Theatre News Wire

Chicago's Tony-Award winning Lookingglass Theatre, announced the cast and creative team for its next production, the world premiere of Iraq, But Funny, May 29 - July 20, 2025, in The Joan and Paul Theatre at Water Tower Water Works, 163 E. Pearson St. at Michigan Ave. This semi-autobiographical play is written by Ensemble Member Atra Asdou and directed by Dalia Ashurina and features Susaan Jamshidi, Gloria Imseih Petrelli, James Rana, Sina Pooresmaeil and Atra Asdou.

Iraq, But Funny at Lookingglass Theatre

A raucous satire about five generations of Assyrian women reclaiming their stories, as narrated by a British guy. Making its world premiere at Lookingglass Theatre, Ensemble Member Atra Asdou's original dark comedy jauntily marches through the Ottoman Empire to modern-day U.S.A. exploring history, family and dysfunction.

"When you think of Iraq, you don't usually think of comedy. I started writing Iraq, But Funny four years ago because I needed a place to put my family's stories and wanted to share a side of my people audiences rarely see: their sense of humor," said Playwright Atra Asdou. "Iraq, But Funny explores the cyclical nature of mother/daughter and familial/generational relationships and how they relate to the cyclical nature of invasions, war and world history.

And who better to give voice to Assyrian women than a British guy who narrates the whole thing. I'm also in the cast of Iraq, But Funny and we hope to make you laugh, learn and feel like you're part of the family, too. Who knew colonialism could be so fun!"

The cast of Iraq, But Funny includes 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) and Atra Asdou+ (she/her, Actor 5).