – makes sense. However, I was surprised that the audience was not broader than that – maybe I am mistaken but it was a shame that more members of other non muslim and ummah communities were unable to attend. I know that the Bait-ul-Ilm community had a major timing clash. I know that the Golden Jubilee celebrations are this year but we really need to publicize such events more, and sooner. We will help any way we can because, as a Muslim, I am allowed to take pride in the achievements of one sub-group of Muslims, and I want everyone to have that sense of pride.
You should feel very happy that a large number of people came to the event – I know you wanted a full house but this was a good crowd for a summer Saturday afternoon in Chicago. One bit of advice. Have you thought of staging this event after this tour is over? Can local actors not put on this show – maybe with less elaborate props and costumes but get talented local actors in various cities and stage this again in a year or so – the subject is of course timeless and why should this event do its world tour and then fade away?
Regards,
Jafer Hasnain
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I thought the play was magnificient. Especially the role of the 2 selected local stars. Their acting was magnificient. No wonder they got picked. Especially also the lead girl and boy.
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