Betrayed Officially Opens at the Culture Project Feb. 6

By Adam Hetrick
February 6, 2008

Betrayed, which marks the playwriting debut of journalist George Packer, officially opens at the Culture Project Feb. 6. Previews began Jan. 25.

The world-premiere production stars Waleed F. Zuaiter, Jeremy Beck, Aadya Bedi, Mike Doyle, Ramsey Faragallah and Sevan Greene. Pippin Parker, co-artistic director of the Culture Project's "Democracy Project," directs.

Betrayed, according to press notes, "tells the story of three young Iraqis — two men and a woman — who are motivated by hope to go work for the Americans, until they begin to wonder who, if anyone, can be trusted. . . . [The play] explores the complex relationships among the Iraqis — and between them — and their American supervisor, against the backdrop of a war in which the hardest and most necessary thing turns out to be friendship."

In 2007 Packer penned an article for the New Yorker about Iraqis risking their lives to aid the American war effort. Packer then crafted those interviews into Betrayed, which is also slated for publication by Farrar, Straus and Giroux Publishers.

The design team for Betrayed includes Garin Marschall (set and lighting design), Eric Shim (sound design) and Rabiah Troncelliti (costume design).

Tickets for Betrayed are available by calling (212) 352-3101 or by visiting www.cultureproject.org.

The Culture Project is located in Manhattan at 55 Mercer Street.