Victory Gardens Theater to Stage Midwest Premiere of THE WHO & THE WHAT, 6/12-7/12

Victory Gardens Theater presents the final show of its 40th anniversary season, the Midwest Premiere of The Who & the What by Ayad Akhtar, directed by Ron OJ Parson. The Who & the What runs June 12 - July 12, 2015 with the press performance on Friday, June 19, 2015, at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.

Brilliant Pakistani-American writer Zarina is focused on finishing her novel about women and Islam when she meets Eli, a young convert who bridges the gap between her modern life and her traditional heritage. When her conservative father and sister discover the manuscript, it threatens to divide their tight-knit family. With humor and ferocity, 2013 Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Ayad Akhtar and director Ron OJ Parson examine the giant chasm between our traditions and our contemporary lives.

Artistic Director Chay Yew comments, "I'm thrilled to welcome Ayad to Victory Gardens. His continual investigation and representation of Muslim Americans continue to fuel meaningful national dialogue in the American theatre. In this gorgeous gem of a play, he writes astutely on family dynamics bitterly torn apart by generational, gender, traditional and religious conflicts. Ron is one of our most talented directors in Chicago and I'm excited to have him helm his first production at Victory Gardens in more than a decade. He will be an invaluable collaborator for Ayad's powerful and comic play. It's an artistic dream team."

The Who & the What will feature Rom Barkhourdar (Afzal), Minita Gandhi (Mahwish), Susaan Jamshidi (Zarina), and Shane Kenyon (Eli).

The creative team for The Who & the What is Scott Davis (set design), Kristy Hall (costume design), Sarah Hughey (light design), Andre Pluess (sound design), Jesse Gaffney (props master), and Ronnie Malley (assistant sound design).

About the Artists

Ayad Akhtar (Playwright) Ayad Akhtar was born in New York City and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He is the author of American Dervish, translated into 20 languages worldwide. He is also a playwright and screenwriter. His play Disgraced premiered in New York at LCT3/Lincoln Center Theater in 2012, won the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and premiered on Broadway in 2014. His latest plays, The Who & The What (LCT3) and The Invisible Hand (New York Theater Workshop) made their New York premieres in 2014 as well. As a screenwriter, he has been nominated for an Independent Spirit Award. He has received commissions from Lincoln Center Theater and fellowships from Yaddo and MacDowell.

Ron OJ Parson is a native of Buffalo, New York and a graduate of the University of Michigan's professional theatre program. He is the co-founder and former Artistic Director of the Onyx Theatre Ensemble of Chicago, and a co-founder and co-director of Ripe Mango Productions. Ron currently resides in Chicago and is a Resident Artist at the Court Theatre. Since moving to Chicago from New York in 1994, Ron has worked as both actor and director. Some of the theatres Ron has worked with in Chicago include The Chicago Theatre Company, Victory Gardens, Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf, Chicago Dramatists, Northlight, Court, Black Ensemble Theatre, ETA Creative Arts Foundation and Writers Theatre.Some of the regional theatres include Virginia Stage Company, Portland Stage Company, Studio Arena Theatre, Studio Theatre, Roundabout Theatre, Wilshire Theatre, The Mechanic, Center Stage, The Actors Theatre of Louisville, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, St. Louis Black Rep, South Coast Rep, Pasadena Playhouse, Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati, and in Canada at The Stratford Shakespeare Festival. An accomplished actor, some of Ron's TV and film credits include ER, Early Edition, Turks, American Playhouse, Vamping, Ali, Barbershop 2, Primal Fear, Drop Squad, and most recently, Starz Network's Boss.

Rom Barkhordar (Afzal) This is Mr. Barkhordar's debut with Victory Gardens. Most recently he appeared in In a Garden (A Red Orchid Theatre, Jeff nom for best Actor). Other notable Chicago credits: Night Over Erzinga (Silk Road Rising), Around the World in 80 Days (Lookingglass), The Elephant Man (Steppenwolf), The Hollow Lands (Steep), Mother Courage and her Children (Vitalist), Pravda (Timeline). Mr. Barkhordar has also worked at The Goodman, Griffen, Lifeline, Eclipse, Defiant, greasy joan, Trap Door, City Lit, Writer's and regionally at Kansas City Rep. and Centerstage Baltimore. TV credits: Chicago Fire, Mind Games, Boss and The Beast.

Minita Gandhi (Mawish) Victory Gardens: Disconnect, Equivocation. Chicago: Arabian Nights, Around the World in 80 Days (Lookingglass Theater); Muthaland, The Lake Effect, Merchant of Venice (Silk Road Rising); The Gift Theater, First Folio Theater, Halcyon Theater. Regional: The Arena Stage, Berkeley Repertory Theater, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Indiana Repertory Theater, Montana Shakes in the Parks. TV/Film: Recurring on "Chicago Fire" and The Onion News Network, "Empire," "Crisis," "Betrayal," "The Chicago Code," Parvati's Golden Skin, The Legend of Amba, The Drunk, Brown Girl Problems, Muslims in the City. She travels and performs with improv troupe Wavelength and is a Pledge Host for PBS. Minita is the creator, writer, and performer of the solo show Muthaland.

Susaan Jamshidi (Zarina) Chicago: Mecca Tales (Dramatists); Bethany (Gift); Seven Homeless Mammoths Wonder New England (Theater Wit/Las Vegas); The Arabian Nights, u/s Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo (Lookingglass); Idomeneus (Sideshow, Jeff Award-Ensemble); Loom by Ike Holter (NWAC); The Small Dark Room (ETD); The Count of Monte Cristo & The Blue Shadow (Lifeline); Spare Change, Skin in Flames (Stage Left); Terman Vox Machina (Oracle); The Arab-Israeli Cookbook (Mir); Yasmina's Necklace (readings - Goodman, Silk Road, Dramatists). Regional: The Arabian Nights (Arena Stage, Berkeley Rep); The Michigan Shakespeare Festival, The Crucible (Pittsburgh Public's Young Co.). TV/Film: "Sirens," Cicero in Winter with Daniel J. Travanti, A Cadaver Christmas. Webseries: "Muslim in the City." Education: Theatre School at DePaul (MFA), Second City. Represented by Paonessa Talent Agency.

Shane Kenyon (Eli) Chicago: If There Is I Haven't Found It Yet (Steep Theatre); Buzzer (Goodman Theatre); Hushabye, Where We're Born, Betrayal, Sex With Strangers (u/s), Dublin Carol (u/s) (Steppenwolf Theatre); The Shinning City, The Seafarer, Shadow of a Gunman (Irish Theatre of Chicago; Ensemble Member); Trainspotting USA (Book & Lyrics); Big Love, The Petrified Forest (Strawdog Theatre); Kin (Griffin Theatre); Jailbait (Profiles Theatre); Mary's Wedding (Rivendell Theatre). Regional: Hamlet, Romeo & Juliet, Macbeth, Midsummer Nights Dream (Lakeside Shakespeare Theatre). TV/Film: "Empire" (FOX), "Chicago PD" (NBC), "Mind Games" (ABC), "Chicago Code" (FOX), Jessica (Folded Rose Productions) BLR (RM Productions).

Previews of The Who & the What are June 12-18, 2015: Tuesday-Saturday at 7:30 pm and Sunday at 3 pm. Previews are $15-$40. The Press opening is Friday, June 19, 2015 at 7:30 pm. Regular performances run June 20 - July 12, 2015: Tuesday 7:30 pm (except June 23 and 30); Wednesdays 7:30 pm, (Wednesday, July 1 2:00 pm only); Thursdays at 7:30 pm; Fridays at 7:30pm (except June 19); Saturday at 4:00pm (June 20, 27, July 11 only ) and 7:30 pm (no show July 4); Sunday at 3 pm. Regular performances are $15-$60.

Performances are at the Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue, in the heart of Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood. For tickets and information, call the Victory Gardens Box Office, 773.871.3000, email tickets@victorygardens.org, or visit www.victorygardens.org. Ask the Box Office about student tickets ($15), senior, Access, $20 under 30, and rush discounts. For group discounts, call 773.328.2143.

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