Avaaz

Meet the Actor/Playwright

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  Michael Shayan is an Emmy Award-nominated Iranian-American writer, performer and illusionist from “Tehran-geles,” CA. He was recently recognized by Out Magazine on the OUT100 list of the “most impactful and influential LGBTQ+ people." Shayan makes his East Coast debut with Avaaz at Olney Theatre Center, ahead of a national tour. The play world premiered at South Coast Repertory and marked the first major production of an Iranian play in Southern California. 

  Shayan’s plays have been produced and developed by Audible (forthcoming), The Geffen Playhouse, South Coast Repertory, La MaMa, New York Stage & Film, Ojai Playwrights Conference, SPACE on Ryder Farm and The Lark, among others. He has received fellowships and grants from the Sundance Institute, Sun Valley Writers Conference, Theatre Aspen and Lambda Literary. He was a nominated writer on the Emmy-winning MAX show The Book of Queer, where he also served as a Consulting Producer. At thirteen, he was the youngest performer in the history of the world-famous Magic Castle in Hollywood. He studied playwriting at Harvard University and received a Masters in Playwriting from Brooklyn College. 

Past Events

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  Behind the Scenes

  Opening Night Conversation

  Saturday, March 9, 2024,  5:00 - 6:00 p.m.  
  Mulitz-Gudelsky Theatre Lab
  $10 / Free for members  

  Join Holly Dagres, Marjan Keypour Greenblatt, and Ali Mesghali in conversation about their personal stories of immigration from Iran, assimilation, and carving their own paths here in the US, not unlike the playwright and actor Michael Shayan’s mother Roya’s journey. The conversation will be facilitated by Shruthi Mukund, Director of Community Engagement.

  Click here for panel livestream:"Goodbye Tehran, Hello USA"

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  In the Community

  "Persian Traditions" Story Time at the Olney Public Library

  Sunday, March 3, 2024, 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
  Olney Public Library (3500 Olney Laytonsville Rd, Olney, MD 20832)
  No RSVP. Just show up!

  As part of our celebration of Avaaz, we’re sponsoring a morning of stories at the Olney Public Library. This free family event is appropriate for all ages, especially toddlers, preschoolers, and young children. Books to be read are chosen with the help of the Olney librarian and feature storyteller Arsia Rozegar

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  Beyond the Stage

  Persian Dance with Nomad Dancers

  Saturday, March 23, 2024, 4:30 to 5:30 pm
  William H. Graham Sr. Actors' Hall
  $10

  The Nomad Dancers are a non-profit educational and cultural organization, dedicated to performing traditional dances from Iran, Turkey, Afghanistan and Central Asia. In celebration of the Persian New Year, known as Nowruz, we will present a short program of dances from Iran and Afghanistan, followed by an opportunity to learn the Qashqai Wedding Dance. The Qashqai are a nomadic pastoralist group from Central and Southern Iran, mostly centered around historic Shiraz. They are known for weaving beautiful carpets from the soft, fluffy wool of their sheep. The dance is performed by the entire community whenever a marriage takes place. The class will be led by Artistic Director Adriane Whalen, who has spent many years studying Persian dance. 

  Workshop led by Adriane Whalen, co-Director of Nomad Dancers.

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  Beyond the Stage

  Fal-e-hafez with Kamyar Arsani

  Saturday, April 6 at 3:30 PM
  Mulitz-Gudelsky Theatre Lab
  Free, No RSVP required

  Fal e Hafez (Divination with the Odes of Hafez)

  In the Persian tradition, whenever one faces a difficulty or a fork in the road, or even if one has a general question in mind, one would hold that question in mind and then ask the Oracle of Shiraz Hafiz for guidance.

  More often than not, Hafiz, in his own enigmatic way, would sing to the questioner and, through the song, would get the questioner to look in the mirror of his/her soul. Upon reflection in the mirror of Hafiz's Ghazal one would be inspired with an answer, a guidance, or a direction.

  Traditionally, the first line upon which the eyes of the reader fall, would give the answer to the direct question, and the rest of the Ghazal would give further clarification.

  In this program, we will pray together and make one united intention set, then we open the book of Hafez Qazals and follow the specific instructions that have been in place for centuries to guide readers to their destination.

  There will be coloring sheets for children, and the poetry reading will also be performed on frame drum called Daf.

  Hosted by Kamyar Arsani: an Iranian multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter based in Washington DC. Through his solo work and numerous collaborations, Arsani creates music across an array of styles, ranging from classical Persian music to genre-defying electronic experimentation. A teacher, performer and scholar of the daf (the Iranian frame drum.) Arsani has been a featured artist at the Kennedy Center, the Library of Congress, Voice of America, Georgetown University and numerous other stages throughout the region.

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  Interested in bringing Avaaz to Your Community?

  Contact Broadway and Beyond Theatricals
  917-985-9850