March 11, 2009 > The Kite Runner takes the stage The Kite Runner takes the stage The theatrical adaptation of Khaled Hosseini's bestselling novel "The Kite Runner" makes its world premiere at the San Jose Repertory Theatre on March 21. Highly anticipated, this performance promises to fly high. Adapted by Bay Area resident Matthew Spangler and directed by David Ira Goldstein, "The Kite Runner" is a haunting story of friendship and redemption in modern Afghanistan. The story weaves through the lives of two boys growing up in Kabul within the same household but in starkly different worlds. Amir is the son of a wealthy yet emotionally distant businessman while Hassan is the son of Amir's father's servant, a shunned ethnic minority. Despite the disparity in social positions, the two grow up inseparable until Amir and his father flee the country during the Soviet invasion. Years later, Amir returns to Afghanistan to seek out his old friend and atone for youthful cowardice. But fate, global politics and historical tragedy threaten Amir's ability to make amends for his past. "The characters in The Kite Runner all struggle with the most basic of human emotions: love, envy, fear, joy and guilt," observes Director David Ira Goldstein. "In Amir's struggles, we all recognize our own failings, and in his redemption, we discover a hopeful way forward." "Its epic structure - spanning the continents and nearly 30 years - its powerful moments of high drama and its engaging characters make this an ideal story for live performance," states playwright Matthew Spangler. "I fell in love with the book and knew right away that it would make an excellent play." Spangler's adaptation of The Kite Runner highlights the story of one nation's struggle to triumph over forces of violence that continue to threaten Afghanistan. With the world's attention once again focusing on Afghanistan, the production is as relevant today as when the book was first published in 2003. "When I wrote this book, I thought it would find its niche, most likely among readers who had an interest in the Middle East and Central Asia. I never expected this story to make the impact that it did," states Khaled Hosseini, author of The Kite Runner. "Over the years, the story has continually confounded my expectations and expanded its readership. Again, I think it had to do with the universality of the themes. No matter where you are born, what language you speak or what religion you practice, there are human experiences that bind us all, and The Kite Runner speaks to those experiences." Tickets are available at the San Jose Rep Box Office at 101 Paseo de San Antonio or can be purchased online at www.SJRep.com or by calling (408) 367-7255. The Kite Runner March 21-April 19 The San Jose Repertory Theatre 101 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose (408) 367-7255 www.SJRep.com