“NOTHING PREPARED ME FOR THE UTTER TRANSCENDENCE.” ★★★★★ ~ GLENN SUMI

KITCHENER: World Premiere. Conrad Centre for the Performing Arts, May 25th - June 4th, 2023

LONDON: The Grand Theatre London, July, 2023

HAMILTON: Hamilton Festival Theatre Company, July 19th - 28th, 2024

TORONTO: The Theatre Centre, September 26th - 29th, 2024

PORT HOPE: Capitol Theatre, August 2025

Delivered with crack timing and the self-confidence born of vulnerability. And yes, the laughter is as therapeutic as it is uproarious. Etemadi has to do it again.” ~ Drew Rowsome

IZAD ETEMADI: LET ME EXPLAIN

Written & PErformed by Izad Etemadi
DIRECTED BY MATT WHITE

ABOUT THE SHOW
Izad Etemadi
has spent most of his life explaining himself to others. His ethnicity, his sexuality, the pronunciation of his name.

But as an elder millennial dealing with back pain and digestive issues, he doesn’t have the time or energy to keep explaining things.

Through jokes, songs, and deeply personal stories, this queer Iranian-Canadian immigrant born in Germany is going to attempt to explain his entire existence in sixty-ish minutes, so he never has to do it again.

Izad Etemadi: Let Me Explain was conceived by Izad and developed by Green Light Arts. The first draft came into being during the Pandemic. This is the world premiere.

“[Izad's] character work was divine” – Broadway World

“Scene-stealing” – The Globe and Mail

“The mysterious performer behind the act blends over-the-top storytelling, comic cover songs and running punny gags into a laugh-filled tale” – Now Magazine

“Etemadi could weave a tale about a hangnail and leave his audience breathless” – View Mag

“Comedic genius is on display” – The Chronicle Herald

AUDIENCE ADVISORY: This play discusses racism, homophobia, terrorism, religion, and features a fair share of swearing. This production features theatrical haze and flashing lights. Viewers may experience therapeutic laughter and should not start the show with a full bladder. Recommended age 13+ years.

RUNNING TIME: 65 minutes with NO INTERMISSION.

Photo of Izad Etemadi by Yes And Photography

Photo of Izad Etemadi by Yes And Photography

ABOUT IZAD

Izad Etemadi is an Iranian-Canadian actor and writer based out of Toronto. He was a resident of the 2021/2022 CBC Actor’s Conservatory at the Canadian Film Centre and the recipient of the 2017 Emerging Queer Artist award from Buddies in Bad Times Theatre.

On-screen credits include Orphan Black: Echoes (AMC), Ghosts (CBS), Overlord and the Underwoods (CBC/Nickelodeon), Revenge of the Black Best Friend (CBC Gem).

In 2022, he originated the role of Samuel in the new Canadian musical Grow (from the producers of Come From Away) at The Grand Theatre and returned later that season to play Buddy the Elf in Elf the Musical. His short film Plant Daddy won the 2023 Queer Your Stories short film competition, garnering a screening at the prestigious Inside Out Festival.

Outside of acting and writing, he has over five years of experience working in casting for film and television.

HELEN YUNG
Set Designer

Image of Izad Etemadi smiling and wearing a button down flannel shirt

IZAD ETEMADI
Writer & Performer


PRODUCTION TEAM

Click Here for BIOS

〰️

Click Here for BIOS 〰️

Image of Matt White, smiling, wearing a short-sleeved blue plaid shirt

MATT WHITE
Director & Dramaturg

NADIA URSACKI
Production Manager

CARIN LOWERISON
Producer

PAUL CEGYS
Lighting Designer

JACQUELINE MELDRUM
Marketing Coordinator

ALEX JODI VERGE
Stage Manager


FUNDERS / PARTNERS


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