Omer Abbas Salem News

Check out photos from opening night of Purpose at Steppenwolf Theatre Company.

About Face Theatre’s Re/Generation Studio workshop series returns to kick off the company’s 2023-2024 season from November 30 through December 16, 2023 at The Den Theatre.

Audible Inc. celebrates the fifth anniversary of Audible Theater with new shows: The Energy Curfew Music Hour, Nobody Cares starring Laura Benanti, and the world premiere of Dead Outlaw. Read more about these upcoming productions and the expansion of Audible Theater's programming.

Jackalope Theatre Company has announced it has canceled their world premiere production of Pretty Shahid, scheduled for June 16 - July 23, written by company member Omer Abbas Salem, directed by Sophiyaa Nayar, with associate direction by company member Nadya Naumaan. Ticket holders for Pretty Shahid will be contacted with refund options.

Jackalope Theatre Company is proud to present the world premiere of Pretty Shahid, at Jackalope Theatre in the Broadway Armory, 5917 N. Broadway, June 16 - July 23.

About Face Theatre has announced casting for the world premiere of Omer Abbas Salem's new play Mosque4Mosque, directed by Sophiyaa Nayar. Mosque4Mosque is a family comedy about a queer Arab-American Muslim man navigating his first real relationship while his relentlessly caring immigrant mother tries to find the perfect man for him to marry.

About Face Theatre will open its 2022-2023 season with the world premiere of Omer Abbas Salem’s new play Mosque4Mosque, directed by Sophiyaa Nayar. Mosque4Mosque will be presented November 17 – December 17, 2022 at The Den Theatre.

Jackalope Theatre Company has announced their return to in-person performances with their 2022/2023 season featuring the Among the Dead by Hansol Jung, directed by Jackalope Artistic Director Kaiser Ahmed*, and the world premiere of Pretty Shahid written by company member Omer Abbas Salem*, and directed by Sophiyaa Nayar.

Visually stunning and brimming with romance, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis’ House of Joy is a compelling production that pulls no punches in emphasizing the dangers of authoritarianism and the power of love in tempestuous times.

About Face Theatre has announced plans for its 28th season. Dedicated to advancing LGBTQ+ equity through community building, education, and performance, AFT will present two world-premiere stage productions at The Den Theatre in Wicker Park, as well as educational workshops for in-development projects.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (The Rep) is set to kick off its thrilling 2022-2023 mainstage season with the highly-anticipated House of Joy by Madhuri Shekar. Preview performances begin Friday, August 26, officially opening Friday, September 2 and running through September 18, 2022 at the Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts.

Steep Theatre's second summer production is the US premiere of Tony Award-winning playwright Simon Stephens' Light Falls set to open July 8th. Stephens, Steep's Associate Playwright, will make his fifth production with Ensemble Member Robin Witt once again serving as director. Witt has also directed Stephen's Wastwater, Motortown, Pornography and Harper Regan, Steep's bestselling production.

First Floor Theater will return to live production with the world premiere of company member Omer Abbas Salem’s THE SECRETARIES: A PARABLE following the script’s 2021 development as part of Goodman Theatre’s Future Labs.

First Floor Theater has announced that company member Omer Abbas Salem will be awarded the theater’s second Blueprint Commission. The Blueprint Commission is First Floor Theater’s new play development program, made possible by Michael and Mona Heath of the HeathFund.

First Floor Theater is pleased to announce casting for its world premiere of company member Omer Abbas Salem's THE SECRETARIES: A PARABLE following the script's 2021 development as part of Goodman Theatre's Future Labs. THE SECRETARIES is Salem's much anticipated first full production as a playwright.

The Theatre School at DePaul University has announced that submissions are now being accepted for the Cunningham Commission for Youth Theatre. Playwrights from the Chicagoland area and alumni of The Theatre School are eligible to apply, and the winner will be announced in June.

The Theatre School at DePaul University has announced that Omer Abbas Salem has been awarded the 2021 Cunningham Commission for Youth Theatre. Salem will be writing a play for families and young audiences that focuses on assimilation, a major theme in his work.

Sinister and seductive, this brand-new audio experience by Ensemble Member Omer Abbas Salem and directed by Sophiyaa Nayar explores the splendid ache of acceptance and the profound bliss of betrayal. 

Goodman Theatre's commitment to new work and emerging artists continues as dates are set for in-person readings of seven new works produced by Playwrights Unit members from the 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 cohorts.

First Floor Theater has announced their ninth live-production season, featuring one world premiere and one Chicago premiere, along with a second round of The Blueprint Commission, it’ new play development initiative.