Midwest Premiere
November 27 - December 22, 2012
Written by Zayd Dohrn
Directed by Kaiser Ahmed
Featuring: Adam Brown, Danny Martinez, Tim Miller, and Paloma Nozicka
In the hot sand of the North American Desert, an imaginary line drawn and redrawn centuries ago by generals, políticos and presidents separates Mexico and the United States. The people on either side of the border are intrinsically tied, but in Arizona, the gates are all but closed. For Nini and Violetta, the only way through is an expensive, dangerous, and illegal journey in the bottom of a semi truck piloted by a cagey and hawkish coyote who expects payment on the other side- be it money or the beautiful Violetta. Zayd Dohrn’s fast paced, brutal, and hyper-realistic dialogue fuels a story of four people from two Americas, each hell-bent on attaining their dreams, and willing to cross any border to do it.
"It is a brutish story, but one with emotional stakes that feel real and rooted in truth... Under Kaiser Ahmed's smart direction, [Zayd Dohrn] creates fully formed characters and sustains a palpable tension between them as alliances shift depending on the moment."
Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune
"When was the last time a play made you jump in your seat?.. Kaiser Zaki Ahmed directs a tight, briskly paced production... Theater can be a difficult medium for suspense, but Long Way Go Down shows how effective a live thriller can be."
Time Out Chicago
"Long Way Go Down juxtaposes humor with drama, nuance with catharsis, and thrills with poignancy. Its resolution satisfies, leaving you eager to muse about what happens to the characters five years down the road. Sequel, please."
Chicago Theatre Beat
