Alaskan Play Highlights Religious Persecution and Resilience
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – A small cast of Alaskan actors is set to take their poignant production, “When the Moment Comes,” to Seattle after successful performances in Vancouver. This powerful play tackles themes of religious persecution and the loss suffered by ten women executed for their Baháʼí beliefs in Iran in 1983.
Lead actor and producer Nava Sarracino expressed her immediate connection to the play upon reading it, noting, “As soon as I read it, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, here’s a play that I can do.’” The narrative is based on the memoirs of Ruhi Jahanpour, who was imprisoned with these women but was fortunate to escape execution.
Jahanpour, who fled Iran nearly 40 years ago, is dedicated to raising awareness about the ongoing persecution faced by the Baháʼí community. She emphasized that the play is a way to honor the memories of those who sacrificed their lives for their faith: “People hear it, and that’s another beautiful way to honor the memories of all these young people.”
The Baháʼí faith, which originated in Iran in the 19th century, has faced systemic persecution, especially since the 1979 Iranian Revolution. Jahanpour shared her mission to highlight these stories peacefully, emphasizing that Baháʼís respond to violence with nonviolence.
“One of the cast members pointed out we’re going to do our first rehearsal in the theater on their anniversary,” Sarracino noted, adding depth to their Seattle performance.
Despite only half the cast identifying as Baháʼí, each member finds it a profound learning experience. Cast member Kayla Gonzalez reflected, “It’s just taught me to be open minded and really kind.” As they prepare for their Seattle debut, the cast hopes to continue sharing this vital narrative.
“The stories that I want to share touch the human spirit,” Sarracino concluded.
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Photo credit www.alaskasnewssource.com
