From Tel Aviv to Ramallah

Watch the video on YouTube.com

From the press release on YuriLane.com:

From Tel Aviv to Ramallah: A Beatbox Journey - a collaboration between Yuri Lane, a Jewish "human beatbox," Rachel Havrelock, the religion scholar who happens to be his wife, and Sharif Ezzat, a Muslim video artist - is a genre-smashing, boundary-breaking "hip-hop travelogue of peace."

A production of From Tel Aviv to Ramallah involves human beatbox and performer, Yuri Lane; video artist Sharif Ezzat; a microphone and a projector. It is a funny and engaging look at everyday life amidst the Israeli- Palestinian conflict that has been embraced by audiences in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington DC, Chicago, New York, New Jersey and Atlanta.

From Tel Aviv to Ramallah is an hour-long hip-hop play that shuttles back and forth in a day in the life of a young Israeli and a young Palestinian. The show depicts the parallel narratives and lives of Israelis and Palestinians, and exhibits the youth cultures of the Middle East. Yuri Lane is a human beatbox who depicts multiple characters by generating the individual soundtrack of each character through a cappella vocal percussion combined with acting and dance. The set consists of live visual projections composed by multimedia artist Sharif Ezzat.

From Tel Aviv to Ramallah does not take an ideological stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and does not condemn either side. It depicts the nature of life during the conflict and airs the culture and humor that persist despite the political situation. From Tel Aviv to Ramallah shows the ways in which youthful dreams and aspirations are rendered hopeless for both Palestinians and Israelis due to the nature of the conflict. It is a story about the loss of innocence.

Sharif Ezzat's visual sets have the gritty and realistic qualities of newspaper photos, which lend a documentary quality to the show. Yuri Lane makes the headlines human by showing the details of family and social life in Ramallah and Tel Aviv. From Tel Aviv to Ramallah touches audiences with its two charming heroes and their simple dreams. It provides an intimate understanding of life in the Middle East and familiarizes audiences with a complex situation.