(PITTSFIELD, MA)— “Veils,” a new play by Tom Coash that deals with acceptance and discrimination, gets is regional premiere at Barrington Stage Company from Thursday, October 1, through Sunday, October 18, 2015. Directed by Leah C. Gardiner (BSC debut), the production stars Hend Ayoub (Samar) and Donnetta Lavinia Grays (Intisar), in their BSC debuts.

“Veils” is set in 2010, when Intisar, an African-American Muslim student, arrives in Cairo for a year abroad, where she hopes finally to be understood. She is quickly enlisted by her exuberant Egyptian roommate, Samar, to help create a blog debating the practice of wearing veils, but when the Arab Spring intervenes, revolution threatens to overtake their friendship.

Conversations With…Tackling Difficult Issues take place on Saturday, October 3 .at 4pm at the St. Germain Stage at the Sydelle and Lee Blatt Performing Arts Center, 36 Linden Street, where an in-depth discussion with Veils playwright Tom Coash, who spent four years in Egypt teaching at the American University in Cairo, will take place. Coash will talk about his experiences there, pre-Arab Spring, and how they led him to write “Veils.”  This event is free, but reservations are suggested by calling the BSC Box Office at (413) 236-8888.

 

There will also be be two post-show talkbacks following the Wednesday, October 7, and Sunday, October 11, performances.