From Karbala to New York City: Ta'ziyeh on the Move

This collection of articles traces ta'ziyeh from its origins in Karbala in Iraq through its development as a serious dramatic form in Iran; its adaptation in Lebanon, India, and the Caribbean; and its debut on Western stages, culminating in a 2002 performance at Lincoln Center in New York City and a historic symposium at the Asia Society, where this issue got its start. Karbala and the relationship between Shiite and Sunnite Muslims, the origins of which are represented in the plays and rituals that commemorate the death of the Prophet MuhammadÕs grandson Hussein, have become major preoccupations of the Western media since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003. An examination of ta ziyeh reveals many of the historical, cultural, religious, and political paradigms that have made Karbala the touchstone for Shiite Muslims everywhere.