About

About Noor Theatre

History

Noor Theatre was founded by New York theatre makers, Artistic Director Lameece Issaq, Executive Director Maha Chehlaoui and Producing Artistic Director Nancy Vitale. The idea was born from the rising tide of talent coming from the Middle Eastern community here in the US. All three founders have worked within that community extensively as writers, actors, dramturgs and directors.

Noor Theatre has been invited to be a Company-in-Residence at New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW), the remarkable off-Broadway theatre noted for its acclaimed and innovative productions such as Rent, Homebody Kabul and the recent hit, Aftermath. NYTW will provide artistic support and organizational guidance to further Noor Theatre’s development.

Mission

Noor Theatre is dedicated to supporting, developing and presenting the work of theatre artists of Middle Eastern descent. As a vital presence in the theatrical landscape, we aim to create exceptional work that transcends cultural boundaries and speaks to all people.

Vision

Noor means “light” in both Arabic and Farsi. Noor Theatre illuminates Middle Eastern perspectives to foster greater understanding. We provide a New York home for artists of this heritage to develop their talents and tell their stories. By shedding light on their dynamic points of view, we further diversify America’s rich theatrical tapestry.

We present innovative, world-class productions created by this emerging generation of theatre artists. We also welcome artists from all over the Middle East to share their varied perspectives with our audience.

Noor Theatre creates relevant, authentic work that shatters stereotypes, enlightens, and entertains. We believe that sharing the experiences of those rarely portrayed in mainstream culture will engage the larger Middle Eastern community, as well as a broad American audience.

Noor Theatre serves as a beacon for artists and audiences alike.

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Lameece Issaq, Artistic Director

about-lameece As an actor and writer, Lameece has worked continuously in the New York theater community, collaborating with a pool of Middle-Eastern directors, actors, playwrights and comics. In 2004, she was asked to perform in the New York Arab American Comedy Festival; the next year, she wrote her first short play, A Date, which premiered at the festival to audience raves. She continued to perform and write short sketches which were produced not only at the New York Arab American Comedy Festival, but also in Dearborn’s Arab-American Comedy Show as well as the Middle Eastern Comedy Festival in Los Angeles.

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Maha Chehlaoui, Executive Director

Maha has a 10 year history of working within the NY Middle Eastern community to create artful entertainment while reaching a wider audience. In 2001, she co-founded Nibras, an Arab-American theater company for whom she directed “Sajjil: Record” (Best Ensemble, Fringe 2003), produced “Acts for Palestine” for which she directed “Macklubeh” by Sami Metwasi, and “Palestine” by Najla Said. Maha has worked with the NY Arab-American Comedy Festival since its inception in 2003, when the sketch she directed “Live! With Pascale and Chantal” went on to become a hit at the NYC fringe festival a year later.

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Nancy Vitale, Producing Artistic Director

Nancy is a producer, script developer and writer, and she is honored to be working with this talented group of artists. Recent credits include Food & Fadwa by Lameece Issaq and Jacob Kader and In the Crossing by Leila Buck; she is also writing an original TV pilot and a screenplay; and she works in development at a television network. Over the years, she has collaborated with New York Theatre Workshop, the Public Theatre, Roundabout Theatre Company, Ensemble Studio Theatre, the Araca Group, New Georges, Women’s Project and Productions, the Arab-American Comedy Festival, Manhattan Comedy Collective, Columbia University School of the Arts…