Chicago’s Tony-Award profitableLookingglass Theatre Company is proud to announce its subsequent manufacturing, the world premiere of Iraq, However Humorous, Might 29 – July 20, 2025, in The Joan and Paul Theatre at Water Tower Water Works, 163 E. Pearson St. at Michigan Ave. This semi-autobiographical play is written by Ensemble Member Atra Asdou and directed by Dalia Ashurina and options Susaan Jamshidi, Gloria Imseih Petrelli, James Rana, Sina Pooresmaeil and Atra Asdou.
A raucous satire about 5 generations of Assyrian girls reclaiming their tales, as narrated by a British man. Making its world premiere at Lookingglass Theatre, Ensemble Member Atra Asdou’s unique darkish comedy jauntily marches by way of the Ottoman Empire to modern-day U.S.A. exploring historical past, household and dysfunction.
“Whenever you consider Iraq, you don’t normally consider comedy. I began writing Iraq, However Humorous 4 years in the past as a result of I wanted a spot to place my household’s tales and wished to share a facet of my individuals audiences not often see: their humorousness,” mentioned Playwright Atra Asdou. “Iraq, However Humorous explores the cyclical nature of mom/daughter and familial/generational relationships and the way they relate to the cyclical nature of invasions, struggle and world historical past.
And who higher to provide voice to Assyrian girls than a British man who narrates the entire thing. I’m additionally within the forged of Iraq, However Humorous and we hope to make you giggle, be taught and really feel such as you’re a part of the household, too. Who knew colonialism might be so enjoyable!”
The forged of Iraq, However Humorous contains Susaan Jamshidi (she/her, Actor 1); Gloria Imseih Petrelli (she/they, Actor 2); James Rana (he/him, Actor 3); Sina Pooresmaeil (he/him, Actor 4) and Atra Asdou+ (she/her, Actor 5).
Extra info on the forged and artistic groups could also be discovered here.
The artistic workforce of Iraq, However Humorous is Atra Asdou+ (she/her, author); Dalia Ashurina (she/her, director);Isabel Patt (they/them, stage supervisor); Lili Bjorklund (they/them, assistant stage supervisor); Omid Akbari (he/him, scenic designer); Christine A. Binder~ (she/her, lighting designer); Mara Blumenfeld+ (she/her, costumer designer);
Christie Chiles Twillie (she/her, sound designer); Avi Amon (he/him, composer); Amanda Herrmann (they/them, props designer); Michael Commendatore (he/him, projections designer) and Naysan Mojgani (he/him, dramaturg).
+ Connotes Lookingglass Ensemble Member
~ Connotes Lookingglass Inventive Affiliate
Iraq, However Humorous has previews Thursday, Might 29 – Saturday, Might 31 at 7:30 p.m., Sunday, June 1 at 1:30 p.m. and Wednesday, June 4 – Friday, June 6 at 7:30 p.m., with a press opening on Saturday, June 7 at 6 p.m. The efficiency schedule for June 8 – July 20 is Wednesdays at 7 p.m., Thursdays at 1:30 and seven p.m., Fridays at 7 p.m., Saturdays at 1:30 and seven p.m. and Sundays at 1:30 p.m., with extra Tuesday performances at 7 p.m. on June 17 and July 1. There will probably be no performances on the vacations of Juneteenth (Thursday, June 19) and the Fourth of July (Friday, July 4). The estimated operating time is 2 hours and quarter-hour together with one intermission. Iraq, However Humorous single tickets are $30 – $90 and can be found at LookingglassTheatre.org.
