Azar Kazemi News

Rivendell Theatre Ensemble will remount the sold-out world premiere run of Motherhouse by RTE Ensemble member Tuckie White. Learn more about the production and how to get tickets here!

Discover the nominations for the 55th Anniversary Jeff Awards for Equity Theater! Find out who made the cut and get ready for the highly anticipated awards ceremony.

Rivendell Theatre Ensemble (RTE), Chicago’s only Equity theatre dedicated to advancing the lives of women through the power of theatre, will remount the sold-out world premiere run of Motherhouse by RTE Ensemble member Tuckie White, directed by Azar Kazemi this fall. 

Rivendell Theatre Ensemble is adding performances to the sold-out world premiere run of Motherhouse by RTE Ensemble member Tuckie White, directed by Azar Kazemi. 

Rivendell Theatre Ensemble has announced the two-week extension of the world premiere of Motherhouse by RTE Ensemble member Tuckie White, directed by Azar Kazemi. 

Rivendell Theatre Ensemble will present the world premiere of Motherhouse by RTE Ensemble member Tuckie White, directed by Azar Kazemi. 

Rivendell Theatre Ensemble has announced its 2022 Fall line-up including the return of the Fresh Produce Festival: A Celebration of New Plays by Women; and the World Premiere of A Mile in the Dark by Emily Schwend, directed by RTE member Georgette Verdin, in a co-production with Interrobang Theatre Project.

Over the past year, more than 150,000 people consumed Goodman's 12 online streaming productions, beginning with Jocelyn Bioh’s School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play directed by Lili-Anne Brown.

Goodman Theatre announces two Future Labs FREE virtual readings for February and March—The Secretaries by Omer Abbas Salem, directed by Audrey Francis and Tokens of Promise by Ada A., directed by Sydney Chatman.

Goodman Theatre announces the full cast for the FREE live reading of Layalina, January 30 at 7pm, continuing work on the first project of the new Future Labs program. The full SWANA (South West Asian, North African) cast all make their Goodman debuts with this reading; find the full cast list below.

Layalina by Martin Yousif Zebari, the first play of Goodman Theatre's Future Labs, makes its virtual debut, launching the theater's newest effort to develop new plays. Directed by Azar Kazemi, Layalina examines how families maintain their love in the midst of turbulent global and social change.

Casting is complete for the three "developmental productions" featured in Goodman Theatre's 15th annual New Stages Festival-a free celebration of new works by some of the country's finest established and emerging playwrights. These three plays, which are staged in repertory following two weeks of rehearsal, include There's Always the Hudson by Paola Lazaro-Muñoz, directed by Jess McLeod; Felons and Familias by Sandra Delgado, directed by Marcela Muñoz; and Graveyard Shift by Korde Arrington Tuttle, directed by Danya Taymor. Developmental productions are designed by Kevin Depinet (Set), Noel Huntzinger (Costumes for There's Always the Hudson and Graveyard Shift), Birgit Rattenborg Wise (Costumes for Felons and Familias), Jesse Klug (Lights) and Richard Woodbury (Sound).

This fall, Goodman Theatre presents its New Stages Festival-a free annual celebration and discovery of new plays by some of the country's finest established and emerging playwrights. Audiences experience a first look at seven new works-including three fully staged developmental productions (performed in repertory) There's Always the Hudson by Paola Lazaro-Muñoz; Felons and Familias by Sandra Delgado; Graveyard Shift by Korde Arrington Tuttle. In addition, four staged readings appear during the last weekend of the festival (October 4-7) including The Wizards by Ricardo Gamboa; Between Covers by Sarah Schulman; Birthday Candles by Noah Haidle; and Cressida on Top by Paula Vogel.

Goodman Theatre announces a line-up of free staged readings written by members of its Playwrights Unit-a year-long residency for Chicago-based writers to develop their plays-in-progress with the Goodman's artistic team, in partnership with Chicago Dramatists.

The Chicago Park District today announced the five genre-defying productions comprising the 65th season of Theater on the Lake, the Chicago Park District summer theater festival.

The Chicago Park District today announced the five genre-defying productions comprising the 65th season of Theater on the Lake, the Chicago Park District summer theater festival.

Chicago's Halcyon Theatre presents dirty butterfly by debbie tucker green, a co-production with Chicago's The Blind Owl. Artistic Director of The Blind Owl, Azar Kazemi, directs this U.S. Premiere. dirty butterfly runs now through December 10, 2016 at Halcyon Theatre (press opening Nov. 10), located in residence at Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, 3253 W. Wilson Avenue, on Chicago's north side.

Chicago's Halcyon Theatre announces its 2016-17 season bursting with premieres and co-productions. The lineup includes: Maria Irene Fornes' Fefu and Her Friends (Aug. 18 - Oct. 8), Debbie Tucker Green's dirty butterfly (Nov. 3 - Dec. 10, a co-U.S. premiere with Edgewater-based The Blind Owl), and the Chicago premiere of Marisela Treviño Orta's The River Bride (May 11 - June 18, 2017). A fourth show is to be announced in co-production with Chicago-based A-Squared Theatre Workshop for the spring 2017 slot. Halcyon Theatre, located in residence at Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, 3253 W. Wilson Avenue in the Albany Park neighborhood, strives to present new voices from inadequately represented communities and works to recast classic works in order to showcase contemporary relevance.

The Blind Owl returns to the Chicago theatre scene with the play THE COMING WORLD written by playwright and Pulitzer prize finalist Christopher Shinn. Directed by founding artistic director Azar Kazemi, THE COMING WORLD is set in Connecticut in a pre-9/11 America. It tackles issues regarding class, violence, intimacy, and the heartbreak that occurs when loving someone is more painful than letting them go. THE COMING WORLD runs August 1st through August 17th. Performances will take place Thursdays through Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 3pm at the Prop Thtr located at 3502 N. Elston Avenue in Chicago's Avondale neighborhood.