Search for Simurgh Program
Purple Masque Theatre, Kansas State University. April 8, 2023
Story inspiration & bark photography: Roya Movafegh
Creator, director, choreographer; visual and sound designer / editor: Kate Digby
Dance photography and photo blending: Neoshia Shockley
Text: Interview participants, Bahá'u'lláh, Kate Digby, Erika Batdorf*, and the performers.
Digital Media / Computational Art: Mark-David Hosale
Interactive Biosensing Art: Alan Macy
Music: Arvo Pärt, Luke Slott, Division X
Lighting Design: Sabrina Rodriguez
Performers: K-State Dance students Abbey Griffin, Audrey Henton, Emily Hug de Belmont Brugada, Avery Johnson,
Haylee Nicholas, Ann Stegman, Ella Tow, Sami Villasana, Annika Wiebers
Voiceover: Bahiyyih Grover
Technical Coordinator: Ben Stark
Light, Sound, and Projector Operator: Naliya Contreras
Crew: Bruce Grover, Hayley Nelson
House Manager: Michael Larson
* Erika Batdorf was lead writer, co-creator, co-director, and co-dramaturg of the 2019 iteration of Search for Simurgh. Although not directly involved in the development of this version, some of her creative product is inextricably interwoven and is used and adapted with permission.
Deepest thanks to Hooshmand Sheshbaradaran and family for sharing Roya’s photography and offering enthusiastic encouragement along the way. To Erika Batdorf, Muni Tahzib, Myriam Rafla, Bruce Grover, Claudine and Aeric Meredith-Goujon, and Carl Murrell for their early and ongoing support of this project (and me). To all past collaborators and performers including Erika Batdorf, Tanya Birl-Torres, Anahita Dehbonehie, Sylvia Defend, Tosha Doiron, Filiz Eryilmaz, Kate Gordon, Bahiyyih Grover, Mark-David Hosale, Asha James, M. Aleijuan King, Alan Macy, Bea Martino, Aeric Meredith-Goujon, Hrysovalanti Maheras, North of Division X, Gülce Oral, Maya Orchin, Jazmin Royg, Parisa Sabet, Lua Shayenne, Neoshia Shockley, and Marissa Truitt, thank you. And to the interviewees who generously shared their stories, there are no words to thank you for the gift of your wisdom and insight.