Photos from opening night of the DCPA Theatre’s Company’s production of Ayad Akhtar’s celebrated play Disgraced. To see more photos, click the forward arrow on the image above. Scroll through and you will find pictures from throughout the creation of the play here in Denver, dating to the first rehearsal. All photos are directly downlodable from the Denver Center’s Flickr account.

Disgraced is the story of an American-born, Muslim-raised New York corporate attorney and his struggle with assimilation and his conflicted identity. Amir Kapoor has has turned his back on his faith, but is now thriving in post-9/11 Manhattan. The play bluntly asks whether Americans must renounce their “other” cultural identities to gain mainstream acceptance.

Our photos include activities before the performance, including a pre-show (non-alcoholic!) cider toast, as well as the post-show discussion from the stage of the Ricketson Theatre (pictured right) with members of the local Muslim community, and the cast celebration afterward in Club Denver.

The director of Disgraced is Carl Cofield, and the cast includes Benjamin Pelteson, Olivia Gilliatt, Dorien Makhloghi, Christina Sajous and Vandit Bhatt.

Cofield made an inspirational pre-show speech expressing his admiration for his actors’ courage to act. He referenced results of scientific studies that showed the number of people who suffer from the fear of speaking in public is nearly twice as great as the number of people who number who fear death or serious illness.

He quoted William Ball, from A Sense of Direction: Some Observations on the Art of Directing:

An actor is a hero. All acting is praiseworthy if for no other reason than that the actor has the courage to walk from the wings to the center of the stage. For his entrance alone, he should be praised. Speaking takes more courage; and speaking in the person of another individual, with a commitment to a belief in that individual’s emotional life, is not only praiseworthy; it is awesome. Those of us who have the opportunity to assist the actor, by making his path more smooth, are honored to aid him; and we are grateful for the great gifts he bestows upon us – his creativity, his wit, his humanity, his suffering, his imagination, his energy, and his complete and perfect self.”

Disgraced plays through May 7.

Photos by John Moore for the DCPA NewsCenter.

Vandit Bhatt, left, and Olivia Gilliatt after the opening performance of ‘Disgraced.’ Photo by John Moore.

Disgraced: Ticket information
In this raw new play, Amir has built the perfect life. But as a high-profile case and his wife’s art show reveal how little his culture is understood, their misconceptions become too much to bear.

Through May 7
Ricketson Theatre

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ASL and audio-described performance: 1:30 p.m. April 30

Tickets: 303-893-4100 or BUY ONLINE

Previous NewsCenter coverage of Disgraced:
Perspectives: Disgraced is about starting, not finishing, conversations
Video, photos: Your first look at Theatre Company’s Disgraced
Video: A talk with Disgraced Costume Designer Lex Liang
Disgraced has been known to leave audiences gasping
Disgraced Director promises to push your (empathy) button
TED Talk: On the danger of a ‘single story’
Meet the cast: Dorien Makhloghi, who plays Amir

Disgraced actor Christina Sajous was surrounded by loving family after the opening performance. Photo by John Moore for the DCPA NewsCenter.