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Dishwasher Dreams

September 16 – October 15, 2023
(Opening night: Thursday, September 21)

Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre
Conrad Prebys Theatre Center

West Coast premiere
By Alaudin Ullah
Directed by Chay Yew
Music by Avirodh Sharma

What exactly is the American Dream? For Alaudin Ullah’s Bangladesh-born parents, it means opportunity and a stable job. But to comedian Alaudin, America is the home of the New York Yankees and George Carlin. In an autobiographical solo show that the Hartford Courant calls “memorable and meaningful,” Ullah and musician Avirodh Sharma take audiences on a journey of vivid remembrances and discoveries from 1930s India (now Bangladesh) to 1970s Spanish Harlem to present-day Hollywood. Through comedy and music, this remarkable play, directed by the acclaimed Chay Yew, recounts the immigrant experience, how this country gets made, and the dreams of those who make it.

Total running time: One hour and 30 minutes (one act with no intermission).

Dishwasher Dreams contains strong language.

Dishwasher Dreams is supported by major production sponsors Vicki and Carl Zeiger.

Post Show Forum: Tuesday, October 3; Tuesday, October 10; and Wednesday, October 11.

Digital Program

Download the program PDF

Reviews

“Unique and entertaining! Alaudin Ullah is a sincere and funny storyteller.” —The San Diego Union-Tribune

“Paints a colorful picture with lots of heart.” —BroadwayWorld

“Ullah does a great job of entertaining, educating, and perhaps most importantly, making you care.” —San Diego Jewish World

“Heartfelt and entertaining. Creatively combines stand-up comedy and theatrical storytelling, resulting in a truly unique and enjoyable experience.” —From Another Zero

Cast and Creatives

Cast

Creative

Chay Yew (Director) New York credits: The Public Theater, Playwrights Horizons, New York Theatre Workshop, Signature Theatre, City Center Encores!, Playwrights Realm, Audible Theater, Rattlestick Theater, Ensemble Studio Theatre, National Asian American Theatre, Ma-Yi Theater Company. Regional credits: Goodman Theatre, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, American Conservatory Theater, Berkeley Rep, Arena Stage, La Jolla Playhouse, Alley Theatre, South Coast Rep, Center Theatre Group, Denver Center Theatre, Huntington Theatre, Seattle Rep, Cincinnati Playhouse, Kennedy Center, Humana Festival, Woolly Mammoth Theatre, Portland Center Stage, East West Players, Singapore Repertory Theatre, others. Honors: Obie Award for Direction. chayyew.com.

Yu Shibagaki (Scenic Design) (she/her) NYC-based set designer originally from Nagoya, Japan. The Old Globe: Exotic Deadly: Or the MSG Play. Recent designs: Madama Butterfly (Boston Lyric Opera), Lucy and Charlie’s Honeymoon, Villette, Her Honor Jane Byrne (Lookingglass Theatre), 1919 (Steppenwolf Young Adults), Heroes of the Fourth Turning (Studio Theatre), Dishwasher Dreams (Hartford Stage), School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play (Goodman Theatre), I, Banquo, I, Cinna (Chicago Shakespeare Theater), more. Upcoming designs: Simona’s Search (Hartford Stage), Dracula (Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park), Dishwasher Dreams (Merrimack Repertory Theatre), more. yushibagaki.com.

Izumi Inaba (Costume Design) The Old Globe: debut. Off Broadway: How to Defend Yourself (New York Theatre Workshop). Recent regional: Sanctuary City (Steppenwolf Theatre Company), Origin Story (Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park), Clue (Indiana Repertory Theatre), Ring of Fire (Drury Lane Theatre). Other: member of United Scenic Artists Local USA 829, represented by Gersh Agency.

Anshuman Bhatia (Lighting Design) Designs for opera, theatre, dance: Arena Stage, Atlantic, Austin Opera, Bard Music Festival, Beijing’s National Centre for the Performing Arts, Chautauqua Theater Company, Classic Stage Company, Dublin’s Civic Theatre, Hartford Stage, HERE Arts Center, Keen Company, Kentucky Opera, LoftOpera, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Ma-Yi Theater Company, Madison Opera, Opera Columbus, Opera Omaha, Opera San Jose, Pacific Symphony, Palm Beach Opera, Park Avenue Armory, Primary Stages, Puerto Rican Traveling Theater, Repertory Theatre of Saint Louis, Santa Fe Opera, Soho Rep, The Juilliard School, The McKittrick Hotel, The Public, Virginia Arts Festival, WP Theater, Writers Theatre. Member: USA 829. Education: M.F.A. from NYU. bhatiadesign.com.

Darlene Miyakawa (Production Stage Manager) Member: Actors’ Equity Association, American Guild of Musical Artists. Recent regional: Geffen Playhouse, South Coast Repertory, Geva Theatre Center, L.A. Dance Project, Barrington Stage Company, Long Beach Opera, The Watermill Center Festival, Playwrights’ Arena, Piedmont Opera, Opera San Jose, California Symphony, Fort Worth Opera, Opera Memphis, Tri-Cities Opera, New York City Opera, Opera San Antonio, Los Angeles Philharmonic, LA Opera, East West Players, Getty Villa, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley.

Photos

Production Photos

Alaudin Ullah in Dishwasher Dreams, 2023. Photo by Rich Soublet II.
Alaudin Ullah in Dishwasher Dreams, 2023. Photo by Rich Soublet II.
(from left) Avirodh Sharma and Alaudin Ullah in Dishwasher Dreams, 2023. Photo by Rich Soublet II.
(from left) Avirodh Sharma and Alaudin Ullah in Dishwasher Dreams, 2023. Photo by Rich Soublet II.
(from left) Alaudin Ullah and Avirodh Sharma in Dishwasher Dreams, 2023. Photo by Rich Soublet II.
(from left) Alaudin Ullah and Avirodh Sharma in Dishwasher Dreams, 2023. Photo by Rich Soublet II.

Publicity Photos

Alaudin Ullah. Photo by Mohammed Amir Hamza.
Alaudin Ullah. Photo by Mohammed Amir Hamza.
Dorector Chay Yew.
Director Chay Yew.
Alaudin Ullah. Photo by Mohammed Amir Hamza.
Alaudin Ullah. Photo by Mohammed Amir Hamza.
Alaudin Ullah. Photo by Mohammed Amir Hamza.
Alaudin Ullah. Photo by Mohammed Amir Hamza.