Heart filled celebration of Family and Tradition at Chicago Shakes

Michael Shayan’s colorful solo show Avaaz in the intimate Upstairs Studio Theatre is where the Emmy award winning writer and actor plays his mother Roya awaiting his arrival perhaps? to celebrate Nowruz, the Iranian New Year and celebration of spring, The show is at once an education in Persian culture, a celebration of tradition, and a rich reflection on the joy and pain of family. Roya teaches the audience idiomatic Farsi words and recounts her immigration story, one of loss and courage and deep love while leading us over the fascinating complexity of being the Jewish Iranian daughter of an outspoken activist during the deposition of the Shah and the enormous cultural changes of becoming the Islamic Republic. The show is uproariously funny and at the same time very deep: the collective trauma of losing her homeland along with the tragedy of a patriarchal system that devalues smart women lies beneath her beautiful table and her explanations of the symbolic items that adorn its luscious display.  Shayan is the product of an arranged and abusive teen marriage that his mother escapes and their relationship is fraught the way enmeshed mother son bonds can be, but he portrays her with spot on specificity and intense humanity. It is,at root, a loving tribute to a wonderful human. As she tells us her story, Roya’s life is at sum a tale of finding the joy in existence and overcoming so much through familial love and devotion and her own resources. This show has a complexity and resonance you might miss because you are having such a lovely time with Roya who is a skilled teller of tales. This show will melt your heart. 

As our nation appears to be closing its doors to currently incoming tired, poor, and huddled masses yearning to be free, this offering (and the neighboring production across the lobby: Jaja’s African Hair Braiding ) highlights the lavish bounty that immigrants bring to this nation, a contribution and legacy of love, tradition and beauty that we all may partake of. Shows book months and years ahead: how CST knew we would need uplifting immigrant stories is beshert (Yiddish for meant to be).   Avvaaz is only playing Tuesdays through Sundays through February 9th, 2025 in the Upstairs Studio at Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier: don’t miss it! For tickets and information go to https://www.chicagoshakes.com/productions/avaaz/

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