Minnesota-born, now Chicago-based, actor and writer Kim Schultz was in Syria in 2009 to interview refugees when she fell into her own unlikely love story.
Schultz was among a group of artists a New York organization commissioned to visit Damascus, interview refugees and bring their stories back to the USA. Her refugee work took an unusual turn when she fell in love. Her book, "Three Days in Damascus," was inspired by the play she wrote, "No Place Called Home." Her play was staged at the Illusion in Minneapolis, Kennedy Center in D.C. and off Broadway. Her website 3daysindamascus.com is devoted to the romance that flared during an epic journey to safety amid cultural devastation.
A New Prague native who grew up in Minneapolis, Schultz has performed at some of the Twin Cities' most well-known theaters. She is currently in rehearsals for "A Christmas Carol" at Chicago's Goodman Theatre, where she is playing the Ghost of Christmas Present.
Q: Why did you write this book?
A: I wrote this book to get it out of my system and to draw awareness to this hugely ignored refugee crisis. But most of all, I wanted to humanize refugees for people in a world hellbent on demonizing them. I wanted people to see refugees, as I did, as people just like us, caught in a terrible situation for which currently there is no answer.
Q: Describe Damascus.
A: Damascus was the most magical city. Of course, I fell in love there, so I'm partial. But it feels ancient and mystical. It was like stepping back in time while being fairly modern at the same time. It was gorgeous. Damascus had a feel that I've never felt anywhere else. And now, the country is in shambles. The mosques, the artifacts, the history, the people. What an amazing loss. Startles me to think I was there right before it all fell apart. We should be ashamed.
Q: Syria hasn't been safe, if I am to believe media accounts, in a long time, so what did your parents think?
