Meet the Creative Trio! This co-produced world premiere involved a thicket of details to coordinate between two theatres, two different types of stages, and two staffs, and guiding the process was the intrepid team of playwright Yussef El Guindi, director John Langs, and dramaturg Nakissa Etemad. Learn more about the logistics (and the joys) of their process here! MTC: Pairs of you have worked together in these roles before–Yussef as Playwright and John as director. And Yussef and Nakissa are fellow Resident Artists of Golden Thread and past colleagues in new play festivals. This co-production marks your first time working together as a PlaywrightDirector-Dramaturg team. How is it working together? Yussef: A seamless transition as we all came together to make this production happen. We’d already chatted and had a December workshop on Zoom prior to walking into the rehearsal room, so all the work that took place during those three weeks of rehearsals felt effortless and creatively satisfying. I thought we fed off each other well, providing good feedback, support, and encouragement. No knives were brought out during the making of this production. Which is a good thing.
The cast and Creative Team members of Hotter Than Egypt on Opening Day at ACT in Seattle. (Left to Right, Top:) Paul Morgan Stetler, Naseem Etemad, Yussef El Guindi, Ahmad Kamal, Jen Taylor, Nakissa Etemad, ACT Stage Manager Tori Thompson. (L to R, kneeling:) John Langs, Wasim No’mani
experience to the work and I certainly learn a lot from my partners. Also, we laugh a lot and that’s a bonus.
John: It has been a total blessing to work collectively on this play. Even through the most intense moments the care that each member of the team brings to this story is inspiring. We all bring a unique lens and live
Nakissa: It is so satisfying to be part of a trio that collaborates and thrives as we do—both as a unit and as separate
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