Director Cheryl Paley's Notes on the Creation of "Under the Veil"

The piece we present to you was group-devised, written collaboratively by the TE’A Company of actors, myself, and Radha Kramer, with Fred Johnson’s haunting and evocative chant added as musical backdrop. The process started as twenty willing and generous individuals shared their experience with us, in interview form, of life as part of the multi-faceted, multi-dimensional Muslim community in New York City and the effect of September 11th on their sense of identity and security. From there we went to the Internet, as both research tool and cultural barometer. We took to the streets, talking to vendors selling perfumes on Jamaica Avenue, Sikh cab drivers, Muslim Iraq War Veterans, Orthodox Jewish nursing students, friends, friends of friends, everyone and anyone who might offer us the next puzzle piece in this colorful and complex story. In the end we found that some of our most important insights would come from the shared expression of our own fears and concerns, living in New York City and witnessing the horror of that September day, as well as reflecting on the humanity we share as we have all, in some way, had uniquely challenging experiences as “the outsider,” “the other.”

It was never our intention to “make a statement.” Rather, we hope the truths of our characters will serve as a catalyst to a larger dialogue, lifting “the veil” of mistrust, secrecy, shame and misunderstanding and helping, in some way, to unite us as a community of equals.

Special thanks in this process must go to the entire Intersections community, Fred Johnson for his artistry, Jamie Price for his sensitivity, wisdom and guidance, Faiza Ali for her strength and balance, Sultana Ocasio for her kindness and courage, Cheryl Picard for her depth of process, Patty Garofalo for allowing us audience with her wonderful women and Cydelle Berlin for her unwavering vision and support. And finally, to our beautiful Radha – you have been and continue to be the inspiration and the joy.

~Cheryl Paley

This note was printed in the Program at the Premiere Performance on May 16, 2009