Happy Days Are Here (again)

By Omer Abbas Salem
Directed by Azar Kazemi
A World Premiere

An unanswered question rings through the halls of St. Boniface High School: "Who will help me?" Happy Days Are Here (Again), a World Premiere commission by Steep ensemble member Omer Abbas Salem, examines man-made "divine" power, who wields it, and if they should be trusted.

“one of the most powerful new Chicago plays of this year, heck, most any year.” Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune

"[a] uniformly fine cast...Kazemi’s sharp direction...Salem’s play also may well enrage you (or re-enrage you) about an evil problem that continues to dog religious institutions, Catholic or otherwise." Kerry Reader, Chicago Reader

Creative Team

Director – Azar Kazemi
Stage Manager –Olivia Sullam
Scenic Designer - Lauren Nichols
Lighting Designer - Conchita Avitia
Costume Designer - Emily McConnell^
Sound Designer | Music Director - Thomas Dixonˆ
Props Designer - Saskia Bakker
Intimacy and Violence Consultant - Gloria Imseih Petrelli
Production Manager - Matthew Chapman^
Dramaturg - Caroline Michele Uy
Assistant Director - Jordan Kost
Assistant Stage Manager/Wardrobe Crew - Gianni Carcagno
Assistant Stage Manager/Wardrobe Crew - Dorothy Craven
Casting Director - Lucy Carapetyan^
Casting Associate - Lisa Troi Thomas
Technical Director - Emmanuel Jimenez
Assistant Lighting Designer - Zuzel Garcia
Assistant Costume Designer - Annabella Mumma
Fencing Cosultant- Nick Sandys
Production Electrician - Baylee Speer
Scenic Painters - Shannon Evans, Jessica Kuehnau Wardell
Graphic Designer - Stu Kiesow

ˆSteep Company Member
ˆˆ Steep Artistic Associate
* Appearing through an Agreement between Steep Theatre and Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States

Omer Abbas Salem (Playwright)

He/They is an actor and playwright. As an actor, they've worked at Roundabout Theatre, Atlantic Theatre, St. Louis Repertory Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville, The Goodman, Steep Theatre, Jackalope Theatre, Silk Road Rising, First Floor Theatre, The New Coordinates, About Face Theatre, Griffin Theatre, and The Second City. As a playwright, their work has been produced at The Goodman, Steppenwolf Theatre, About Face Theatre, Steep Theatre, First Floor Theatre, Jackalope Theatre, The New Coordinates, The Story Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville, National Queer Theatre, Definition Theatre, and The Theatre School of DePaul. They are a member of the 2021/22 Goodman Playwrights Unit and had a play developed in The Goodman’s New Stages Festival in 2022. They are the winner of the 2022 Blueprint Commission winner from First Floor and recipient of the 2021 Cunningham Commission from DePaul University. They were given an Emerging Playwright commission from Audible Theater and are also the most recent recipient of the Edgerton Commission at Steppenwolf Theater. They also won the 2022 3Arts Award in Theater. They are an ensemble member of Steep Theatre, First Floor Theater, and The New Coordinates. They graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign and the University of Chicago. They are represented by Gray Talent and the Gersh Agency. Find out more at www.omerabbassalem.com

Azar Kazemi (Director)

Kazemi is first-generation Persian American and a freelance director and educator based in Chicago. She directs socially-charged plays where the political and personal collide, most recently directing the Jeff Award winning world premiere of Motherhouse by Tuckie White at Rivendell Theatre Ensemble. Some of Azar’s other Chicago directing credits include: the U.S. premiere of debbie tucker green’s dirty butterfly, the Midwest premiere of Samuel D. Hunter’s Jack’s Precious Moment, and Sarah Kane’s Crave. Azar received her MFA from The Theatre School at DePaul University, where she is also on faculty and received the 2020-21 Excellence in Teaching Award. Azar has worked at the Goodman Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Jackalope Theatre, Victory Gardens, American Theatre Company, Chicago Dramatists, and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. In New York City Azar worked at The New Group where she assistant directed three Off-Broadway productions, two under the direction of her mentor Ethan Hawke. Azar is a proud member of SDC. To learn more please visit: azarkazemi.com