SALEEM (Playwright) is an openly Gay Palestinian-American performer/playwright, with a strong belief in promoting cultural understanding between people (especially Palestinians and Israelis). He briefly studied at the Lee Strasberg Institute before joining the Open Fist Theatre Company.  As a member of the Open Fist, he performed in the play After the Bomb by Roxy Ventola and Vieux Carre by Tennessee Williams. 

He then wrote and performed a workshop production of Salam Shalom in 1995, which Premiered at the Open Fist a year later. Saleem was honored as the recipient of the 1996 Harvey Firestein GLAAD award for Best Original Writing for “Salam Shalom… A Tale of Passion,” based on his own life. He also premiered his second play Getting into my Skin at the Open Fist in 1998.

Saleem then toured with the production to San Diego (The Diversionary Theatre), Palm Springs (The Bookstore Theatre), then on to Sydney, Australia (The Pact Theatre), where it was sold-out for the complete run.  He returned to Los Angeles in 1998 with the play in conjunction with the North Hollywood Arts Festival at The Bitter Truth Theatre (now the Avery Schreiber); and In 2003, Saleem received a grant to produce the play at The New Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco, in conjunction with the Pride Festival. The production received a Certificate of Recognition from the State of California Legislature.

His workshop of Getting into my Skin was eventually developed into Whispers of the Soul - a personal revelation of an Arab who migrates to America, A semi-autobiographical play with music, dance and poetry, which he has also performed around California.

As a dancer, Saleem has developed his own dancing style which incorporates; middle eastern dance, gypsy movements, flamenco, and jazz all blended to produce what he calls “free style belly dancing”. He manages and run his own events promotion company "Club La Zeez" which promotes world music and Mediterranean beats.  He performs frequently at Highways Performance Space and was part of the creation of Ghourbah at The Cornerstone Theatre Company, the first-ever production to spotlight the Arab-American community in the US.  Saleem holds an MBA in Business Administration from Colorado State University.

SUZANNE PETRELA (Liza) is thrilled to be working with such a talented cast and crew.  A proud Equity member, past shows include ‘Baby, It’s You,’ at the Pasadena Playhouse, ‘Post Office,’ at Center Theatre Group, ‘A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,’ at the Norris Theatre, and ‘Blithe Spirit,’ at the Hermosa Beach Playhouse.  She would like to thank her friends and family for their continued love and support.

UNDERSTUDIES

JAY ALI (Malik) Jay was born and raised in London, where he also began his studies in the dramatic arts. Ali came to the United States in 2009 and was cast in his first TV appearance on MELROSE PLACE (The CW). He then earned 1 of 12 coveted spots in last year's ABC Comedy Diversity Showcase. SALAM SHALOM is Ali's American stage debut as the role of "Malik."

CHRISTINE JOËLLE (Liza) Christine is thrilled to be making her Greenway Court debut in Salam Shalom with this remarkable cast and crew. As an alum of The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Ms. Joëlle has worked regularly on the stage as well as commercials and films.  Her most notable theatre credits include Dangerous Corner (Mrs. Betty Whitehouse) at Theatre 40 (directed by Bruce Gray), The Rainmaker (Lizzy), A Moon For the Misbegotten (Josie), Three Sisters (Masha), The Laramie Project (Romain Patterson), Endgame (Nell), Proof (Claire, garnering a Best Supporting Actress award) and Picnic (Madge, garnering a Best Lead Performance award). Most recently she appeared in Wicked Lit, at Greystone Park/Doheny Mansion in an adaptation of Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Fall of The House of Usher.” Her latest film, Dandelion Dharma, can be seen at select film festivals all throughout the country. www.dandeliondharma.com Independent films include, IEP, 1:03AM, Eighteen Seconds, and The Alchemy of Love. Recent commercial, J’adore for Dior Perfume, working with Charlize Theron (directed by Jean Baptiste-Mondino) has been released in Europe. She is truly grateful to Ty Donaldson and Saleem for this amazing opportunity and wishes to thank her friends, family and her beloved Shawn Savage for their never-ending love and support.

KORKEN ALEXANDER (Yaron) recently played Assef in the world premiere production of The Kite Runner (Arizona Theatre Co/ David Ira Goldstein), the Emcee in Cabaret (Musical Theatre of Los Angeles), 1001 directed by Michael Michetti (Boston Court Theatre), Sojourn at Ararat directed by Nora Armani (The Fountain Theatre), Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Corona Civic Theater), Gershwin's Tip Toes (Whitefire Theatre), Larry in Closer (Hillel Theatre), Julius Caesar (LA Troupe), Romeo and Juliet (New Theatre).  Mr. Alexander recently starred in, produced and directed the film “Lyfe Lost.”  Other films include The O.R. and Chapter 7 Entertainment’s Promise.  His singing quartet, the Tinseltones, were special guests on Dr. Phil’s Christmas Special.  He received a BM in Musical Theater from the University of Miami.   www.KorkenAlexander.com

EILEEN BARNETT (Mira) Eileen’s most recent television credits include “Brothers And Sisters,” “Southland” and “ER.”  She also did a stint on “Days Of Our Lives” as the evil Stephanie Woodruff. On Broadway she starred in Tommy Tune’s Tony Award-winning musical Nine, as the long suffering wife, Luisa.  Since then she has added a succession of long suffering wives and mothers to her resume.  She was the lead mom in the National Tour of Footloose; the mother of a South American prisoner in the  Havok Theatre Company’s Ovation Award-winning production of Kiss Of The Spider Woman; and she recently played Golde at the Rubicon Theatre’s production of Fiddler On The Roof.  She was in the Los Angeles premier of Putting It Together at the Colony Theatre and has appeared at the Pasadena Playhouse, the Westwood Playhouse and on numerous regional theatre stages across the country.  As a member of the Musical Theatre Guild, Eileen performed the role of Fosca in the West Coast Premier of Stephen Sondheim’s Passion.  Other Guild  projects  include leading roles in Lady In The Dark, Rags and Street Scene.  Eileen has performed her cabaret act in NY and LA and has recorded two CD’s— “Eileen Barnett, Live At The Cinegrill” and “Broadway With A Beat,” an award-winning children’s CD. She spends most of her time in Los Angeles cherishing her 5 dogs and wonderful husband, actor Bruce French…not necessarily in that order. She is a proud member of Actors’ Equity.

RAFAEL FELDMAN (David) Born in Dublin, Ireland, Rafael Feldman moved to Toronto, Canada at an early age, where he was raised. He started writing and performing in theatre at the age of ten, and was doing stand-up comedy at seventeen.  He landed his first movie role at nineteen, and has continued to work in film and television ever since. Remaining true to his comedic roots, Rafael still performs stand-up and sketch comedy, and has studied at The Second City, The LA Connection Comedy Theatre and The Groundlings. His most recent stage show was the world premiere of Carlos Castillo’s “A Bed And A Bar” at The Gloria Gifford Conservatory Theatre.  As for recent film and television credits, he has co-starred in Joss Wheden’s “Serenity” for Universal and episodes of the hit shows “Monk” and “Without A Trace”.  Rafael has also just completed shooting two web pilots and several independent films including the upcoming; “Apples And Oranges” and “Two, Four, Six”. Currently residing in Los Angeles, Rafael has co-created a sitcom with his twin brother, Yan, with whom he has also completed a script for a comedy feature.  Now working on his own screenplay, he also writes songs with his wife, Consuelo, and they are in the process of completing a book and an animated series.

AVNER GARBI (Abdul Kareem) was last seen in Women Over The Influence at the laurel grove theatre company, where he also directed michelle kholos brooks evening of short plays. Mr. Garbi is happy to return to Salam Shalom and work with ty and saleem again. He was last seen on tv as the angry waiter on How I Met Your Mother, and soon will be seen on Southland on tnt.and the soon to be released movie “The Divided.” He co-founded the jewish rep in nyc, and was one of the founding members of west coast ensemble, where he directed many plays. currently Mr. Garbi is part of vox humana theatre company at the pico playhuse. He has worked in israel, london, nyc, and all over the usa in the past 45 years.

JASSIM LONE (Malik) was born in the small town of Mt. Vernon, Ohio and has lived around the world. He developed an early interest in the arts and studied under John Astin at Johns Hopkins University and performed in several plays in the Baltimore and DC area.   Following graduation he moved up to New York where he studied at the William Esper Studios.   Additionally, He also studied under the legendary Robert X Modica in Carnegie Hall.   While in New York, Jassim performed in many Off and Off, Off Boadway shows including “Land O’ Fire” written by 14 time Emmy Award winning writer for Sesame Street, Luis Santeiro.  Jassim and his brother Joseph Lone are currently starting up a production company.  Their most recent Film “Entry 21” was accepted into film festivals in Los Angeles and New York City.    

KEVEN KADDI (Yaron) is honored to be working on Salam Shalom.  Prior LA stage credits include Misha in a workshop of Leaving Kiev for West Coast Jewish Theatre, George in The Bedroom Window at the Actor’s Playpen, the original works event Attraction/Logic with the Ahimsa Collective, and Ross in Spinning into Butter at Repertory East Playhouse.  He will be appearing as Artie/Miles in WCJT’s upcoming production of Sarah Sarah at the Pico Playhouse opening in May. Regionally, Keven has appeared on stages across the U.S. including performances as Alain in School for Wives at Sierra Repertory Theatre; Biff in Death of a Salesman at Algonquin Theatre Company in Phoenix; Hermes in Metamorphoses with Pioneer Theatre Company in Salt Lake City; and Hortensio in the Utah Shakespearean Festival’s Tour of Taming of the Shrew.  During the 2003-2004 Tony Award-Winning Season at the Cincinnati Playhouse, his credits included A Christmas Carol, Hiding Behind Comets, Mister Roberts, A Triumph of Love and tours of A Life in the Fat Lane and The Tempest.  Among his favorite roles are Tulsa in Gypsy at Ashland Festival Theatre, as well as Sampson in Romeo and Juliet and Ensemble/Dance Captain in 42nd Street at PCPA Theaterfest.  Keven received his M.F.A. from the Professional Actor Training Program at Ohio University, is an alumnus of the Pacific Conservatory of Performing Arts, and a proud member of AEA, SAG, and AFTRA. www.kevenkaddi.com