Jonida Beqo, known on the international slam and performance poetry scene as Gypsee-Yo, brings us Harabel for one weekend only. Told through a series of poetic snapshots, Harabel follows the journey of one brave girl from the war-torn Balkans to the American South. Each story captures memories of her youth in her native country, her violent exit, first impressions of America, and the transition from girl to woman and from stranger to American. The play explores the conflicting nature of the transition of emigrants today, the emotional landscape of coming of age in the process, and the price of reinventing oneself away from everything familiar and dear.

“She blew the place away. She got a standing ovation in the middle of her performance. We’ve had standing ovations before but never in the middle of the performance.”
-Robin Gunn, Savannah Creative Loafing

VIDEO PREVIEWS:

Introduction:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcKcidTwtVk

Jonida's Childhood in Albania:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BjWUx_HLIo

Jonida on Becoming an American:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4Uwy-SXGd0

Jonida "Poem":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Aq6sVofUPo

Jonida on "Harabel":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3_T8jw4WZI

Harabel is our Power2Give project! Every $1 you donate it matched by the City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs. DONATE NOW!