Award-winning Play 'English' takes on the high stakes of assimilation at Alliance Theatre

Sade Namei, Sayé Yabandeh, Ash Kahn, and Pooyah Mohseni in the Alliance Theatre’s Production of “English.” (Courtesy of Greg Mooney).

In a theatrical setting of an Iranian ESL (English as a Second Language) classroom, the phrase “English Only” dominates every interaction. Students of the language begin to confront the high stakes of their assimilation – What will become of their identity?

The play is titled “English,” and it recently won the Pulitzer Prize for Best Drama of 2023. The show makes its regional premiere at Alliance Theatre on August 16 and runs through September 17. In this interview, “City Lights” host Lois Reitzes is joined by Director Shadi Ghaheri to talk more about this humorous, moving and Pulitzer-winning exploration of immigrant life. 

“English” is on the Alliance Theatre Hertz Stage through September 17, and more information is available here.