A woman waiting at a subway platform, head bowed, pretending to ignore the insults. At the same bench, a group of friends to listen to racist jokes, giggling. Elsewhere, a young man waiting with great anticipation the results of job interviews.

All scenes are woven together with a common thread: what it means to be Muslim in New York, nine years after the events of 11 September 2001. The whole story is packaged in a form of theatrical performing arts.

The show, which has been staged in churches, schools, community centers and more than a dozen times throughout the city, titled Under the Veil: Being Muslim (and non-Muslims) in America, post 9 / 11. The show was conceived by a movement called TE'A Project, which combines the power of collaborative an effort narrative, theater, and facilitated dialogue in an effort to create a shared understanding of social change.

TE'A, which means Theatre, Engagement, and Action, is the brainchild of Radha Kramer, an indefatigable woman whose eyes shine when he talks about the philosophy behind the project. All approaches are based on the Insight, the theory belongs to the philosopher-theologian Bernard Lonergan.

In it, Kramer said, contains the techniques of conflict resolution: that by achieving insight into the experiences of others, we can learn to empathize. "In doing so creates an opportunity to establish relationships with one another that transcend social boundaries and cultures," he said.

According to him, the key insight that opens is everything. "Once you have an insight in yourself, or others, you are forever changed," he said.

Performances Under The Veil, he says, is the culmination of a long process involving many stakeholders. TE'A process begins by gathering a group of artists together to discuss social issues that matter most to them. When a consensus is reached about one topic, they go into their communities to talk to people about their thoughts and experiences with this problem.

After several months and dozens of interviews and discussions, the artists gathered to create a theatrical performance represents the voice of the people they are talking to it.

The result, the show was born. "When you have a significant insight, like 'oh, women who wear hijab in there that can not be the person I had previously assumed," it opens a new realm of curiosity: who is he? " he said.

TE'A production was first presented in May 2009. Topics to be Muslim in New York after September 11 was chosen unanimously by members TE'A.

"No one is talking about it," Kramer said. "No one asked the Muslims in New York to tell, for example, 'What happened to you after the tragedy? How would you feel? Decision What have you made since 9 / 11? And so on."

Interestingly enough, none of the five initiators TE'A Muslim Project. But Kramer said, in the heart of the most deep, they are not willing Muslims are treated unfairly and the phobia against Islam as "civilized".

"That's the beauty of art and theater," he explained. "We can tell stories to each other," he said. "If the Jews could only tell the story of the Jews, and the only African-Americans can tell African-Americans, then where are we? It is time America opened my eyes, ears, and hearts, and say 'I care about your story'. And not just your story; it's our story. "

Kramer urged people to participate in the process of sharing dialogue about sensitive issues. "We live in the same world," he said. "Why do not we care and share each other?"