Endorsements
“Art can be a great way to have difficult conversations… We had good conversations around our dinner table following the play. I hope it inspires others to pursue civil conversations.”
— Colorado Governor Jared Polis
“This play is not just art—it is an act of conscience. The Israeli-Palestinian Conversation dares to explore the nuanced, painful, and urgent realities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict… “It gives voice to those often erased, and provides an essential platform for the public to engage with a decades-long struggle that continues to cost thousands of innocent lives...narratives that acknowledge or explore this suffering are routinely silenced in American public spaces, including theaters. The Israeli-Palestinian Conversation is a rare and brave exception.”
— Senator Iman M. Jodeh, Colorado
“The performance was extraordinary and so important for these times….”the power of this play to force its audience to confront their humanity and look beyond themselves was something special to witness. Art is a powerful medium for personal transformation. We need this now, more than ever. People are so dug in to their side, it is hard to imagine a way forward. This play truly helps. Thank you,”
— Nancy Reichman PhD, Professor Emerita, at the University of Denver
“The Israeli-Palestinian is an incredibly important and unique project. Many of us are experiencing the pain of this insoluble conflict from very diverse perspectives and the agony of not always being able to talk honestly about it and to listen to one another. It takes courage to create, host, perform and even watch this piece of theater and I, as a leader in the Jewish community, applaud all involved. Thank you very much, Todah, shukran!”
— Rabbi Marc Soloway, Congregation Bonai Shalom
“The Israeli-Palestinian Conversation doesn’t offer catharsis. It doesn’t make anyone feel good about themselves. It’s not tidy, or safe, or easy. And that’s exactly why it matters. This is a piece of theater that makes space for grief, rage, fear, and contradiction—for all sides. It forces you to sit with narratives that challenge your own, and it does so without flinching or pandering. There are moments that will make every audience member uncomfortable. There should be. If you leave this play feeling “seen” without also feeling unsettled, you weren’t really paying attention. In a time when too many conversations are reduced to slogans and tribal litmus tests, this work invites something radical: the courage to listen without hate, to speak without dehumanizing, and to acknowledge that multiple truths can coexist even when they’re in conflict. That doesn’t mean everyone is right—it means everyone is human. And that’s the place any real peace has to start.”
— Mo Husseini, Palestinian American writer, filmmaker (co-directed the documentary The Path Forward, with Oscar-nominated director Julie Cohen)
“The Israeli - Palestinian Conversation offers a deeply thoughtful and nuanced representation of all sides in the Israeli Palestinian conflict. The production shines by allowing each perspective to be heard and guided me to move beyond easy assumptions and answers and confront the human stories at the heart of this decades-long struggle. The play created a safe space for candid and civil discussion, a rare and welcome approach in today’s polarized climate. The Israeli - Palestinian Conversation is more than theater; I believe it is a meaningful contribution to peace-building efforts and a testament to the power of art to inspire empathy and change.”
— Barbara Lahav, Seattle
“A significant and courageous step toward fostering meaningful dialogue on an issue of great importance. I am moved by the artistic and intellectual integrity of this project, presenting nuanced and balanced perspectives. By creating a space for diverse voices to engage constructively, this project promises not only to enrich the cultural landscape but also to inspire thoughtful discourse among attendees. This is precisely the kind of work that underscores the transformative power of the arts in addressing contemporary challenges. “...it offers a rare opportunity to hear from a spectrum of perspectives, fostering understanding and empathy in a manner that is both fearless and responsible. In doing so, it embodies the mission to engage the community in meaningful ways and to uphold courageous and impactful artistic expression “...it aligns with the highest aspirations of the arts—to illuminate, to connect, and to provoke meaningful conversation. This is work to be proud of.”
— Dr. Reema Wahdan, director of the Colorado Palestine Club
“Surprisingly affecting and immersive experience. While I was not sure what to expect, I came in with some hubris that I was very conversant on the different narratives. The craft of this play gave me a much deeper way to listen to and feel the heartbreak and hope. I highly recommend this for anyone willing to be challenged and changed by this experience.”
— Terri Cole, Seattle WA
"I think the most powerful realization for me has been how dramatization in the form of a play highlights an incontrovertible fact: we are all victims of narratives. This impression was reinforced by the odd fact that I knew nothing about the play or Ami Dayan when I walked into the theatre. In particular I had no idea (initially) that the ‘players’ were actors. So to see what it sounded a genuine debate between a Palestinian lady and an Israeli man suddenly reveal itself as a ‘play’ (kudos to the actors who managed to sustain the illusion) made me think of how we are actually all living on a stage, fully immersed in the character we are supposed to portray. The reversal of roles (when the lady and the man each portrayed the “other’s” perspective) showed how thin these identities are, as the fundamental biological ‘real’ substance is actually the same. There is a temptation always to think of the ‘other’ as being hypocritical, lying, etc. but in reality, at a meta-level, no one is lying, as we are all stuck with the fictitious limits of having to play the given ‘character’ in the play. So kudos to Ami Dayan for a highly creative script and performance and to every other actor for their phenomenal interpretations.”
— Bruno Alabiso, Seattle
“Art, and in this case,The Israeli-Palestinian Conversation, is the instruction that we all need to learn how to have excruciating conversations where the usual outcome is more distress, more trauma, and more polarization. I felt the hurt, frustration, and bravery of each of the characters as they struggled to express themselves and listen to each other. I highly recommend the immersive play and seeing it more than once as the situation on the ground changes the play too will change.”
— Stacy Lawson Seattle WA
“The Israeli - Palestinian Conversation offers a deeply thoughtful and nuanced representation of all sides in the Israeli Palestinian conflict. The production shines by allowing each perspective to be heard and guided me to move beyond easy assumptions and answers and confront the human stories at the heart of this decades-long struggle. The play created a safe space for candid and civil discussion, a rare and welcome approach in today’s polarized climate. The Israeli - Palestinian Conversation is more than theater; I believe it is a meaningful contribution to peace-building efforts and a testament to the power of art to inspire empathy and change.”
— Barbara Lahav, Seattle
“The Conversation is a play that is timely and important to me, both as a work of art and as an example of grassroots peacebuilding. The play fairly and accurately represents the perspectives of many sides affected by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and offers critical insight into the practice of dialogue as a form of peacebuilding, specifically in situations defined by clashing social identities. The play does not shy away from telling hard truths about violence or showcasing how the experience of suffering violence, directly or indirectly, can change people’s behaviors and attitudes. It illuminates the multiple truths and many contradictions that sit at the center of violent conflict. Additionally, the play does not pretend that dialogue is a perfect process which will magically resolve the situation. Rather, it demonstrates the potential of facilitated conversation as a critical starting point for bridging differences while appreciating that such discussions are messy, hard, contentious, and at times, transformative. The work grounds peacemaking in the conversations of ordinary people willing to engage across divides even in times of immense political tension.”
— Michael D. English, Director of the Peace, Conflict, and Security Program at the University of Colorado Boulder
“A rare and vital example of what courageous public art can do: spark deep reflection, create space for multiple truths, and open doors to a conversation our community desperately needs. Consider this my endorsement—not just of the artistic merit of The Conversation, but of its rare willingness to hold complexity, to create a safe space for risk, and to elevate stories that are too often silenced.”
— Micha K. Ben-David
“The play deeply moved me. It is so hard to live in the gray spaces right now of this conflict, and I was awestruck by the sensitivity of the script and the acting, and how they managed to stay in this gray space. What it did for me personally was open my heart to hearing another side of the story.”
— Batya Greenwald
“A moving and powerful experience. It is not one-sided but a genuine needed effort to bring the relevant perspectives to the fore constructively. The Conversation made both sides very clear.”
— Ruth Seagull, Boulder
“ I was deeply moved, and truly impressed. The performance and following panel was far from one-sided; they represented a rare and vital effort to surface the full spectrum of relevant perspectives in a safe container. …”a space for constructive, courageous engagement, one that meets the complexity of the issue without retreating from its difficulty.”
— Dagny Pottersmith, MA LPCC
“I want to voice my support and overwhelming gratitude for such a wonderful and meaningful performance. The actors were all first rate and the play itself was astounding. “...An amazing display and one that I can only assume would be incredibly beneficial for us all. “...I was grateful for the moments during the play when I had to confront my own biases. I welcomed this uncomfortableness.”
— Douglas Johnson Boulder, CO. University of Colorado, Department of Physics, Retired
“My family & I attended the production and were moved, not only by its powerful artistry, but also by its courage and compassion. Its numerous layered themes left us enriched, broadened and deeply moved. The breadth and depth of THE CONVERSATION is the kind of work of only Art of this caliber can heal. With so much uncertainty in our midst, The Arts offers vital hope and inspiration.”
— Heather Pylant MA, MFT, Two Wings Counseling
“In this terribly divisive time, The Conversation demonstrates the potential for finding common ground by walking in each others' shoes, and the play actually gives us the experience of doing that ourselves. The script was very skillfully crafted to educate us, move us emotionally, and motivate us to listen to each other.”
— Paula Palmer, Toward Right Relationship with Native Peoples / Friends Peace Teams
“We were deeply impressed with the integrity, knowledge, humor, compassion and honesty that this play held for both Palestine and Israel. We were immersed, with grit and grace, in to the conflict and felt the pain, anger, frustration and compassion from both sides of these complex issues. One of the most compelling scenes occurred when the Palestinian spoke from the shoes of the Israeli and vice versa. This, this is what we need, to understand, to know how the "other" feels and why. THIS conversation needs to be a part of a dialogue which reaches far beyond the walls of this theater. Which is exactly what happened in our evening and the following days.”
— Demry Frankenheimer, Boulder
“I have been telling everyone I know to attend The Israeli-Palestinian Conversation. I attended (twice!) and found it deeply compelling, innovative, humane, informative and empowering. In troubled times, this is what the arts can (and should) do.”
— James F. Walker, Ph.D. (he / they) Norlin Scholars Teaching Professor
“I work with students from all over the world -- many of whom are Muslim and following the situation closely. During this time when emotions run high and opinions are often polarized, it’s critical to create a safe space for dialogue. The Conversation does that. It presents both Israeli and Palestinian perspectives on the current conflict in Gaza with honesty, care, and balance, giving the performance a sense of depth that is often missing in public discourse.”
— Ruth Moore, director of CU Boulder’s International English Center
“I found the format unique, surprising, and captivating. I had never seen any event like this, and as a performer myself, I found it riveting. I was nervous coming to the event, not knowing what kind of environment I would be exposing myself to but thankfully, due to the very sensitive and balanced presentation, I felt safe and open to hearing what others had to offer during the show, the talk back, and panel discussion. I was encouraged to think more deeply about the various ways to look at the topic. Not only did I learn a lot during the show, challenging me intellectually and emotionally, but I found myself pondering the perspectives presented over these past few days. Keep up the excellent work!”
— Dr. Mekhala D. Natavar Retired: Princeton University (Department of Anthropology and Princeton International and Regional Studies)
“I learned details about "both sides" that I did not previously know. That has helped increase my awareness and understanding. The technique of having participants present the "other viewpoint" was very effective.”
— Betty Ball, Board member, Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center
“Having this conflict portrayed in a play brought the messages home in a way that opened the heart and mind to the complexities of the arguments and did so in a safe and secure way for an audience with diverse opinions. The play truly was a work of powerful artistry, if one defines art as a means to portray a reality with creativity and to open possibilities for transformation. I felt compassion—and I could really listen to all the sides. What a significant way to break the barriers among and between people.”
— Anne Marie Pois, PhD, Retired Faculty CU Boulder
“ This play speaks truth to power without prejudice. It is the outcry of our times.”
— P. Broscovak, Boulder