As we follow her journey trying to navigate a task so many of us take for granted, we hear her inner voice trying to reimagine a future from scratch, while grieving what was left behind. Julien: It’s about a young Syrian refugee, newly resettled in New York City, going to an American grocery store for the first time. There was a lot of crying.īrunner: What can you share about Did You Know, your new short film? I cried, and then hung up to call my mom. When I picked up, she told me I’d booked my first Broadway show. She usually only calls instead of emails when there’s news, so I figured this was the call where I’d hear back either way. Julien: I was in the middle of cleaning my apartment, wearing pajamas I’ve had since I was probably 15 when I got a call from my manager. I feel very proud to be a part of a story that is so globally beloved and that is now moving, educating and galvanizing people on stage.īrunner: What went through your mind when you were cast in the Kite Runner?
We’re humanizing a people and conflict that has been dehumanized in the media. Sharing its art, music, history, community and raising consciousness towards a place many weren’t thinking about before 9/11. We are celebrating a beautiful, diverse culture. And here we are, a year after the fall of Kabul, telling an Afghan story on Broadway.
Jeryl Brunner: Why is The Kite Runner such an important story to tell right now on Broadway?ĭéa Julien: Storytelling is one of the most powerful tools we have for change. “We should all have the luxury of being able to be a representative of the human experience,” she adds. So, there aren’t as many roles available to certain groups who are then less likely to find parts that really speak to them,” observes Julien who hopes to inspire people, especially those in underrepresented communities, to fight for what they want. Then there’s a microscopic amount for MENA actors.
“Living through a global pandemic really reinforced to me that life is just too short not to ask for what you want,” says Julien.Īs she points out, statistically, there are fewer roles for women than men on Broadway. When asked what gave her the courage to take the risk and ask to audition for the unlikely role, she reflects on the past several years. “It’s also been really fun and freeing to work on physicality, and ways in which I can hold myself differently to tell the story.” “I like to say that I’m playing him exactly as written, just from a body that happens to look like mine,” says Julien. In fact, out of 19 actors, 16 are making their Broadway debuts representing the Middle Eastern/North African community.Īs Julien explains when she goes on for Hassan and Sohrab they are still male. The show is now playing at the Hayes Theater through October 30. Making her Broadway debut with the Kite RunnerJulien is also the understudy for Sohrab, a boy, Soraya, and an additional female track who plays multiple supporting roles. Not only did she get to audition for Hassan, she was then cast as the understudy.