Ayad Akhtar
Doomsday for American Theater? Not at Milwaukee Rep, Where the Budget Just Doubled. (May 26, 2026)
Photos: MAN OF LA MANCHA Cast Takes Bows at Lincoln Center Theater Spring Gala (May 19, 2026)
Photos: On the Red Carpet for Lincoln Center Theater's Gala Presentation of MAN OF LA MANCHA (May 19, 2026)
BIO
LCT: Junk, Disgraced (Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Tony nomination; Broadway and LCT3), The Who & The What (LCT3). Other plays include The Invisible Hand (Obie Award; Oliver, Evening Standard noms.). As a novelist, he is the author of American Dervish (Little, Brown & Co.), published in over 20 lan- guages. Recipient of an Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters and fellowships from MacDowell, Djerassi, the Sundance Institute, Ucross and Yaddo, where he serves as a Board Director. Board Trustee at PEN/America and New York Theatre Workshop.
Photos
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Productions
Writing
Awards and Nominations
Ayad Akhtar, Junk
winner
Ayad Akhtar, The Invisible Hand
winner
Ayad Akhtar, The Invisible Hand
Ayad Akhtar, Disgraced
winner
Ayad Akhtar, Disgraced
Ayad Akhtar, Disgraced
winner
Ayad Akhtar, Disgraced
Videos
Photos/Video: Robert Downey, Jr. & Susan Downey Honored At Lincoln Center Theater Spring Gala
by A.A. Cristi - 2026-05-19 23:29:26
Video: Robert Downey Jr. & Company Celebrate Opening Night of MCNEAL
by Joey Mervis - 2024-10-02 12:14:56
Backstage with Richard Ridge: Cash In with JUNK Leading Man-
Steven Pasquale!
by Backstage With Richard Ridge - 2017-11-06 15:22:19
TV: Go Inside JUNK's Priceless Opening Night on Broadway!
by TV - Opening Night Special - 2017-11-03 16:06:15
TV: See Steven Pasquale and More in Highlights from Ayad Akhtar's JUNK on Broadway
by BroadwayWorld TV - 2017-11-01 12:41:40
STAGE TUBE: Playwright Ayad Akhtar Talks DISGRACED at McCarter Theatre Center
by Stage Tube - 2016-10-12 13:54:00
News
by Joshua Wright - May 26, 2026
Executive Director Chad Bauman on Milwaukee Rep's expansion, new play development, and why he sees this moment in American theater as 'a call to purpose.'
by A.A. Cristi - May 19, 2026
Last night, Lincoln Center Theater honored Emmy Award-winning Producer Susan Downey and Academy Award winner Robert Downey Jr. at their annual spring Gala at the Vivian Beaumont Theater. Go inside the event in new photos and video.
by Jennifer Broski - May 19, 2026
The best of Broadway was on 65th Street for Lincoln Center Theater's staged concert performance of Man of La Mancha. Check out photos from the red carpet here!
by Marissa Faith Curley - May 2, 2026
La Jolla Playhouse has announced the projects for its DNA New Work Series which will take place at the end of May, showcasing four new works. This series has launched numerous projects that have gone on to full productions in Playhouse seasons.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Apr 27, 2026
Milwaukee Repertory Theater's Frida … A Self Portrait, written and performed by Vanessa Severo, has officially become the best‑selling production in the history of the Herro‑Franke Studio Theater, surpassing the record set earlier this season by Ayad Akhtar’s McNeal.
by Stephi Wild - Apr 22, 2026
Josh Radnor and Noah Galvin will make their London stage debuts in the world premiere of HIT MACHINE, a darkly comic sibling drama with original music by Ben Harper, at Soho Theatre.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 17, 2026
Milwaukee Repertory Theater has revealed that McNeal, the Midwest premiere of Pulitzer Prize winner Ayad Akhtar’s newest play, has officially become the best‑selling production in the history of the newly named Herro‑Franke Studio Theater.
by Sofia Ascorbe - Mar 16, 2026
In McNeal, Jacob McNeal (Peter Bradbury) is a successful and arrogant novelist who flies too close to the sun of Artificial Intelligence when he experiences the very human struggles of his mental and physical health, his addictions, and his relationships.
by Stephi Wild - Mar 6, 2026
Lincoln Center Theater will honor Academy Award winner Robert Downey Jr. and Emmy Award-winning Producer Susan Downey at their annual spring Gala on Monday, May 18 at the Vivian Beaumont Theater.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 5, 2026
Milwaukee Repertory Theater has revealed a major new commission: Evicted, a stage adaptation by Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright Ayad Akhtar and Maya Moverman.
by Joshua Wright - Feb 26, 2026
Watch the first look video of MCNEAL at Milwaukee Repertory Theater, directed by Mark Clements and running February 10 through March 22, 2026.
by Stephi Wild - Feb 24, 2026
Catherine Tate will play Mary Todd Lincoln in the Tony Award-winning smash hit comedy OH, MARY! at Trafalgar Theatre from 27 April until 18 July 2026. Learn more here!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 22, 2026
Milwaukee Repertory Theater will introduce a series of new commissions and premieres as part of its expanded John D. Lewis New Play Development Program, supported by a significant $1 million donation.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 8, 2026
Milwaukee Repertory Theater has completed the Associated Bank Theater Center Phase II construction with the grand opening of the reimagined Herro-Franke Studio Theater, featuring Ayad Akhtar's McNeal.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Nov 20, 2025
Lincoln Center Theater has revealed the programming for The Reading Series at LCT3. In this intimate new series, six of our most celebrated playwrights join forces with exciting voices new to LCT to share the stage and the spotlight.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Oct 24, 2025
La Jolla Playhouse has revealed the dates and projects for its 2025 DNA New Work Series, running in the Playhouse’s Rao and Padma Makineni Play Development Center. Learn more!
by Stephi Wild - Sep 19, 2025
San Jose Stage Company will launch its 43rd Season with the West Coast Premiere of MCNEAL, Pulitzer Prize-winner Ayad Akhtar’s new drama exploring artificial intelligence, artistic integrity, and the razor-thin line between genius and fraud.
by Michael Major - Sep 3, 2025
The new season includes McNeal, Million Dollar Quartet, The Lehman Trilogy, The Coast Starlight, and We Will Rock You. Learn more about the upcoming shows now!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jun 2, 2025
Lincoln Center Theater has revealed its 2025-2026 season of productions in the Vivian Beaumont, Mitzi E. Newhouse, and Claire Tow Theaters. See the full lineup here!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jun 2, 2025
L.A. Theatre Works, the world’s foremost producer of audio theater, has launched a monthly subscription service offering global access plays in its catalog of classic, contemporary and original plays, with additional titles added every month.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Ayad Akhtar has appeared on Broadway in 1 shows.
Ayad Akhtar has not appeared in the West End
Best Play (Tony Awards) for Junk, Playwriting (Obie Awards) for The Invisible Hand, John Gassner Playwrighting Award (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for The Invisible Hand, Best Play (Tony Awards) for Disgraced, Playwriting (Obie Awards) for Disgraced, John Gassner Award (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Disgraced and The Pulitzer Prize for Drama (The Pulitzer Prize) for Disgraced.
Ayad Akhtar has won the following awards: Playwriting (Obie Awards) for The Invisible Hand, John Gassner Playwriting Award (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for The Invisible Hand, Playwriting (Obie Awards) for Disgraced, and The Pulitzer Prize for Drama (The Pulitzer Prize) for Disgraced.
Ayad Akhtar has written 2 shows including Disgraced (Playwright), Junk (Playwright).
Videos
