Iranian stage artists join fundraising events for Azarbaijan quake victims

TEHRAN,Aug.21(MNA) – Groups of Iranian stage artists joined people collecting aid for victims of the recent earthquakes in the northwestern Iranian province of East Azarbaijan. Three theater troupes in Tehran plan to donate their box office receipts from several performances for the benefit of the quake-stricken people in the region. Shahram Noshir’s troupe, which is currently performing “Ship 126” at Vahdat Hall, will donate all receipts from their four performances from August 18 to 21. The play is a modern narration of the life story of the Prophet Jonah (AS). Mahnaz Mehdizadeh, Mahur Abedini, Seyyed Javad Yahyavi, Arash Dadgar and Alireza Mohammadi star in the play. Director Afsaneh Mahian donated all box office revenues from the Saturday performance of “33 Percent of Neil Saimon” to the victims of the earthquake. The play, which has been warmly welcomed by audiences, is currently on stage at the Iranshahr Theater Complex. Written by Mohammad Yaqubi, “33 Percent of Neil Saimon” is a social drama focusing on the challenges facing two couples in their lives. Ayda Keykhaei, Ali Sarabi, Elika Abdorrazaqi and Masud Mirtaheri are the members of the cast. Director Yaser Khaseb also dedicated the income from the Saturday performance of “The Song of the Mud” to the victims of the earthquake. The play is on stage at the Hafez Theater. The quakes struck East Azarbaijan Province on August 11, flattening villages and injuring thousands of people around the towns of Ahar, Varzaqan and Haris, near Tabriz. Reuters reported on Monday that the first situation report from the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) quoted Iranian officials as saying that up to 17,000 people had been displaced and were in need of shelter.