The Domestic Crusaders
| Company type | Theatrical play |
|---|---|
| Industry | Theatre |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Founder | Wajahat Ali |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
| Products | Theatrical performances, published play |
The Domestic Crusaders is a theatrical work authored by Wajahat Ali that portrays the experiences of a Pakistani-American Muslim household.[1]
Its debut took place Off-Broadway at the Nuyorican Poets Café on September 11, 2009. The storyline delves into the complexities faced by a Pakistani-American family as they confront internal disputes amid evolving American cultural landscapes and the aftermath of the global post-9/11 era.[2] The play was subsequently published by McSweeney's in the fall of 2010.[3]
Summary
Taking place within a single day inside an affluent suburban residence, the drama focuses on a three-generation Pakistani-American Muslim family.[1][4] The six relatives gather to honor the youngest son's 21st birthday. Each member, referred to as a "domestic crusader," navigates their individual identity and aspirations amid familial expectations and societal challenges, mirroring larger cultural conflicts.[5]
Characters
- Hakim – the grandfather and a retired officer from the Pakistani army
- Salman – father who balances his proud demeanor with struggles impacting his self-esteem
- Khulsoom – Salman's spouse, who longs for her native country and aims to impart traditional values to her children raised in America
- Salahuddin – eldest son and accomplished entrepreneur
- Fatima – middle child engaged in social activism
- Ghafur – youngest sibling
History
Ali, practicing law and writing in the Bay Area, initiated the play’s creation in 2001 during his time at University of California, Berkeley. The idea was inspired by his professor Ishmael Reed, who urged him to craft a theatrical piece highlighting the inner experiences of American Muslims, a community often marginalized.
In American Theatre (February 2011), Ali described the title’s irony as referencing "centuries of supposed hostility between Western societies and Islam," reinterpreted through the lens of a multi-hyphenated Muslim-American family. These "crusaders" are depicted not as fighters but as complex, self-focused characters involved in interpersonal drama filled with humor, remorse, and hidden truths—emphasizing intricate family relationships rather than confrontation.
Premiere
The two-act production first appeared in 2005 as a special presentation at the Tony Award-winning Berkeley Repertory Theatre, with direction by the distinguished choreographer Carla Blank, who continued her involvement through 2011. Its New York introduction occurred on September 11, 2009, at the Nuyorican Poets Café, where it enjoyed a sold-out engagement lasting five weeks and set new attendance records for this Off-Broadway location. Ali selected this particular date to artistically address the events of that day, seeking to promote healing and dialogue that transcended anger and extremism.
On the international stage, the play made its debut at MuslimFest in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, during July and August of 2010. This was followed by performances in November 2010 at Washington, D.C.’s Atlas Performing Arts Center as well as the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Hall. A one-hour archived recording of Act One is accessible via the Kennedy Center’s website.
See also
External links
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ↑ "Crusading for Modern Islamic Art", Beliefnet.com, March 2009.
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).