Noor Theatre

Spotlight on SWANA Writers’ Co-Op

Featuring works by Gregory Jafari Van Acker, Dalia Ashurina (with music by Avi Amon), Gamal ElSawah, Chloé Hayat, Olivia Khoshatefeh, Thalia Ranjbar, and Monna Sabouri

Co-directed by SB Tennent and Kareem Fahmy

Roundtable Facilitator May Treuhaft-Ali

Music Directed by James Rushin, and stage management by Joseph Distl

ABOUT THE SPOTLIGHT

An evening of 10-minute excerpts from plays written by Gregory Jafari Van Acker, Dalia Ashurina, Gamal ElSawah, Chloé Hayat, Olivia Khoshatefeh, Thalia Ranjbar and Monna Sabouri, and directed by SB Tennent and Kareem Fahmy. 

All of these artists are members of the SWANA Writers’ Co-op, a group for SWANA dialogue-based writers that regularly gathers with the support of Playwrights Horizons to share pages, receive feedback, offer and receive peer-mentorship, and support each other’s writing processes. The group was originally created by Kareem Fahmy and May Treuhaft-Ali and is horizontally led, collectively operated, and contingent on writers’ willingness to volunteer their time toward each other’s artistic growth.

Meet the Team

May Treuhaft-Ali

CO-FOUNDER/ROUNDTABLE FACILITATOR

MAY TREUHAFT-ALI is a playwright, director, and dramaturg from Queens, New York. She is currently a member of Page 73’s Writers Group and Youngblood at Ensemble Studio Theatre. Her play ABCD had its world premiere at Barrington Stage Company in July 2022, and her play Escapegoat had a workshop production at Boston Court Pasadena later that year. She was the 22-23 Van Lier Fellow at Rattlestick Theater. Her plays have been developed at Ars Nova, Clubbed Thumb, The Playwrights Realm, The Movement Theatre Company, MCC Theater, Irish Repertory Theatre, and the Cape Cod Theatre Project. She is under commission at Barrington Stage and South Coast Repertory. May works as the Literary & Community Engagement Assistant at Playwrights Horizons.

KAREEM FAHMY

CO-FOUNDER/DIRECTOR

KAREEM FAHMY is a Canadian-born director and playwright of Egyptian descent. He is the co-founder of the SWANA Writers Co-Op. Kareem received the 2022 Woodward/Newman Playwriting Award (for "American Fast"), a MacDowell Fellowship, the Janet Sloane Literature Residency at Yaddo, a NYSCA/NYFA Playwriting Fellowship, is a two-time finalist for the National Showcase of New Plays and was named a Rising Leader of Color by TCG. Selected directing credits: Cincinnati Playhouse, Writers Theatre, Pioneer Theatre, Contemporary American Theatre Festival, Portland Stage, Crossroads Theatre. Fellowships/Residencies: Sundance Theatre Lab, The Old Globe (Classical Directing Fellow), Oregon Shakespeare Festival (Phil Killian Directing Fellow), The O’Neill (National Directors Fellow), MFA–Theatre Directing: Columbia University. www.kareemfahmy.com

SB Tennent

DIRECTOR

SB TENNENT (she/they) is an Iranian-American multidisciplinary artist & director of new plays, musicals, and classics. Described as having a “deft directorial touch” (Culturebot), she has developed work with New York Theatre Workshop, Mercury Store, Mabou Mines, Clubbed Thumb, The Drama League, BRIC, Ars Nova, The TEAM, New Georges, Red House Center for Culture & Debate in Bulgaria, Prague Film & Theater Center, and others. SB is the Artistic Director of award-winning collective Built4Collapse, with whom she devised NUCLEAR LOVE AFFAIR, which played to sold out houses in NYC, Prague, Rome and Krakow. Proud Faculty member at Playwrights Horizons Theater School, NYU. @sbtennent

Gregory Jafari Van Acker

PLAYWRIGHT

GREGORY JAFARI VAN ACKER (They/He) - Playwright/Lyricist: The Price of Saffron (Spinning Dot Theatre/EMU, part of the TYA BIPoC Superhero Project), The Newest Newcomer (Sundog Theatre), NOPLACE (Goodspeed/Johnny Mercer Grove, Eugene O’Neill NMT semifinalist), Sugar Skull (Rhythm of the Arts), The Book of You (Durango Arts Center), The Joining Place (Bandcamp), Thurgood Grows Up (Sugar Hill Museum of Storytelling). Dr. Kenny Hasija Encouragement Fund for Theatremakers recipient (presented by Ken Davenport). NYC Department of Cultural Affairs/Howard Gilman Foundation Creative Engagement Grant recipient. Tells tales from Greece and the Middle East at NYC museums. Writes musicals with Joel Esher. Queer, gender-fluid, MENA, BROWN, and deeply committed to increasing positive representation for historically excluded voices.

Dalia Ashurina

PLAYWRIGHT

DALIA ASHURINA (she/her) is an Assyrian-American director and writer whose work centers on theatricality and changing the narrative on Middle Eastern women. She currently serves as the Associate Director of Sweeney Todd on Broadway and previous to that, the resident director of Phantom of the Opera. She recently wrote and directed her first TV pilot, UNDERTUDIES. (Co-Writer - Anita Abdinezhad).

Gamal ElSawah

PLAYWRIGHT

GAMAL ELSAWAH (he/him) is a queer Arab-American writer, actor, and comedian, born and based in New York City. Gamal’s plays have been workshopped and presented in New York by Fail Better NYC, The Bechdel Group, The Fresh Fruit Festival, Make/Shift, and Showdogs Theater Collective. He has written for the sketch comedy podcast show 'Only Sketches About…', as well as the sci-fi comedy web series, 'Wormholes,' which he co-created.

His Short Play, 'Do You Speak My Language?', was awarded the Fresh Fruit Festival’s 2019 Award for Best Short Play, and his web series, 'Wormholes,' received the 2022 Award for Best Web Series, as well as the 2021 Audience Award at the Astoria Film Festival.

Chloé Hayat

PLAYWRIGHT

CHLOÉ HAYAT (she/her) is a Lebanese-American playwright, dramaturg, and producer from Roosevelt Island, New York. Her work has been seen and developed as a part of The SWANA Writer’s Co-Op at Playwright’s Horizons, Clubbed Thumb’s Early Career Writer’s Group, Space on Ryder Farm, The Flea, The Fled Collective, Theater Accident, Ithaca College, Manhattan Film Institute, Young Playwrights Inc., and SUNY Purchase. She has stage managed and assisted hundreds of readings, workshops, and productions at New Dramatists, Clubbed Thumb, The Brick, SUNY Purchase and The Flea. She’s also a professional makeup artist, an amateur baker, and an aspiring burlesque performer.

Olivia Khoshatefeh

PLAYWRIGHT

OLIVIA KHOSHATEFEH is an actor/writer based in NYC. She holds an MFA in acting from Brown University/Trinity Rep. She has written and developed several plays including her piece “These Walls” which premiered at the On the Verge festival in Santa Barbara, CA. She's currently a member of the Cinephilia writer's workroom and SWANA Co-op. As an actor she’s appeared in several recurring television roles most notably on New Amsterdam (NBC) for five seasons. Other TV credits include: Elsbeth (CBS), Inventing Anna (Netflix), Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Netflix), Dickinson (Apple TV), Mr. Robot (USA) and The Blindspot (NBC).

Thalia Ranjbar

PLAYWRIGHT

THALIA RANJBAR (she/her) is a Persian- Salvadoran multidisciplinary artist based in NYC. Recent directing/choreography credits include SPARKS (TheatreNOW), All the Space Between (Eugene O'Neill Theatre), and THE TALK (New York Theatre Festival, nominated for Best Short). Thalia earned the distinction of Master of Fine Arts from the Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program at NYU and has since been selected for residencies with the Johnny Mercer Songwriters Project, Latine Musical Theatre Lab, as well as Rhinebeck Writers Retreat. Thalia’s theatrical writing has been presented by 54 Below, Lincoln Centre, Don’t Tell Mama, and the Emerging Artists Theatre. Thalia is also a passionate teaching artist and has a fierce belief in the importance of arts education for children. Presently she teaches at Classic Stage Company and the Washington Heights Choir School.

MONNA SABOURI

PLAYWRIGHT

MONNA SABOURI embarked on her artistic journey at Queens College, focusing on dramatic writing and acting. She was a board member of the Muslim Writers Collective and a member of the Writers Guild Initiative. She is currently in the SWANA Writers Co-Op. As an actress, her television accomplishments include roles in "FBI," "Madam Secretary," and "The Blacklist: Redemption".

James Rushin

MUSIC DIRECTOR

JAMES RUSHIN (he/him) is an MD/Composer/multi-instrumentalist with a love for improvisation and games. He recently co-conducted the Broadway run and National Tour of Freestyle Love Supreme. Her score for Amy Claussen's play Maybe She Dies premiered at the Kennedy Center in 2023. He's been taking 2024 to write new songs and shows, play more D&D and spend time with Galstuk, the Bombay cat.

Atra Asdou

PERFORMER

ATRA ASDOU commands traditional stage dramas (Steppenwolf, Goodman, Lookingglass, Yale Repertory) and non-traditional written and improvised comedy for sold-out crowds (The Second City, iO Chicago, Brooklyn Comedy Collective, Caveat). As a Lookingglass Artistic Associate, she was recently awarded two writers in residencies for her full-length play, Iraq, But Funny. Atra also wrote and performed three original, critically acclaimed satirical sketch revues for The Second City Chicago. Her debut feature screenplay, IZZA, was a beloved finalist at The Chicago International Film Festival Industry Days, and her short films, Renee` and Fever have earned festival laurels from around the world. Atra lives in NYC, performing stand up around the city and improvising at Brooklyn Comedy Collective with Mariano’s Piano Lounge.

Sarah Bitar

PERFORMER

SARAH BITAR (any) a film and stage actor fluent in English, Arabic, and French, excels at the Mercury Store, an innovative and experimental directing lab. Collaborating with directors like Will Frears, Nicole Brewer, Will Davis and others, she's a vital member of the acting company. Originating from Lebanon, she migrated to New York City in 2016 for acting training at the Stella Adler Studio. Committed to expressing unique narratives, she often writes and produces her own work. Notable film credits include: "Stockade" (dir: Eric McGinty; Veronique Films) and "Like Salt" (Darine Hotait; Cinephelia). Stage credits include: "Glimpse" (Shadi Ghaheri; Rattlestick Playwrights Theater) and "Love’s Labor’s Lost" (Irvington Shakespeare Company). Recipient of NYFA - City Artist Corps grant and Indie Theater Fund.

Xavier Clark

PERFORMER

XAVIER CLARK (he/him) is a multidisciplinary theatre artist and educator, who was born and raised in Turkey. As an actor, he has worked at Williamstown Theatre Festival, La Jolla Playhouse, Hudson Valley Shakespeare, Hangar Theatre, Ojai Playwrights Conference and more. As a playwright, select plays include: backstroke boys (Fault Line Theatre), supper (The Strides Collective, O'Neill NPC Finalist), ICONS (IAMA Theatre LA) and more. He is a faculty member at Montclair State University and Stella Adler Studio of Acting. MFA: UC San Diego, BFA: NYU Tisch/Stella Adler Studio.

Esra Dayani*

PERFORMER

ESRA DAYANI is an actor, writer, producer and community organizer. She grew up in the U.S., Turkey and Malaysia, and speaks Turkish, Spanish & some Hebrew. Esra created the original ensemble piece 12 Fiery Women (The Ohio) and her storytelling work reflects her multi-cultural heritage (The Hearth, Nuyorican Poets Cafe). NYC: In The Stillness of Night (The Tank), MIA (HERE), The Greeks (EST), Deep Fake (Hudson Guild Theater), 48 Hour Forum (Noor). Regional: Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, Coyote Theater, Boston Playwrights' Theatre. See her in the award-winning “Downsizedthewebseries” and in festival circuit-bound short CYCLE. SWANA Writer’s Co-op member (Playwright’s Horizons). esradayani.com

Ramin Doostdar*

PERFORMER

RAMIN DOOSTDAR (he/him) is very excited to be joining the Highlight Reading Series! Select Theatre: Kismet directed by Lonny Price (American Stage Debut), The Band's Visit (First National Tour), Europe: The Phantom of the Opera (25th Anniversary Concert), Next to Normal (German Premiere), Company (Austrian Premiere), Mamma Mia!, Into the Woods (Austrian Premiere), Sister Act, Avenue X (European Premiere), Evita, On Your Feet! (German Premiere), Jesus Christ Superstar, and Sweeney Todd.
Ramin is multilingual, fluent in Farsi, German, and English, and has performed in six languages across various mediums: Farsi, English, German, Arabic, Hebrew, and Azerbaijani. Most recently, he had a recurring role in a new American series for HBO Max, set to premiere in the spring of 2024 in the USA. Ramin is a member of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) and Actors' Equity Association (AEA), and holds both a European passport and a Green Card.

Ahmad Maksoud*

PERFORMER

AHMED MAKSOUD (he/him) is an Egyptian American actor based in NYC. He has performed on and off Broadway, on tour, regionally, and on television. He received a Lucille Lortel nomination for Outstanding lead in a Musical for his work in The Visitor, at the Public Theatre. He has produced and starred in a sold out, solo cabaret performance at The Green Room 42. He is currently developing a television series, Not Looking (IG: @notlookingtheseries). Outside of performance, Ahmad works as an executive coach, helping people talk better at work. www.ahmadmaksoud.com. Free Palestine. Ceasefire now.

Ariel Reich*

PERFORMER

ARIEL REICH (she/her) is an NYC based Artist with a passion for Disability Arts.  She recently worked on the Directing and Accessibility teams of HOW TO DANCE IN OHIO on Broadway, and previously performed in THE BAND'S VISIT. Ariel has an extensive background in Arts in Medicine.  Her "Suicide Prevention through Theatre Intervention" research was internationally recognized (2017) by the Culture, Health & Well-being research conference in Bristol, UK.  Ariel is on the Teaching Artist Faculty of the Mark Morris Dance Group’s Dance for PD (Parkinson’s Disease) program. She is a proud queer, autistic, Iraqi Jew with an invisible chronic illness disability.

Adam Shaukat

PERFORMER

ADAM SIDDIQUI SHAUKAT (he/hom) is a half-Pakistani Muslim, half-Ashkenazi Jewish actor and writer from New York City. He has a BA in Philosophy from Carleton College, where he was the captain of the varsity baseball team, and a starter on the varsity football team. He then received his MFA in acting from the Yale School of Drama, and is now based in New York and Los Angeles. Credits include Before (Apple TV), Sex Positive (Starz), and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf (Chautauqua Theater Company). @adamshaukat, Instagram

Avi Amon

PERFORMER (dalia Ashurina’s Piece)

AVI AMON (he/him) is a Turkish-American composer and sound artist. Theater work includes music, songs, and sound design for projects with: 600 Highwaymen, Ars Nova, New York Theater Workshop, OSF, Page73, The Public Theater, Roundabout, Target Margin, Waterwell. Avi’s film scores have been featured at Cannes, Disney, HBO, Hulu, Slamdance, Tribeca, and more. Upcoming: a musical, THROUGH THE SUNKEN LANDS with Tim Lord (Kennedy Center); music for the feature documentary film, EVERYTHING YOU HAVE IS YOURS; and a new multimedia album and performance piece, MOTHER/ROAD. Avi is a MacDowell Fellow and has received artistic support from the Jonathan Larson Grant, the Reel Change Film Fund, Berkeley REP, DGF, Mercury Store, The O’Neill, and The Workshop. Avi is the music director at the 52nd Street Project and teaches at NYU. @aviamon.

Joseph Distl

STAGE MANAGER

JOSEPH DISTL (they/them) is a queer Puerto Rican theater artist from Queens with dreams to produce unconventional theater for unconventional audiences. Recent credits include Julio Ain’t Goin’ Down Like That(QPAC), Spain(2ST), Fun With Panic Attacks(INTAR) Toros(2ST), demons.(Bushwick Starr & ¡Oye Group!), Eight Tales of Pedro(Queens Theatre) Truckers(INTAR), INTAR Presents: The 24 Hour Plays(INTAR) THIS AND THAT(Chocolate Factor & Bushwick Starr). Joseph would like to thank their incredible support system. Joseph would like to remind you that theater can be a form of activism. Take the time to celebrate and uplift marginalized communities that are losing their rights everyday. We are stronger together!