Peninsula Players Theatre presented a reading of “Go Save Your Life” by Nasir Bin Zakaria, as told to Laura Toffenetti on Monday, February 5 to an audience of more than 130. “Go Save Your Life” was produced as part of The Play’s the Thing, a winter series of play readings organized by Peninsula Players Theatre.
Participating in the readings were performers Rom Barkhordar (“The Who and The What”) Cheryl Hamada and Demetrios E. Troy. A post-reading discussion followed hosted by Peninsula Players Artistic Director Greg Vinkler, who directed the reading, and Laura Toffenetti, the playwright.
“Go Save Your Life” was produced with support and in coordination with Door County Reads and its exploration of “The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir” by Kao Kalia Yang.
“Go Save Your Life” shares Bin Zakaria’s harrowing and inspiring journey as a Rohingya refugee from the jungles of Myanmar to his new home in Chicago, Illinois. Once there, Bin Zakaria founded a community center to help these refugees adjust to their new life in the United States. Toffenetti, a retired school teacher, and her husband, Steve Pringle, volunteer at the center and were inspired to share Bin Zakaria’s story.
“Go Save Your Life” is the first of three readings of The Play’s the Thing, a winter series of play readings produced by Peninsula Players Theatre. Peninsula Players will host additional readings Monday, March 5 of “A Trick of the Light,” a new comedy by Minneapolis-based playwright Peter Moore and Monday, April 2 of “A Fine Bright Day Today,” by British playwright Philip Goulding.
The Play’s the Thing is funded in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin, as well as generous grants from Door County Medical Center and Friends of Door County Libraries and operating funds from Peninsula Players Theatre.
Peninsula Players Theatre is America’s Oldest Professional Resident Summer Theatre. The Play’s the Thing is part of the Players’ continuing winter outreach programming, presenting professional play readings for the public. Season and group tickets are now on sale for the 2018 season. Learn more about the Peninsula Players 2018 season at www.peninsulaplayers.com or phone (920) 868-3287.