“Sholeh Wolpé’s storytelling and theatricality is spot on. With realistic modern dialogue honed skillfully to each character and a poetic flow with perfect hills and valleys, her play shines.”
“I like theatre that provokes questions about the way we choose to live and the assumptions we use to guide our behavior. How do we know what the right thing to do is? And what are the consequences of decisions made long ago? Sholeh Wolpé ‘s SHAME complicates the equation by adding cultural and religious differences into the mix. It is a timely debate happening now around the world. How much of a role should religion play in governing how people live? And how much room must we allow for differences in culture?”
Inquiries about plays:
Sholeh Wolpé
Contact.Wolpe at gmail.com
ON STAGE
2023 — Brooklyn Art Song Society, Abacus of Loss – Art Song , composed by Aida Shirazi, text by Sholeh Wolpé. – Premiere: Brooklyn, Newyork
2023 —Resonance Collective, The Conference of the Birds album
2023 — Arlington Choir Song of Exile, libretto: Sholeh Wolpé Composer: Saunder Choi, Premiered in Arlington Va
2022 —The Getty Villa Museum — THE SEVEN VALLEYS, an original commissioned musical drama utilizing text from Attar’s The Conference of the Birds. By Sholeh Wolpé (event photos)
2022 —The Broad Stage, Santa Monica — World premiere of THE CONFERENCE OF THE BIRDS, an ORATORIO composed by Fahad Siadat, Libretto Sholeh Wolpé (event photos)
2022 —Northern Illinois University, School of Theater and Dance —THE CONFERENCE OF THE BIRDS
2022 —Scripps College, School of music — Soft premiere of THE CONFERENCE OF THE BIRDS, an ORATORIO composed by Fahad Siadat, Libretto Sholeh Wolpé
2021 —Town Street Theater, Los Angeles— BROTHERS AT THE CANADIAN BORDER
2021 —Long Intermediate School, Bryan, TX — LET ME IN
2020 —The Alternative Theater Company, “Believeability” Festival — HOLY CORONA
2018 —Inferno Theater, Berkeley, Ca — THE CONFERENCE OF THE BIRDS
2018 —Oakland Theater Project, Oakland, Ca — THE CONFERENCE OF THE BIRDS
2017 —Centenary Stage Women Playwrights Series — staged reading SHAME
2015 —New Ohio Theater, New York City — staged reading SHAME
2013 —The Marilyn Monroe Theater, West Hollywood — staged reading SHAME
2007 —Open Fist Theater, Los Angeles — Staged reading SHAME
AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
2022 Bay Area Theater Festival, semifinalist
2022 Eugene O’Neill National Playwrights Conference, semifinalist — THE SILVER BANGLE / SHAME
2022 Bay Area Playwrights Festival, semifinalist — THE SILVER BANGLE / SHAME
2020 Alternate Theater BelieveAbility Festival, finalist — HOLY CORONA
2020 Ojai New Plays Festival, semifinalist — THE SILVER BANGLE
2020 Bay Area Playwrights Festival, semifinalist — THE SILVER BANGLE
2019 Eugene O’Neill National Playwrights Conference, semifinalist — THE SILVER BANGLE
2017 Centenary Stage Women Playwrights Series, Finalist — SHAME
2016 Ashland New Plays Festival, finalist — SHAME
2016 Eugene O’Neill National Playwrights Conference, semifinalist — SHAME
THE CONFERENCE OF THE BIRDS — A Semi-Staged Oratorio
Composer: Fahad Siadat Libretto: Sholeh Wolpé Choreography: André Megerdichian
“THE CONFERENCE OF THE BIRDS — A semi-staged oratorio” is a new work based on Sufi mystic poet Attar’s epic poem about the journey of the soul as it seeks union with the Divine. It is composed by Fahad Siadat with an original libretto by Sholeh Wolpé and directed/choreographed by André Megerdichian.
Using birds as a metaphor for those on the Sufi path, the story follows the birds of the world who embark on a journey to find their sovereign, Simorgh, a divine, mythical creature. Traveling through The Seven Valleys, the birds follow the spiritual trials of the Sufi path as they journey to the Simorgh’s door. Each story cuts through the dogmatic teachings of religion exposing the broader pitfalls and yearnings of the spiritual journey and emphasizing the shared values between spiritual traditions.
Our hope for this piece is to create an entry point for Westerners to share in this spiritual tradition of mystic Sufism as offered by 12th century Iranian poet Attar in a format that shows, rather than tells.
This oratorio, a Resonance Collective original production, premiered in June 2022 at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica (Los Angeles) and is available for production world-wide.
For more information and booking contact us via Resonance Collective, or use the contact page on this website.
THE CONFERENCE OF THE BIRDS— A new play
A new play by Sholeh Wolpé (adapted from Attar's epic poem)
"Philosophical, poetical and richly theatrical" – Sam Hurwitt, Mercury News
“Moving, entertaining... breathtakingly magical” —Theatrius
“The play compassionately challenged our collective complacency.” —Heidi Collier, Jung Journal
World Premier: Oakland Theater Project (previously Ubuntu)
Directed by Giulio Cesare Perrone
Oakland, California
Nov. 30-Dec. 16, 2018
In a Kingdom with no ruler, ten thousand birds set out to find a King none have ever seen. Led by the wise Hoope, the birds journey through dangers, distractions and difficulties, their Conference growing smaller each day.
Adapted from the celebrated Sufi poem, this lyrical parable is a timeless reflection on the search for meaning on a journey toward something larger than ourselves.
REVIEWS: Theatrius : A Flutter of Wisdom and Fun at Ubuntu Theater
The Mercury News : Epic Persian Fable Magically Takes Flight onstage in Oakland
Theater & Such: Spirits in Migration
From Oakland Theater Project (formerly Ubuntu of The Conference of the Birds— a play by Sholeh Wolpé
Photos from various the staged readings of SHAME (alt. title: THE SILVER BANGLE), as well as various productions of The Conference of the Birds play.
