My friend Keith Anwar died on Monday, July 5, 2010.

I’ve known Keith since 1982 as a brave steelworker, historian, socialist, technician with the Chicago Transit Authority, and playwright. His play, Kabulitis won the Dionysos Cup in the Polarity Ensemble’s New Plays competition this past May. It was read at the Josephenium, while I was performing From a Fading Light at the St. Paul’s Cultural Center. I missed the reading but ran into Keith and his wife Connie then. He was looking fine. We had a brief chat before we hurried off to our respective performances, not knowing that would be the last time we’d see each other. A few years earlier, I had the honor of reading the part of one of the play’s main character at the Oak Park Public Library.

Kabulitis is based on the lives of Keith’s parents who lived in Afghanistan. Keith wrote the afterword to his father’s book, Memories of Afghanistan, published by in 2004.

Stephan Mazurek’s photos help convey the spectacular and visceral nature of our work on the Plasticene 15th Year Process blog. To experience Plasticene’s work in the fullest sense you must be present physically, as I am. Our show opens tonight May 12 and runs until May 22 at Saint Paul’s Cultural Center at 2215 West North Avenue, in Wicker Park.

Reserve your seats on Brown Paper Tickets. More info www.plasticene.com

Sound files from the show are up on my new SoundCloud profile. This is an excerpt:

in partnership with the Near Northwest Arts Council

Plasticene presents the world premiere of FROM A FADING LIGHT

“…an immersive and breathtaking promenade physical theater performance that travels through the entirety of a 100-year-old church in Wicker Park created by Chicago’s pioneer physical theater company.
“Plasticene’s work is not to be missed…”—Chicago Tribune

“Plasticene’s work is never to be missed…”—Chicago Sun-Times

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