Lookingglass Theatre Company, the Tony Award-winning ensemble currently presenting the Jeff Recommended Circus Quixote through March 30, has announced the cast and creative team for its upcoming world premiere of Iraq, But Funny.
The darkly comedic play, written by Ensemble Member Atra Asdou and directed by Dalia Ashurina, will run from May 29 to July 20, 2025, at The Joan and Paul Theatre at Water Tower Water Works (163 E. Pearson St. at Michigan Ave.).
Featuring a cast led by Susaan Jamshidi, Gloria Imseih Petrelli, James Rana, Sina Pooresmaeil, and Asdou herself, Iraq, But Funny is a raucous satire tracing five generations of Assyrian women as they reclaim their stories—guided, of course, by an unexpected British narrator. Blending history, dysfunction, and humor, the play marches from the Ottoman Empire to modern-day America with a bold and irreverent perspective.
“When you think of Iraq, comedy probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind,” said playwright Asdou. “I started writing Iraq, But Funny four years ago to capture my family’s stories and showcase the humor of a people rarely seen on stage. This play dives into the cyclical nature of mother-daughter relationships and generational trauma—mirroring the cycles of war, invasion, and history. And who better to narrate Assyrian women’s voices than a British guy? We hope to make you laugh, learn, and feel like you’re part of the family, too. Who knew colonialism could be so fun?”
Performance Schedule & Tickets:
Preview performances will run from May 29–31 at 7:30 p.m., with additional previews on June 1 at 1:30 p.m. and June 4–6 at 7:30 p.m. The official press opening is set for June 7 at 6 p.m. Regular performances will be held Wednesdays through Sundays, with select Tuesday shows on June 17 and July 1. There will be no performances on Juneteenth (June 19) or July 4. The play runs approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes, including an intermission.
Tickets, priced between $30–$90, are now available at here.
Cast & Creative Team
Cast:
- 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
- Atra Asdou (she/her) – Actor 5
Creative Team:
- Writer: Atra Asdou (she/her)
- Director: Dalia Ashurina (she/her)
- Stage Manager: Isabel Patt (they/them)
- Assistant Stage Manager: Lili Bjorklund (they/them)
- Scenic Designer: Omid Akbari (he/him)
- Lighting Designer: Christine A. Binder (she/her)
- Costume Designer: Mara Blumenfeld (she/her)
- Sound Designer: Christie Chiles Twillie (she/her)
- Composer: Avi Amon (he/him)
- Props Designer: Amanda Herrmann (they/them)
- Projections Designer: Michael Commendatore (he/him)
- Dramaturg: Naysan Mojgani (he/him)
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