Catching the acting bug

and Glendale Central Theatre. “I caught the bug again,” said Nieman.

He started in high school taking a play writing class his junior year and proceded to continue on through college. Nieman pursued his acting career for years before taking a break in 1989.

“I put acting on the back burner,” said Nieman. “I decided to spend more time with my family and kids, be the suburban dad.”

This only lasted so long before Nieman had the urge to return to his acting career.

His frequent adversary throughout the upcoming play, Mildred Sloan, is played by Esther Rosen, 75, who has been acting for more than 50 years.

“I think we work really well together,” Rosen said. “We bounce off each other well.”

Nieman expresses no desire to stop acting any time soon, and will continue to do so with the support of Cheryl, his wife of 27 years, and his

Multiple three children. as the guitar of the Middle East and Mediterranean and the oldest stringed instrument in the world.

“Somewhere along the line you realize you have a burning passion for something, and you pursue it,” Nieman said.

“It’s something that’s in our culture,” Mahlis said. “The sound is very beautiful. “

Wabich played frame drums, which are one-sided drums where the frame is larger than the surface, which he built custom to the needs of the band.

“Usually drums have no bass to them,” Wabich said. “I built mine oversized, which had the unexpected effect of adding bass and allowing me to play a perfect tuned octave.”

Rajat Sabharwal, 20, was simply awed by the performance.

“I liked the blend of these instruments,” Sabharwal said. “It’s pretty amazing.”

Wahid was formed approximately 15 years ago after they decided to stop their solo careers and form a band, particularly because both shared an interest in playing Middle East and Mediterranean music.

“We both had a passion for this style of music,” Mahlis said. “Since we had heard each other play before, we decided to take a shot at a band, and we’ve been playing ever since.”

Both members have been playing music for many years. Mahlis has played since he was 12-years-old, but started the oud at 28, while Wabich has played percussion since he was 7 years old.

Mahlis played several instruments before the oud, mostly stringed, but became interested in the oud because of his cultural roots.

“Just hearing it was very profound,” Mahlis said.

Wabich can’t remember a time when he didn’t play drums, starting at an early age with a spoon and a saucepan in his mother’s house.

“I just like rock music,” Wabich said. “[Percussion] is kind of like a piano in that you can play one note in harmony with another instrument.”

The free Thursday concert series of this semester has one last performance May 24 at 12:45 p.m. at Music 3400 featuring the Pierce Student Concert.