Uprising Theater and Grantmakers in the Arts presents The Olive Tree, a true story about a Jewish American woman's journey from a Birthright trip to Israel to living in a Palestinian refugee camp in Bethlehem, Palestine. Maren Rosenberg's one-woman performance is followed by a Q&A with Uprising Theater's founder and professor on the Palestinian-Israeli crisis, Iymen Chehade. 

Uprising proudly represents Palestine and MENA at this year’s National Conference Affinity Spaces hosted by Theatre Communications Group (TCG). Please join us virtually to discuss Humanizing the Dehumanized: Using Theater as a Source for MENA and Palestinian Empowerment. Thursday, June 13, from 4:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m. Central Time (CT). The event is free.

Uprising Theater and Escape Artistry have partnered with Rush Medical Center and the Chicago Department of Public Health to provide free Narcan, fentanyl test strip kits, and training.

Private Event. Screening of ‘5 Broken Cameras’, followed by a discussion led by Iymen Chehade.

This program involves a lecture and Q&A by Professor Iymen Chehade, followed by an optional movement practice to explore, process, and ground ourselves following the teach-in.

This program involves a lecture and Q&A by Professor Iymen Chehade, followed by an optional movement workshop to explore and process the content from the teach-in via movement and performance.

Attend a staged reading of The Olive Tree, a true story of a Jewish American woman's journey that takes her from a Birthright trip to Israel to living in a Palestinian refugee camp.

The performance is followed by a Q&A with Professor Iymen Chehade.

As Uprising Theater’s Co-Artistic Director, Maren Rosenberg, says in The Olive Tree, “People have stories, and stories are what help me understand.” The Olive Tree is a one-woman play by Maren exploring her privilege as a Jewish-American woman living in the region and helping us better understand this complex conflict and the personal stories behind the headlines. Rather than focusing on the inherent tragedy, the play tackles this critical humanitarian issue with humor and heart. Uprising’s founder, and director of this production, Iymen Chehade calls this play “a testament to the will and spirit of the Palestinian people.”

Uprising Theater has produced a pop-up, immersive theater event called The Joy Clinic. The Joy Clinic is an immersive theater experience where guests reflect on their mental health and receive boosts to aid them in the 'war against misery.' Each guest gets a one-on-one interaction and leaves with an evaluation, boost, and list of mental health resources.

Uprising Theater has produced a pop-up, immersive theater event called The Joy Clinic. The Joy Clinic is an immersive theater experience where guests reflect on their mental health and receive boosts to aid them in the 'war against misery.' Each guest gets a one-on-one interaction and leaves with an evaluation, boost, and list of mental health resources.

Uprising Theater has produced a pop-up, immersive theater event called The Joy Clinic. The Joy Clinic is an immersive theater experience where guests reflect on their mental health and receive boosts to aid them in the 'war against misery.' Each guest gets a one-on-one interaction and leaves with an evaluation, boost, and list of mental health resources.

An offering for community: Invited-Workshop and interdisciplinary performance lab on Palestine, weaving solidarities and political perspectives through storytelling.

Join us for a live staged reading at the International Voices Project 2022.

Playwright: Ahmed Masoud
Director: Maren Rosenberg
Producer: Rohina Malik

Join us as we discuss our biggest project yet - our permanent home & learn how you can be a part of this historic event.

As Uprising Theater’s Co-Artistic Director, Maren Rosenberg, says in The Olive Tree, “People have stories, and stories are what help me understand.” The Olive Tree is a one-woman play by Maren exploring her privilege as a Jewish-American woman living in the region and helping us better understand this complex conflict and the personal stories behind the headlines. Rather than focusing on the inherent tragedy, the play tackles this critical humanitarian issue with humor and heart. Uprising’s founder, and director of this production, Iymen Chehade calls this play “a testament to the will and spirit of the Palestinian people.”

Events in May 2021 once again focused global attention on the Holy Land, where the struggle over land and water has led to the ongoing abuse of human rights and loss of life and livelihood. St. Chrysostom’s invites you to an introductory series of four talks that will describe the current conditions on the ground, illuminate the sources of violence, and explore ways that we as Christians can contribute to the search for peace with justice. Discussions will follow presentations.

The need for local blood donations remains high as COVID-19 vaccines become more available and people begin to resume more of their normal activities. This month we are partnering with our friends at Uprising Theater for another chance to give back to our community through a blood drive!

Help our friends at Lajee Center in Aida Refugee Camp build the camp’s first preschool. Across the West Bank, children lack access to early childhood education. Only one school within Aida camp, the Boys’ School, serves 400 students. There are no early childhood preschools in Aida camp. This deficiency leaves children at young, vulnerable ages without access to social and intellectual development. It is also detrimental to the women of Aida.

Join us for this very special celebration of The Gaza Monologues. This play is over 10 years old. What are we each doing to prevent this production from continuing to be timely?

We are so proud to be a part of this theatrical act of solidarity with Ashtar Theatre and the people, especially the youth of Gaza.

Along with our friends at Escape Artistry we will be hosting a blood drive on Monday, March 22, 2021, from 2:00 - 8:00 PM, coordinated through Vitalant (formerly Life Source). The Blood Drive will be held at Escape Artistry’s Time Gallery location at 1342 N. Milwaukee Ave. 2nd Floor, Chicago, IL 60622.

Virtual Reading. Directed by Raeda Ghazaleh. Written by Reada Ghazaleh and Matthew Spangler. Based on the book by Hanan al-Shaykh. The reading will be followed by a brief post-show discussion with Raeda Ghazaleh and Matthew Spangler.

Exclusive Virtual Reading. Directed by Pirronne Yousefzadeh. Written by Rohina Malik. The reading will be followed by post-reading comments with Rohina Malik and director Pirronne Yousefzadeh. Free and open to the public.

Along with our friends at Escape Artistry we will be hosting a blood drive on September 26th, 10 am-4 pm, coordinated through Vitalant (formerly Life Source). The Blood Drive will be held at Escape Artistry’s Time Gallery location at 1342 N. Milwaukee Ave. 2nd Floor, Chicago, IL 60622.

May 11th is Keffiyeh Day! In celebration and support of our local theater community, we are thrilled to partner with our friends at Artists Resource Mobilization and Apparel Industry Board, Inc to offer these keffiyeh cloth masks.

While we have been sheltering in place according to Chicago Stay Home Initiative, it has been a delight to work via Zoom with Samer Al-Saber of Stanford University on his fantastic script “My Arab.”

Thank you for inviting us to be part of your artistic process.