Guards at the Taj at El Portal Theatre

Guards at the Taj, the critically acclaimed play by Rajiv Joseph, will run February 6-22, 2026 at El Portal Theatre (Monroe Forum). Presented by Plan Beh and Luchima Productions, this intimate Los Angeles production marks a historic first by being the first professional production to be granted approval from the playwright to cast a woman in the lead role. 

Set centuries ago, yet piercingly relevant today, Guards at the Taj follows two low-ranking imperial guards stationed outside the Taj Mahal before its grand unveiling. An impossible task will test their lifelong friendship, shake their faith, and shatter their lives forever. This darkly funny and deeply moving play asks us: follow duty or follow beauty?

Directed by Behzad Dabu (The Chi, How to Get Away with Murder, Disgraced) , who also stars as Babur, the production features Kausar Mohammed (Jurassic World: Chaos Theory, Mo, The Flash) as Humayun. Both artists are multi-hyphenate performers with deep roots in Los Angeles’ theater, film, and comedy communities, bringing contemporary immediacy and emotional precision to Rajiv Joseph’s text.

Our mission is to invite Los Angeles’ diverse community to feel the pulse of live theatre during a moment of widespread disconnection. While the entertainment industry restructures, LA’s independent theater scene could become the city’s creative heartbeat. We want our audience to experience art in an intimate setting, where their reactions and experience will be shared in real time with others. 

We are an independent, community-driven production. Beyond performances, we're planning a full month of post-show discussions, collaborations and affiliate nights throughout February, all exploring the play's thought-provoking themes as they resonate with today’s cultural and social landscape.

Authors

• Rajiv Joseph