First produced at the Alley Theatre in Houston, Texas in 1984, it is a compilation of tales of marvels and enchantment, some of which have been retold for more than a millenium, originated in India, Iraq, Egypt, Turkey, and possibly Greece. The survival of these fantasies, fables is due to the mastery of storytellers, who through the centuries have embroidered the tales with exotic details and imaginative descriptions.

This play is the story of Shahriar, the Sultan and Scheherazade. The Sultan, bewitched by a magic scimitar, decrees that he will marry a new bride every evening and chop off her head the next morning. To save her pretty neck, clever Scheherazade tells her husband an enchanting tale which isn't quite completed by the dawn's early light. So he postpones the execution a day.

Scheherazade keeps up this parade of stories for a thousand and one nights, finally winning the Sultan away from the scimitar's evil spell. Scheherazade tells about the fisherman who releases an evil genie from a bottle; Ali Baba, who discovers the treasure trove of 40 thieves by saying "Open Sesame"; a snake charmer who tries to keep his profession a secret from his wife, with striking result; and a prince who is transformed into a tiger and nearly eats the woman he loves.

"Tales of the Arabian Nights" is a play for the whole family with adventure and humor and entertainment!