COMING 2026!

Created, Written, Directed, & Performed by Joshua Hamzehee.

Created, Written, Directed, & Performed by Joshua Hamzehee.

Burnt City (or شهر سوخته) is about U.S.-Iran relations, using poetry, humor, video, and Farsi to excavate how domestic abuse at home is congruous to violence inflicted by governments on citizens. And, yes, it is a comedy... of horrors!

Performed in: San Jose, CA (2025); London, UK (2024); Santa Rosa, CA (2022-24); Cedar Falls, IA (2020, 2022); Savannah, GA (2020); Baton Rouge, LA (2019); Selections in multiple other locations and states.

WATCH: Burnt City at Interpreters Theatre at University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, IA (2020)

SELECT PUBLICITY:
Interview about Burnt City and Iron Sheik’s passing
Al Jazeera English 6/7/2023

'Burnt City' battles U.S.-Iran relations with biracial humor and bilingual poetry”
The Advocate: Baton Rouge 2/16/2019

”Preview: Burnt City at Interpreters Theatre”
The Northern Iowan 3/5/2020

“‘Burnt City’ comments on U.S.-Iran relations”
The Northern Iowan 3/12/2020

Created & Directed by Joshua Hamzehee

Performed by Joshua Hamzehee, Lexus Jordan, Laura Oliver, Jordan Smith, & Montana Smith. Based on Desiree Dallagiacamo, Melissa Hutchinson, Toiryan Milligan, Donnery Rose, & Jazmyne Smith.

Summer 2016: Racial tensions, protests, and natural disasters flooded 'the Red Stick.' ONE YEAR LATER: We stage local poet interviews & remix Eclectic Truth slam poems, inviting the community to reflect on a capital divided.

Performed in: Kennesaw, GA (2018); Baton Rouge, LA (2017); Selections in multiple other locations.

WATCH: Baton Rouge SLAM! at Patti Pace Performance Festival at Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, GA (2018)

SELECT PUBLICITY:
”LSU’s HopKins Black Box Theatre gives an obituary to summer 2016 starting Sept. 13”
225 Magazine 9/7/2017

”HopKins Black Box show uses slam poetry to spark dialogue on Baton Rouge social issues”
The LSU Reveille 9/12/2017

Created, Written, Directed, & Performed by Joshua Hamzehee, Jorge DeLeon, & Yaw Kyeremateng, with Danielle McGeough.

The Deported is a full-length performance combining satire, reality TV, and narratives to explore questions and attitudes surrounding U.S. immigration.

Performed in: Cedar Falls, IA (2014); Omaha, NE (2014); Waterloo, IA (2014); Washington D.C. (2013).; Cedar Falls, IA (2013); Carbondale, IL (2012); Selections in multiple other locations.

CHECK OUT: The Deported on FaceBook

SELECT PUBLICITY:
”Review: 'Deported: A Reality Show' is thought-provoking look at America’s Immigration System”
Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier 6/24/2014

”"Deported" imparts immigrants' struggles”
Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier 6/17/2014

Created, Written, Directed, & Performed by Joshua Hamzehee.

Solo version and 13 person cast version available.

CONVICT is about the American prison system and highlights the humanity of people imprisoned in the United States, demanding it is time for a change.

Performed in: Cedar Falls, IA (2012); San Francisco, CA (2011); Selections in multiple other locations.

WATCH: CONVICT at UNI Interpreters Theatre in Cedar Falls, IA (2013)

SELECT PUBLICITY:
”UNI Interpreters Theatre play CONVICT to start Thursday”
Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier 6/30/2013

“In 'Convict,' jailbirds sing song of prison reform from behind bars”
The Northern Iowan 2/8/2013

Created, Directed, & Written by Joshua Hamzehee.

Solo Version performed by Joshua Hamzehee. Original Ensemble Performed by Joshua Hamzehee, Kevin Castleman, & Sean Connor.

A Reader’s Theatre-style performance interrogating the ethics of United States-sponsored detention of “enemy combatants.”

Performed in: Long Beach, CA (2009); Walnut, CA (2009); Selections in multiple other locations.

WATCH: The Worst of the Worst at American Reader’s Theatre Association Finals at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, CA (2009)

Created, Written, & Performed by Joshua Hamzehee. Ensemble version available.

A performance ethnography rooted in an amazingly diverse community of caring speakers growing together.

Performed in: Long Beach, CA (2009); Selections in multiple other locations.

Created, Written, & Directed by Joshua Hamzehee.

Solo version performed by Joshua Hamzehee. Ensemble version available.

Even though Osama Bin Laden died, what does his death mean for those who continue his legacy? A reader’s theatre style performance interrogating what remains.

Performed in: Los Angeles, CA (2010); Long Beach, CA (2010); Selections in multiple other locations.

Conceptualized and crafted by Joshua Hamzehee and cast.

“Don’t Copy Me!” is an ensemble production that uses political, popular and personal collaged texts to explore: “Why do we criminalize remix in music and medicine?” Performed in 2025 in California and Virginia.

Conceptualized and crafted by Joshua Hamzehee and cast.

“The Bad Show” is an ensemble production that uses political, popular and personal collaged texts to explore: “When is it good to be bad?” Performed in 2024 in California and Nevada.

A four-year run as Cedar Falls, IA’s premiere performance talent destination.

Hosted & organized by Joshua Hamzehee. Founded with M. Taylor. Event hosting available.

Performed selections and featured events/shows in 30 states; Selections include:

Age of Incarceration; Anagrams, Space, & Laura Jane Grace; Bigfoot Lives; Dots/Pixels; The Ghost in BouQUets; Iranians are Not Scary People; Legdropping the Iron Sheikh; Rats in Her Hallway; SeaQUll; Underwater Hospital; V-Day; Yogurt Drink.

Solo shows featuring any of the above, or event-specific material, available on request. Workshops and full productions can accompany solo appearances.

WATCH: Ghosts/Underwater Hospital Promo Video

20 years of experience on the west coast, the south, and the midwest in lighting design, set design, technical directions, coordinating productions, show advisement, community collaboration, and public relations.

2019-22: Production Coordinator and Interim Technical Director of University of Northern Iowa’s Interpreters Theatre.

20 years of experience in over 100 full shows (most of which as a lead performer). Performances ranged from traditional theatrical productions to abstract performance studies productions, and performance experience and training in a variety of methods ranging from television/film to Brecht/Gratowski/Mixed.

20 years of experience in developing forensics workshops, camps, curriculum, and teams; performance workshops, camps, troupes, and curriculum; and specific methodological workshops and curriculum.