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English (play)

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English
Written bySanaz Toossi
Date premieredFebruary 22, 2022
Place premieredLinda Gross Theatre (New York City)
Original languageEnglish
SubjectLanguage, identity, cultural assimilation
SettingKaraj, Iran, 2008

English is a play by Sanaz Toossi. The play explores themes of language, identity, and cultural assimilation, set in an English-language classroom in Karaj, Iran, in 2008. The play won the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.[1]

The play premiered Off-Broadway at the Linda Gross Theatre by the Atlantic Theater Company in 2022 followed by several productions in Washington, D.C., Chicago, Minneapolis and San Diego, having its Broadway debout at the Roundabout Theatre Company's Todd Haimes Theatre in 2025.

The original Off-Broadway and Broadway productions received positive reviews by theatre critics, also prising Tala Ashe and Marjan Neshat acting performances. The productions received nominations at the Drama League Awards and five nominations at the 78th Tony Awards, including for Best Play.[2]

Plot

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The play is centered around four Iranian adults preparing for the Test of English as a Foreign Language, which is crucial for their ambitions to study or live abroad. The students include Elham, an aspiring medical student; Omid, who seeks a green card; Roya, who wants to communicate with her Canadian granddaughter; and Goli, who is earnest and determined to learn. Their teacher, Marjan, who has spent nine years in Manchester, England, enforces a strict English-only rule in class, creating tension and highlighting the personal and cultural conflicts each student faces.

Characters

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  • Marjan: The English teacher who has returned to Iran after living in Manchester. She pushes her students to speak only English in class.
  • Elham: A strong-willed and competitive student who struggles with the implication that mastering English means sacrificing her Iranian identity.
  • Omid: Charming and self-assured, Omid enjoys watching English-language movies to improve his language skills.
  • Roya: Soft-spoken but capable of fiery frustration, especially regarding her son.
  • Goli: Sweet and earnest, representing the hardworking student who tries to stay out of conflicts.

Original cast and characters

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Character Off-Broadway (2022) Broadway (2025)
Marjan Marjan Neshat
Elham Tala Ashe
Roya Pooya Mohseni
Goli Ava Lalezarzadeh
Omid Hadi Tabbal

Production history

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Atlantic Theater Company, New York City (2022)

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English premiered Off-Broadway on February 22, 2022, at the Linda Gross Theatre by the Atlantic Theater Company.[3][4] The production was directed by Knud Adams, scenic design by Marsha Ginsberg, costume design by Enver Chakartash, lighting design by Reza Behjat, and sound design by Sinan Refik Zafar.[5] The cast, supervised by Stephen Kope, featured Tala Ashe and Marjan Neshat as lead roles and Ava Lalezarzadeh, Pooya Mohseni and Hadi Tabbal on supporting roles.[6]

Studio Theater, Washington, D.C. (2023)

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The Studio Theatre in Washington presented English from January 11, 2023, to March 12 of that year under the thater's production events Masks Required. Knud Adams directed the production.[7]

The Old Globe Theatre, San Diego (2024)

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The Old Globe Theatre in San Diego presented English from January 27 to February 25, 2024. Arya Shahi directed the production. Pooya Mohseni played Marjan and was part of the 2025 Broadway original cast. [8]

Goodman Theatre, Chicago (2024)

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English premiered at the Goodman Theatre's Owen Theatre in Chicago on May 10, 2024. The Goodman Theatre's production of English was directed by Iranian director Hamid Dehghani.[9][10] It received acclaim for its thoughtful portrayal of the characters' struggles with language and identity. The set was designed by Courtney O’Neill, with costumes by Shahrzad Mazaheri, lighting by Jason Lynch, and sound design by Mikaal Sulaiman.[10][11]

Guthrie Theater, Minneapolis (2024)

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The Guthrie Theater's production of English opened on July 13, 2024, on the McGuire Proscenium Stage. Directed by Hamid Dehghani, the production was co-produced with the Goodman Theatre. The set design was by Courtney O’Neill, with costumes by Shahrzad Mazaheri, lighting by Jason Lynch, and sound design by Mikaal Sulaiman.[12]

Roundabout Theatre Company, New York City (2025)

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The play premiered on Broadway at the Roundabout Theatre Company's Todd Haimes Theatre in previews on January 3, 2025, and officially opened on January 23.[13] The whole original production team returned to their respective positions, including the direction of Knud Adams.[14]

Reception

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Off-Broadway and Broadway productions reception

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The original Off-Broadway and Broadway productions received mostly positive reviews.[15][16][17][18][19]

Others productions reception

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Charles McNulty of Los Angeles Times wrote that the San Diego Old Globe Theatre production "is wrought with an emotional delicacy that’s beautifully captured in Arya Shahi’s well-acted production."[20]

Critics praised the Goodman Theatre production of English for its witty and insightful script, as well as its ability to balance humor with serious themes.[10][11] The play has been described as a rich character study that delves into the power of language and the personal costs of learning a new language.[21] The Chicago Tribune praised the production for its "brilliant" portrayal of the characters' experiences, highlighting the play's global significance.[22]

The Guthrie Theater's production of English, directed by Hamid Dehghani, received positive reviews for its emotional depth and portrayal of the struggles faced by Iranian immigrants learning a new language. Critics praised the play's humor, insight, and strong performances, while some noted the subtlety of its narrative. Overall, the production was lauded for its authenticity and impactful storytelling.[23][24][25][26]

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Nominee Result
2023 Pulitzer Prize[27] Drama English Won
2025 Tony Awards[28] Best Play English Pending
Best Direction of a Play Knud Adams Pending
Best Featured Actress in a Play Tala Ashe Pending
Marjan Neshat Pending
Best Scenic Design in a Play Marsha Ginsberg Pending
Drama League Awards[29] Outstanding Production of a Play English Nominated
Outstanding Direction of a Play Knud Adams Nominated
Distinguished Performance Tala Ashe Nominated
Marjan Neshat Nominated
Theatre World Awards[30] Outstanding Debut Performance Marjan Neshat Won

References

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  1. ^ "Pulitzer Prizes: 2023 Winners List". The New York Times. May 8, 2023. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
  2. ^ Rubin, Rebecca (May 1, 2025). "Tony Nominations 2025: 'Death Becomes Her,' 'Maybe Happy Ending' and 'Buena Vista Social Club' Lead". Variety. Retrieved May 6, 2025.
  3. ^ Green, Jesse (February 23, 2022). "Review: Learning 'English,' When Your Accent Is a 'War Crime'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
  4. ^ Marks, Peter (March 1, 2022). "In 'English,' the language of opportunity steers clear of cliches about the people of Iran". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved May 8, 2025.
  5. ^ "Atlantic Theater Company Announces Extension For "English"". Broadwayworld.com. February 22, 2022. Retrieved May 8, 2025.
  6. ^ Hall, Margaret (February 23, 2022). "Read the Reviews for English at Atlantic Theater Company". Playbill. Archived from the original on April 6, 2025. Retrieved May 8, 2025.
  7. ^ Marks, Peter; Kennicott, Philip; Smee, Sebastian; Richards, Chris (January 17, 2023). "The protests in Iran make this funny play all the more potent". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved May 8, 2025.
  8. ^ In 2024, English played at the Old Globe Theatre
  9. ^ "English at Goodman Theatre". Rachel Weinberg Reviews. May 22, 2024. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  10. ^ a b c "Podcast Review – English at Goodman Theatre". Chicago Broadcasting Network. May 22, 2024. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  11. ^ a b "Watch a Scene from English at the Goodman Theatre". Broadway World. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  12. ^ "Guthrie Theater to Present Sanaz Toossi's Pulitzer Prize-Winning Play 'English'". Broadway World. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
  13. ^ Hall, Margaret (January 23, 2025). "Sanaz Toossi's Pulitzer-Winning English Opens on Broadway January 23". Playbill. Archived from the original on January 26, 2025. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
  14. ^ Harm, Talaura (January 9, 2024). "Sanaz Toossi's English, David Henry Hwang's Yellow Face, New Orleans-Themed Pirates of Penzance Join Roundabout Season". Playbill. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
  15. ^ Cote, David (January 24, 2025). "Review: 'English' Speaks Eloquently of Language and Loss". The Observer. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
  16. ^ Oladipo, Gloria (January 24, 2025). "English review – funny and moving Pulitzer prize winner makes Broadway leap". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
  17. ^ Lewis, Christian (January 24, 2025). "'English' Review: Pulitzer Winner Debuts on Broadway at the Top of the Class". Variety. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
  18. ^ Shaw, Helen (January 24, 2025). "Sanaz Toossi's "English" Comes to Broadway". The New Yorker. ISSN 0028-792X. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
  19. ^ Green, Jesse (January 24, 2025). "Review: In 'English,' Looking for a Language to Live In". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
  20. ^ Charles, McNulty (February 27, 2024). "Review: A Pulitzer Prize-winning meditation on language and loss at San Diego's Old Globe". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
  21. ^ Oxman, Steven (May 21, 2024). "Goodman's sublime 'English' explores political, economic, religious motivations for learning new language". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
  22. ^ Jones, Chris (May 21, 2024). "Review: In the brilliant 'English' at Goodman Theatre, a language class takes on global importance". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  23. ^ Sarafolea, Joe (July 21, 2024). "Review: ENGLISH at Guthrie Theater". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
  24. ^ "'English' gives voice to the stories of Iranian immigrants". Power 104.7. July 22, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
  25. ^ Justin, Neal (July 16, 2024). "'English' gives Guthrie Theater audiences a different sort of immigrant's story". Star Tribune. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
  26. ^ Aloi, Jacob (July 23, 2024). "Review: 'English' at the Guthrie Theater highlights the anguish of learning a new language". MPR News. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
  27. ^ "Drama - The Pulitzer Prizes". The Pulitzer Prizes. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  28. ^ "2025 Tony Award Nominations". May 1, 2025. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  29. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (May 16, 2025). "Nicole Scherzinger Wins Distinguished Performance at 2025 Drama League Awards; Read the Full Winners List". Playbill. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
  30. ^ Gans, Andrew (May 5, 2025). "Kit Connor, Paul Mescal, Jasmine Amy Rogers, Helen J Shen, More Are 2025 Theatre World Award Winners". Playbill. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
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