“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
IZAD ETEMADI
Writer & Performer
PRODUCTION TEAM
Click Here for BIOS
〰️
Click Here for BIOS 〰️
MATT WHITE
Director & Dramaturg
NADIA URSACKI
Production Manager
CARIN LOWERISON
Producer
PAUL CEGYS
Lighting Designer
JACQUELINE MELDRUM
Marketing Coordinator
ALEX JODI VERGE
Stage Manager