Amman, July 26 (Petra) -- The South Theatre at the Jerash Festival for Culture and Arts will host on Monday the first Arab staging outside Egypt of the musical "Umm Kulthum... Daibeen Fil Set", a production that retraces the life of the legendary Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum in a musical theatre format blending historical storytelling with contemporary performance.

Speaking at a press conference organized by the festival on Sunday, the play's producer and writer Medhat El Adl praised Jordanian audiences for their appreciation of artistic heritage and expressed hope that the production would serve as a bridge connecting younger generations with the legacy of the iconic singer, known across the Arab world as the Star of the East.

The press conference, moderated by journalist Ibrahim Al-Sawaeer, was attended by the play's director Ahmed Fouad.

El Adl described the production as an ambitious undertaking, saying Jordan would become the first Arab country to stage the musical after its debut in Egypt.

He said actresses Asmaa El Gamal and Malak Ahmed portray Umm Kulthum at different stages of her life, adding that the production highlights talented young performers while documenting the life of an artist who overcame numerous challenges before becoming one of the Arab world's most celebrated singers.

He noted that the creative team sought to capture Umm Kulthum's emotional depth and artistic spirit, adding that presenting the production in the historic city of Jerash gives it a distinctive dimension rooted in authenticity and creativity.

Director Ahmed Fouad outlined the technical approach used to adapt the production to the South Theatre's open-air setting, saying the team had employed modern theatrical techniques to deliver an innovative and engaging performance.

During the event, Asmaa El Gamal and Malak Ahmed performed excerpts from the musical, which features 15 songs tracing Umm Kulthum's early life, artistic passion and rise to fame.

The press conference also featured discussion on the identity of Arab music, the importance of encouraging younger generations to appreciate classic Arabic songs amid the growing popularity of fast-paced contemporary music, the influence of social media, and the production's place within today's performing arts scene.

//Petra// AF