Plight of 4 million suffering Iraqi refugees illuminated in new off-broadway play

Falling in love with one of the refugees was never part of Kim Schultz’s plan, but an Iraqi man named Omar changed all that. No Place Called Home is that unexpected story—a story about an American woman and an Iraqi man, a story about one refugee and 4 million, a story that isn’t supposed to be a love story.

Schultz, a writer, performer and founder of the Manhattan-based Kim Schultz Improv, was traveling to the Middle East with others last fall as part of the Iraqi Voices Amplification Project (IVAP). This initiative by Intersections International calls attention to one of the most urgent and underreported social justice crises of our time.  Since 2006, an estimated 2.2 million Iraqis have fled their country, living as illegal migrants abroad – unable to work, access health or social services, or obtain an education for their children, with another 2 million displaced internally – a result of the U.S. military intervention in Iraq.

Recognizing that art has the power to evoke compassion, build understanding and initiate the human transformation necessary to motivate social action, Intersections led a delegation of eight American artists, including Schultz, on a three-week immersion trip to Jordan, Lebanon and Syria where they talked to hundreds of refugees.  After returning, the artists created a series of pieces designed to humanize the crisis and give voice to the millions of refugees whose plight has yet to enter broad public consciousness.  No Place Called Home is the centerpiece of this effort.

Intersections International is a New York-based non-government organization (NGO) dedicated to promoting justice, reconciliation and peace across lines of faith, culture, ideology, race, class, national borders and other boundaries that divide humanity.  Founded in 2007, Intersections is a permanent multi-faith, multi-cultural effort of the Collegiate Churches of New York, the oldest corporation in North America, dating back to 1628.

No Place Called Home, written and performed by Schultz, directed by Sarah Cameron Sunde, with music by Amikaeyla Gaston, is produced by Intersections International with Parlagreco Productions in collaboration with Aaron Louis and 3-Legged Dog, the cell and Wild Project.  Previews begin at the Wild Project on Oct. 6.  Opening night is Oct. 8, and the play will continue its multiple-venue run until Oct. 31.  For more information, please visit www.noplacecalledhome.com.