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Pittsburgh Public Theater to Present Ayad Akhtar's DISGRACED
By: Tyler Peterson Feb. 24, 2016
In Disgraced, Amir (Fajer Kaisi) is a hot-shot corporate lawyer in Manhattan. He's also a Pakistani-American whose white wife, Emily (Lisa Velten Smith), is an artist interested in Islamic forms. Amir's nephew, Hussein (Justin Ahdoot), calls himself Abe in order to seem more mainstream American. But Abe is also involved in the local mosque. When its Imam is arrested, Abe and Emily convince Amir to help. But when he is mistakenly linked to the Muslim leader, Amir's world begins to unravel. Matters come to a head at a dinner party with another couple: Jory (Nafeesa Monroe), an African-American attorney and her Jewish husband, Isaac (Ryan McCarthy).
While Disgraced discusses religion and identity politics on a rational level, the play's greatest complexity is when its characters fall into emotional pits of pride and prejudice ingrained by family or culture. The play's dialogue is crisp, current, often funny, and extremely intelligent. Described by The New York Times as "sensationally entertaining," Disgraced is riveting to watch on stage and audiences can't wait to talk it about afterwards. Post-show talkbacks with the cast and Director of Education and Outreach Katie Conaway will take place on Thurs. March 17, Sun. March 20 and March 27 (after the matiness), and Tues. April 5.
The designers for Disgraced are Anne Mundell (Scenic), Robert C. T. Steele (Costumes), Phil Monat (Lighting), and Zach Moore (Sound). Fight Direction is by Catherine Moore, Casting is by Caparelliotis Casting, and Fred Noel is the Production Stage Manager.
Ayad Akhtar was born in New York City and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He wrote the novel American Dervish, published in 25 languages worldwide and named a 2012 Best Book by Kirkus Reviews, Toronto's Globe and Mail, Shelf-Awareness, and O (Oprah) Magazine. Disgraced played at New York's Lincoln Center Theater in 2012, premiered at the Bush Theater in London in 2013, and won the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Mr. Akhtar's play The Invisible Hand was nominated for the ATCA/Steinberg Award and was named Best New Work of 2013 by the St. Louis Theater Critics Circle. As a screenwriter, Mr. Akhtar was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award (Best Screenplay) for The War Within. He has received commissions from Lincoln Center and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. He is a graduate of Brown and Columbia universities with degrees in Theater and Film Directing.
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