Building BRIDGES BETWEEN ABRAHAMIC FAITHS

In 2004- Three women of Abrahamic Faiths from Manhattan West Side stepped up to confront the looming tension of post 9/11. Daisy Khan, a Muslim of American Society for Muslim Advancement collaborated with Sarah Brokus, a Christian of The Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew, Eileen Weiss, and a Jewish woman of Congregation B’nai Jeshurun tried to find a way to understand the many unanswered questions the public had about 9/11. They formed a coalition of New York’s finest creatives to develop a theatrical production titled, “SAME DIFFERENCE: NYC Faith Stories in Words, Music and Dance.”

Taken from over 100 one-on one interviews with New Yorkers representing many faiths and cultures and geographies, SAME DIFFERENCE gave the interviewees a chance to express their private and personal feelings and the audiences an opportunity to hear the true, uncensored voices of New Yorkers speaking about life before and after September 11. The show was held at the Church of St. Paul and St. Andrews theatre and was sold out each night during its sixteen week New York run and its impact was felt by at least 1600 people of faiths and none.

Interview Process

Over 100 one-on one interviews with New Yorkers of different backgrounds brought life to the Same Difference.

Writing Process

A team of interfaith playwrights and a musician culled 2,500 pages of interviews into a 35-page play with all words coming directly from the interviews themselves.

Creative Process

Interviews in play include topics ranging from funny food and faith stories to interfaith marriages, to post-9/11 traumas, to media’s responsibility, to the current situation in the Middle East, and more.

The Impact

Same Difference has the capacity to change communities at the grass roots level and beyond.