DRAMA ABOUT FRIENDSHIP: Tabla player Salar Nader, in foreground, stars in “The Kite Runner,” a play based on the novel by Khaled Hosseini, coming to the State Theatre New Jersey May 3 and 4.

State Theatre New Jersey presents The Kite Runner, a play with music based on Khaled Hosseini’s internationally best-selling novel for two performances on Friday and Saturday, May 3 and 4 at 8 p.m. Salar Nader, the renowned musician who starred in the Broadway production, will reprise his role as tabla player for the tour. Tickets range from $70-$105.

The play tells a tale of friendship spanning cultures and continents, following one man’s journey to confront his past and find redemption. Afghanistan is a divided country, and two childhood friends are about to be torn apart. It’s a beautiful afternoon in Kabul and the skies are full of the excitement and joy of a kite flying tournament. But neither of the boys can foresee the incident which will change their lives forever.

Originally published in 2003, Hosseini’s The Kite Runner became a bestseller across the globe and has since been published in 70 countries, selling 31.5 million copies in 60 languages. After being adapted for the stage, The Kite Runner originally premiered at the San Jose Repertory Theater in 2009. In 2013, Nottingham Playhouse and Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse staged a new production in the U.K. In 2017, The Kite Runner returned to the stage in London’s West End for two limited engagements at Wyndham’s Theatre and the Playhouse Theatre. The Broadway production played a strictly limited run at the Hayes Theater in the summer of 2022.

The State Theatre New Jersey is at 15 Livingston Avenue in New Brunswick. Visit Stnj.org for tickets.