Hamid Rahmanian’s <i>Song of the North</i> Hamid Rahmanian’s <i>Song of the North</i>

Hamid Rahmanian’s Song of the North  | 

March 21 — March 29

Created by visionary artist Hamid Rahmanian, this stunning multimedia production uses shadow puppetry and projected animation to reimagine the Persian epic Shahnameh. At its heart is Manijeh, a fierce heroine navigating a world of mythical beasts who must use all her strengths and talents to rescue her beloved, Bijan, from a perilous predicament. Hamid Rahmanian’s Song of the North is an epic love story with a cast of 483 handmade puppets and a talented ensemble of actors and puppeteers, all coming together to create powerful theater for young minds ready to explore heroism, heritage, and imaginative storytelling.

“Brilliant... truly extraordinary… in all my years covering children’s shows, I’ve never seen anything quite like this.”

-TheaterMania

created, designed, & directed by HAMID RAHMANIAN

80 Minutes, No Intermission

Venue: THE pasadena playhouse mainstage

Ages: 6 – 12 YR OLDS + Families

get TICKETS

become a member

Created by visionary artist Hamid Rahmanian, this stunning multimedia production uses shadow puppetry and projected animation to reimagine the Persian epic Shahnameh. At its heart is Manijeh, a fierce heroine navigating a world of mythical beasts who must use all her strengths and talents to rescue her beloved, Bijan, from a perilous predicament. Hamid Rahmanian’s Song of the North is an epic love story with a cast of 483 handmade puppets and a talented ensemble of actors and puppeteers, all coming together to create powerful theater for young minds ready to explore heroism, heritage, and imaginative storytelling.

“Brilliant... truly extraordinary… in all my years covering children’s shows, I’ve never seen anything quite like this.”

-TheaterMania
Loading Events

March

Calendar Month Navigation

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
1
2
3
4
+ Export Events

Creative Team

Hamid Rahmanian (Creator, Designer, Director)

Read More

Hamid Rahmanian is a 2014 John Guggenheim Fellow and the recipient of the 2020 United States Artists Fellowship.  His work centers on theater, moving image, and graphic arts. His work has been exhibited in international competitions and publications. His films have screened at Venice, Sundance, Toronto, Tribeca, and IDFA film festivals and broadcast on PBS, Sundance Channel, IFC, Channel 4, BBC, DR2, and Al Jazeera.   Mr. Rahmanian undertook the immense task of illustrating and commissioning a new translation and adaptation of the tenth-century Persian epic poem Shahnameh by Ferdowsi, entitled Shahnameh: The Epic of the Persian Kings (2013). This best-selling 600-page art book, which the Wall Street Journal lauded as a “masterpiece,” is currently in its second edition (Liveright Publishing). In 2017, he released an immersive audiobook version of Shahnameh: The Epic of the Persian King, with an introduction by Frances Ford Coppola. In 2018, he released a pop-up book, entitled Zahhak: The Legend of the Serpent King(Fantagraphics Books) in English and French, which received the Meggendorfer Prize for the Best Pop-Up Book and was hailed as “Simply breathtaking” by Le Monde. In 2014, Rahmanian shifted his focus to theater arts, working with shadows and digital media.  To date, he has created five theater pieces: Zahhak: The Legend of the Serpent King (2014), Mina’s Dream (2016), commissioned by the Onassis Foundation), and UNIMA-USA award winning Feathers Of Fire (2016) which toured in 23 cities around the world to an audience of over 100,000. In 2019, he was commissioned by Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble to create a video animation for their new multimedia project, Heroes Take Their Stand. Mr. Rahmanian completed his latest stage production, Song of the North, which premiered at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in 2022 and is currently touring around the world. His most recent project, the new pop-up book, The Seven Trials of Rostam, is now available.

School-to-Stage Resource Packet

To prepare students, educators, and families to see Hamid Rahmanian’s Song of the North, we’ve created a School-to-Stage Resource Packet. This Resource Packet offers additional cultural and historical context for the show, a behind-the-scenes look at how the show is performed, and fun activities that dive deeper into epic storytelling and the art of shadow puppetry. The Resource Packet is a perfect study guide for kids and grown-ups alike to enhance their understanding and appreciation of Hamid Rahmanian’s Song of the North and continue their theatrical journey – either in the classroom or the living room!

DOWNLOAD THE PACKET

Ticket Info

Tickets

Tickets start at $29. To be the first to know about on-sale dates, you can subscribe to our mailing list.

 

Plan your next group event at Pasadena Playhouse! Whether you’re organizing a work event, a celebration, or a night out with your theater besties, we make it easy for you to create an incredible experience for your fellow theater lovers.

Contact Patron Services to find out how you can save up to 35% off tickets with a group of 10+.

Student Matinees

There is one publicly available student matinee performance on March 25 at 9AM. Tickets for this performance are $10 per student and available to school groups only. Pre and Post-show workshops available at your school site for $300 per class hour.

Email education@pasadenaplayhouse.org or call 626 344 8979 to book a student group or workshop for your students.

 

Access Performances

Open Captioning

Guests who enjoy open captioning may request to be seated in view of a video screen with text descriptions synchronized to the onstage action designed for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Open Captioned performance of Hamid Rahmanian’s Song of the North will be on Sunday, March 22. 2026 at 2:00 PM.

GET TICKETS

FAQs

“Does My Child Need A Ticket?”

Read More

  • Hamid Rahmanian’s Song of the North is recommended for ages 6+. Tickets are required for everyone attending, children included, and we ask that everyone be able to sit in their own seat during the performance. Booster seats may be requested onsite with our Front of House team. If you’re looking for suitable programming for ages 0-5, please check out our upcoming production of The Lizard & El Sol!.

“How Long Is The Performance?”

Read More

  • Hamid Rahmanian’s Song of the North is approximately 80 minutes with no intermission.

“What Time Does The Theater Open?”

Read More

  • The theater will open for seating 30 minutes prior to each performance. You can also explore fun, interactive activities in the courtyard starting one hour before the show.

“What If I’m Late?”

Read More

  • If you already have your tickets, please arrive at least 15 minutes prior to your performance time. Late arrivals will be seated at the discretion of the House Manager.

Snacks

Read More

  • Kid-friendly snacks and drinks will be available for purchase prior to each performance and will be allowed in the theater. Feel free to bring your own snacks as well!

Pasadena Playhouse’s Youth & Family Programming and Hamid Rahmanian’s Song of the North would not be possible without the generous support of the Fitzberg Foundation, Apriem Advisors, U.S. Bank, the Helen and Will Webster Foundation, the Dwight Stuart Youth Fund, the L.L. Foundation for Youth, the Michael J. Connell Foundation, the Pasadena Community Foundation, and the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture.