Noor’s Commissioning Initiative

Noor Theatre’s Commissioning Initiative was created in order to help build the canon of work by artists of Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) descent. Our commissioned pieces illustrate the breadth and richness of our many diasporic communities, challenge the harmful stereotypes of Middle Easterners rampant in popular media, and advance important conversations within our communities. The MENA diaspora is not monolithic, and our pieces reflect the unique voices and perspectives of our artists. The Commissioning Initiative furthers representation for artists of MENA descent through two programs: Play Commissions and Cross-Medium Commissions.

Play Commissions

Play Commissions are awarded to playwrights, who embark on a full-length new play development process with Noor. Noor’s commissioned playwrights include Ryan Haddad, Ismail Khalidi, and SEVAN. SEVAN’s play is currently being developed with Noor Theatre as part of the inaugural cohort of Theatre Row’s Kitchen Sink Residency.

Commissioned plays receive development opportunities such as workshops and/or readings in order to support each playwright’s goals. For example, Ryan Haddad’s commission culminated in a weeklong workshop process and reading in 2019. The previous year, Noor presented a workshop production of Ismail Khalidi’s play Dead Are My People at New York Theatre Workshop’s 4th Street Theatre.

CROSS-MEDIUM COMMISSIONS

With the support of Pop Culture Collaborative, Cross-Medium Commissions are awarded annually to three writers, who, over the course of a year, develop a script in a medium of their choice (such as film, television, VR, etc.) designed to reach a mass audience. These three artists, known as Noor’s Artists Advancing Cultural Change Cohort, conceptualize pieces that reflect their own experiences, address issues relevant to their respective communities, and pursue goals for social change. The program increases representation for artists of MENA descent in popular culture and empowers other artists to take a seat at the ever-widening table. Cohort members have included Lameece Issaq, Sahar Jahani, Sylvia Khoury, Arian Moayed, Mike Mosallam, and Heather Raffo. Learn more

Our commissioning initiative has been supported over the years by: The Mosaic Fund, Pop Culture Collaborative, and 59E59 Theaters.