HOLD ON:
When Everything Changes in a Flash
Stories from the Silk Road
A documentary theater production honoring the real-life journeys and dreams of young adult refugees from the Middle East.
"Hold On" takes audiences on a poignant journey through the courageous stories of young adults who fled their home countries in the Middle East due to war. This powerful production goes beyond the headlines, revealing the deep humanity and vibrant cultures behind their experiences.
Accompanied by professional dancers, actors, and musicians, these storytellers share not only their personal challenges but also the richness and beauty of their homelands. Join us for a transformative evening of storytelling and celebration that expands our awareness of the refugee experience, the impact of war, and the resilience of the human spirit.
Storytellers: Mahajabin Khanzada (Afghanistan), Noor Almusahwi (Iraq), Nathalie Kardjiane (Syria)
Directed by: Polina Smith
Choreographed by: Natasha Adorlee
Performers: Emily Keyishian, Kyle Limin, Izz Torres (Nina Isabelle), Paul Bisesi, Monroe Benschop, Jenelle Gaerlan, Jake Fong, Ahmed Ragab, Sumeet Banjeri
Location: Dance Mission Theater, 3316 24th St. @ Mission St. San Francisco, CA 94110
Date(s) & Time(s): Sept 27th, 28th @ 8pm - Sept 29th @ 7pm
No one turned away for lack of funds, if you need a free or discounted ticket
please email: Polina@crescentmoontheaterproductions.com
Viewer Discretion Advised: This performance presents true stories that include depictions of war, violence, and sexual references. These stories are shared to honor the lived experiences of those who have faced unimaginable challenges.
We acknowledge that the content may be intense or triggering for some audience members, and we encourage you to exercise discretion. We also invite you to embrace this performance with a sense of faith in the resilience of the human spirit. These stories, though difficult, also speak to the strength, hope, and courage that emerge in the face of adversity.
As we reflect on these narratives, we hope they serve as a reminder of the lessons history offers us—to honor those who have passed and to recognize the enduring capacity for humanity to rise above even the darkest times.
Please take care of yourself during the performance. Should you feel the need to step out, you are welcome to do so. Our team is available to provide support, and resources will be offered for those who wish to discuss the performance afterward.
Thank you for your presence and for joining us in honoring these powerful stories with both respect and hope.
Photos from “HOLD ON: When Everything Changes in a Flash”
(Photos by Robert Suguitan)
STORYTELLERS
MAHJABIN KHANZADA
Mahjabin Khanzada was raised in Kabul, Afghanistan. At just 18 years old, she began working as an interpreter for the U.S. Army, serving in Kabul for four years. In 2021, as the Taliban seized control of her country, Mahjabin was evacuated on an emergency flight. Today, she is courageously rebuilding her life in the Bay Area while continuing to advocate tirelessly for Afghan women. As a legal assistant with Project Anar, she is dedicated to helping Afghans displaced by the war, using her experience and resilience to make a meaningful impact.
NOOR ALMUSAHWI
Noor Almusahwi's journey began as an Iraqi refugee, fleeing to Syria when Saddam Hussein threatened his family. The outbreak of war in Syria forced Noor to seek refuge once again, this time in the United States. At his high school in San Jose, Noor found a new home when his wrestling coach adopted him, and against all odds, he recently earned a spot on the national Iraqi wrestling team. Despite facing profound struggles, including discrimination and hate, Noor has turned his pain into a commitment to love and advocacy. This profound shift was inspired by the unwavering support of his foster family and those who have stood by him. Noor has used his strength not only to excel in wrestling but also to lobby for refugee rights before Congress. He continues to be a determined and passionate advocate for refugees around the world.
NATHALIE KARDJIAN
Nathalie Kardjian is a multimedia artist from Homs, Syria, who sought refuge in the Bay Area after her country was torn apart by war. Her art, deeply rooted in her lived experiences, serves as a powerful exploration of resilience and the transformative strength that emerges from confronting extreme adversity.
Nathalie is renowned for her documentary project, "Hairlock Stories," which she has been directing and producing since 2017. This ongoing work showcases not only her personal artistic journey but also the profound resilience that humans discover in the face of crises. Beyond her art, Nathalie has collaborated with global organizations such as UNHCR and IOM, bringing art and theater therapy to displaced communities. She also engages with academia, including speaking at Stanford University, where she challenges students to examine the complex interplay of language, culture, and identity.
Discover more about Nathalie's work at www.nathaliekardjian.com.
DIRECTORIAL TEAM
POLINA SMITH - Director
Polina Smith is an award-winning artist whose life's work is deeply rooted in her family's refugee experience. Her husband and his family fled Afghanistan during the Soviet invasion and were granted asylum in the United States, a personal connection that has significantly influenced her mission.
In 2019, Polina founded Crescent Moon Theater Productions (CMTP) with a vision to create original, thought-provoking performances that harness the power of art to inspire social and personal change. Since its inception, CMTP has produced a series of captivating works across the Bay Area, including venues like Dance Mission Theater, CounterPulse, PianoFight, and the Tenderloin National Forest.
From 2008 to 2018, Polina gained invaluable experience with The Medea Project: Theater for Incarcerated Women under the mentorship of Rhodessa Jones, where she discovered the transformative power of documentary theater. In 2016, she spearheaded CounterPulse Theater's first annual Blessed Unrest festival, which featured over 30 artists dedicated to art and social justice. Polina also curates art for the annual Bioneers Conference and brings joy and insight to audiences with her clown persona, Dr. Schmidt, who humorously claims to hold 49 PhDs.
Polina's work in the arts and social justice has been recognized with several notable awards, including a National Endowment for the Arts Grant, California Arts Council Impact Grants, Zellerbach Family Foundation Community Arts Grants, and the Tanette Goldberg Memorial Scholarship. Her work continues to shine a light on important stories, bringing them to the stage with passion and creativity, and she remains deeply grateful for the opportunity to make a meaningful impact through her art.
NATASHA ADORLEE - Choreographer
NATASHA ADORLEE is an Emmy Award-winning choreographer, filmmaker, composer, and educator in San Francisco, CA. A first-generation Asian American woman, she was the final Artistic Fellow with Amy Sewiert's Imagery. Natasha began choreographing in 2014 while maintaining an award-winning dance career with Robert Moses' Kin, ODC/Dance, Kate Weare and Co., and The San Francisco Symphony. After winning over ten international awards for her acclaimed short film "Take Your Time" in 2018, she has been a sought-after filmmaker, choreographer, and composer ever since. After attending SUNY Purchase and graduating from UC Berkeley, Natasha was invited to join ODC/Dance. As a performer, Natasha has danced a vast repertoire of works and contributed original choreography, sound design, and art direction to over 20+ ODC/Dance repertory works. In addition, Natasha has created over 20 original dance-based works- spanning stage, film, and immersive performance mediums. Most recently, she was commissioned to create for Joffrey Ballet's Winning Works, Kansas City Ballet, BalletX, Ceprodac (Mexico), Kawaguchi Ballet (Japan), Ballare Carmel, Ballet22, and Imagery. In addition to working for dance companies, Natasha has created original work for Pixar Animation Studios, Occulus, National Geographic, and New Yorker Magazine. Natasha founded Concept o4 to create multimedia dance-based experiences advocating for more accessibility to the arts. Awarded an NEA Grant, Dresher Fellowship, and Jacob's Pillow Choreographic Fellowship and multiple commissions for new works in 2024, Natasha is pursuing a prolific creation period while sharing her deep knowledge of movement and film with the greater community through Dance on Camera workshops. She is also an Artistic Advisor for Ballet22. Read more: natashaadorlee.com
PERFORMERS
EMILY KEYISHIAN
Emily Keyishian is a film and stage actor based in the Bay Area originally from NJ/NYC. She is thrilled to be performing with Crescent Moon. She has performed numerous times with the Eugene O’Neill Theater in Danville and will be travelling to their sister theater in Ireland in the fall to perform an adaptation: Warnings Before Breakfast. Other notable theater includes Pluck (Shotgun Players, Molly Van Der Molen) ReOrient 2023 (Golden Thread Theater, Adin Walker, Sahar Assaf & Amal Bisharat) Crumbs From the Table of Joy (Town Hall Theater, Tanika Baptiste) Pilgramage (Golden Thread Theater, Aidaa Peerzada, Marina Johnson) Circle Mirror Transformation (Custom Made Theater, Ciera Eis) Constellations (Gary Green Production, Gary Green) Comedy of Errors (Momenti, Emma Schwartz) The Cherry Orchard (Town Hall Theater, Susan Evans)Honky (Role Players Theater, Katja Rivera), Other Desert Cities (Role Players Theater, Chloe Bronzan), Come Here Often? (Left Coast Theatre, Chris Maltby), The $18 Billion Prize (Phoenix Theater, Richard Kuhlman), Hamlet (Arabian Shakespeare Theater, Kevin Hammond), Fiction (Dragon Theatre, Erin Gilley), Adventures in Tech (Piano Fight Theater, Allison Page), Top Girls (A.C.T. Costume Shop Theatre, Ariella Wolfe), ReOrient 2015 (Golden Thread Theater, Erin Gilley, Sara Razavi, Torange Yeghiazarian), Charlotte’s Web (Marin Theatre Company, Tracy Ward) She is also a painter, you can see her work at devildoll.com.
JENELLE GAERLAN
Jenelle Gaerlan (she/they) is a multi-disciplined creative and freelance artist hailing from Portland, Oregon. Since 2019, she has done work for DarVejon Jones Dance Ensemble, Nike Inc., BodyVox Dance Company, Soulskin Dance, FRAY Show at Stanford Live, and now dances for Robert Moses’ KIN in San Francisco, the Embodiment Project, and Concept o4.
In the past year, Jenelle has performed at Lake Tahoe Dance Festival as part of Concept o4, become an alumni of the School at Jacob’s Pillow in Beckett, MA through the Ann and Weston Hicks Choreographic Fellows Program, performed at the San Francisco Symphony, as well as the San Francisco Asian Art Museum with KULARTS, the premier presenter of contemporary and tribal Pilipino arts in the United States. Along with her concert dance experience, Jenelle (a.k.a. JaDu) proudly reps Assassins Crew Worldwide (U.S. chapter based in Washington, D.C.), rooting her freestyle in house dance with essences of hip hop, waacking and breaking in classes, cyphers and battles. With expertise in dance, choreography, video production, design and creative direction, she is now relocated in the Bay Area to build and connect with other multifaceted artists.
Jenelle currently is the Co-Artistic Director of ODC Seeds Youth Company. She has taught workshops at Stanford University, the late MVMNT Arts Academia in Albany, CA, at Mark Sanchez (aka Hippie’s) Soul Movement Retreat, Rae Studios SF, the East Bay Center for the Performing Arts in Richmond, CA, as well as the University of San Francisco.
KYLE LIMIN
Kyle Limin is an Educator, Choreographer, and Performing Artist with a focus on contemporary and Hip Hop dance. They continue to contribute over fifteen year’s worth of art and education to their hometown, San Francisco. Kyle has worked with Bay Area legends like Funk Beyond Control, Funkanometry SF, PUSH Dance Company, Groove Against the Machine, concept_o4, and RAWDance. They teach at Dance Mission Theater and run the dance program at Creative Arts Charter School. In addition, they teach in schools ranging from elementary to university level.
IZZ (NINA ISABELLE)
Izz (Nina Isabelle) Torres is a recent graduate of San Francisco State University with a BA in Theater Arts, and this is their first professional show as well as their first full scale show since the pandemic. They’ve deeply missed being part of productions, and are incredibly honored to help bring these very important stories to life. They strive to operate onstage from a place of truth and reverence for the lived experiences that create a piece of art, and they are incredibly grateful to the entire team for creating a beautiful collective experience.
PAUL BISESI
Paul Bisesi is honored to help tell these stories. Recent credits include Oliver in As You Like It (Foodbank Players), Rutherford Selig in Joe Turner's Come and Gone (Lower Bottom Playaz), Zac Connor in Kudzu 2012 (BAM House), Attorney Greenburg in the Words that Made the Difference tour (Various), and roles in a variety of short films. Outside of acting, he enjoys board games, writing, and trying to do science.
MONROE BENSCHOP
After being out of the stage spotlight for a number of years working in the film and television industry, and in between as an educator for 20+ years, I feel honored to be part of an innovative cast, a creative directorial staff, and a well-told story of real-life world-changing events.
I'm sure you'll find something in this production that, as they say, "history repeats itself," is quite true…
JAKE FONG
Jake Fong (he/him/his) is ecstatic to be a part of Crescent Moon Theater’s 2024 production of Hold On! Jake is a Bay Area actor, dancer, and fight choreographer. Jake is a former Polynesian dancer studying Maori, Tahitian, and Hawaiian style dance with eight years of experience. Jake’s favorite acting credits include Private Smalls in A Soldier’s Play, Achilles in Laney’s production In the Wound, James Baldwin in Inventory: James Baldwin Abroad with Oakland Public Theater and Takichi in a staged reading of Throw Away Temple with Kunoichi Productions! Jake studies stage combat and fight choreography with Dueling Arts International. His favorite disciplines include Rapier & Dagger, Broadsword and Quarterstaff. Jake dedicates every performance to his wonderful wife Jessica and his father, who’ll always have a front row seat in his heart.
SUMEET BANERJI
Sumeet Banerji is a multi-disciplinary artist.
His studies in music began under the influence of his grandmother Sushri Shanti Banerji. Her guidance led him to ancient and esoteric branches of Indian music and gave him the confidence to study with world renowned masters.
He is a lifelong student of Selvaganesh Vinayakram from the band Shakti and his uncle Pandit Anoop Benerjee.
Based in San Francisco, he continues to develop and adapt these learnings to the contexts of sleep, meditation and subconscious exploration.
