The Life Model began when Jeffrey and Gisela, two of the actors in the project, began discussing a way to create a truly democratic method of storytelling, in both structure and writing style. They were mutually interested in exploring the 2011 Cairo Revolution as an environment where personal revolutions occurred for many of the people participating in the larger political revolution surrounding them. They immediatly felt the relevance of this time of hopeful upheaval, in the context of both the current upheaval surrounding US politics and the larger upheaval rippling through the world. Jeffrey then began assembling a crack team of artists who comprise the inner circle of co-writers, as well as the larger constellation of designers and storytellers contributing to this project. 

Premiering at On the Boards January 13th-17th and touring in NYC shortly thereafter, The Life Model is an experimental production with artists spanning multiple continents, backgrounds and artistic specialties. It uses multimedia and shifting narrative styles to reflect, in the midst of political turmoil, four friends' personal revolutions: Ali, a young activist; Maha, a video artist; Gabriella, Maha’s cousin and expat plastic surgeon from Rio; and Henry, a visiting American artist studying on an expensive commission. The characters' perspectives are expressed through video, painting, poetry, and music/dance. Together, they explore what it means to truly see one another, be an active member of society, and effect change.

Jeffrey Fracé / Co-Writer, Producer, Actor

Pirronne Yousefzadeh / Co-Writer, Director

Gisela Chípe / Co-Writer, Actor

Maha Chehlaoui / Co-Writer, Actor

Ahmad Maksoud / Co-Writer, Actor

Julia Sears / Co-Writer, Associate Director

Zeina Barakeh / Video Design

Christian Frederickson / Sound Design

Cecilia Durbin / Lighting Design

Pavel Zustiak / Choreographer

David M. Barber / Set Design

Deborah Trout / Costume Design

Mary Hubert / Assistant Producer