Imran S. Javaid is co-founder and co-Artistic Director of Parwaz Playhouse. His directing credits include a production of his I Have Heard the Mermaids Singing at Kirkland House in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 2000. His acting credits include the part of Salman in Wajahat Ali's The Domestic Crusaders, which completed a successful run at The Nuyorican Poet's Cafe. Imran practices securities law as a senior associate at WilmerHale in New York City, where he resides with his wife Safia Hussain, to whom Glass is dedicated.

 

Imran W. Sheikh is co-founder and co-Artistic Director of Parwaz Playhouse. He was Born in Lahore, Pakistan and raised in New Jersey. While at Rutgers University he scripted, directed, and starred in several short films and plays, often collaborating with The College Avenue Players. He was the Assistant Director, Stage Manager, and voice-over talent for the hit play, The Domestic Crusaders. In November 2009 he had the pleasure of starring in Parwaz Playhouse’s debut with the original short play, Glass. He continues to further his career as an actor.

Adeel Ahmed is Associate Artistic Director of Parwaz Playhouse. Ahmed is originally from Huntington, NY. He began his journey into the world of acting after receiving training from TVI Actor’s Studio. His first work included roles on television shows Law and Order: Criminal Intent and the pilot of Cashmere Mafia with Lucy Lui. Ahmed then worked with Academy Award nominee Charles Fuller in the stage production of The Woodpecker at the historic Cherry Lane Theater. Ahmed went on to receive rave reviews for his performance in the play, Voices From Guantanamo where he played an innocent and amputated detainee. Ahmed's role in Off Madison helped the production win Best Comedy at the Access TV Festival in New York. He continued to be highly praised by viewers and critics for his work with acclaimed director Mehreen Jabbar in the hit Pakistani television series Malaal. Ahmed also played a lead role in the hit Off-Broadway production of The Domestic Crusaders. Most recently, Ahmed's work was screened at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival alongside Emmy nominated actors David Hyde Pierce, LaVar Burton & Golden Globe nominated actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt. He sends much love to his family and friends!

Additional work includes: Film: One Of The Greats, Doris' Mouse Earrings, Pehli Baar (English title: First Time), The Four of Us, Deadbeat Dad, Don't Panic, Tere Bina (English Title: Without You), Rearranged, Redemption; TV: The Streets (pre-production), Friend of Bill, Iqbal in America, Chaos in Gotham;Theatre: Can I Help You?, Apocalypse Earlier, Not So Calm But Still Totally Dead, The Swansong, The Bear.
Contact: adeel@adeelahmed.com

Adeel Ahmed see above for bio

Kiran Ali is an alumnus of the American University, and Chicago Kent College of Law. Kiran currently resides in New York City, where she is an attorney and aspiring novelist.  Kiran began her onstage career with the Washington DC based Arth Arts, an independent theater company that spread cultural awareness of South Asia to a vast audience. She has also written, directed and acted in numerous scripts.  She has worked continuously with Eve Ensler's Vday Project. She believes the stage is a medium where art, politics and the age old practice of storytelling should meld.

Aizzah Fatima is an actress/writer based in NYC.  She is a graduate of the two year conservatory at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts where she performed in productions such as Dear Brutus, Last Summer At Bluefish Cove, and Northshore Fish.  Since graduating in June 2009, she has performed in the original ensemble piece Ripe For The Picking which tackled human rights violations issues around the world as well as Insler's Vagina Monologues at The Abingdon Theatre.  She also performs with Trickster Theatre at Exit Art.  Some of her film credits include Albert & Alice, It's All Been Arranged, and Dejeration.  Aizzah has appeared on TV in season two of the Food Network's Food Detectives. Her solo show Dirty Paki Lingerie was selected as a semi-finalist in the Network's One Act Festival, and also chosen for the Tongue in Cheek Theater's Plus One Festival. Aizzah is currently appearing in Bollywood Wedding at The Nuyorican Poet's Cafe.

www.AizzahFatima.com

Saira Haider is a novice American actress, whose theatrical aptitude was reintroduced during her second year of law school via the premier production of Glass.  After graduating from The Johns Hopkins University, Saira geared her attention towards enhancing interfaith relations in the Washington, D.C. area.  Her life-long interest in performing arts has formulated in support of underground artists focused on reforming underdeveloped countries.  Saira is outlining her first novel depicting the adversity and rise to success of a Pakistani woman as an immigrant in America.  She currently resides in New York City where she is completing her law degree at Fordham Law School.  Saira is grateful for the opportunity to work with a stellar cast in the production of Glass.

Imran S. Javaid see above for bio

Matt Pascua is excited to work with the Parwaz Playhouse and to be a part of "Glass" again.  Off-Off-Broadway:  "Flash Flood" (Manhattan Theater Source); "What('s) Happen(s)(ed)(ing) In The Elevator..." (The Red Room); "Good Seeds" (The 45th Street Theatre); "Paradiddle" (Theater for the New City).  Commercial:  EZ Clear, Nintendo, Triple Play Cable.  Most recently, Matt was featured opposite Kristin Chenoweth in a VH1 promo for the 2010 Critics' Choice Awards.  He is signed with Cinematic Management and CESD.  Many thanks to Imran, Imran, and Adeel for the opportunity to work; to the cast for bringing life to this production; and to my parents, my friends, and Colleen for their endless support.

Imran W. Sheikh see above for bio

Wajahat Ali is a Muslim American of Pakistani descent. The Domestic Crusaders is his first full-length play. Born and raised in Fremont, a city located in the Silicon Valley of the San Francisco Bay Area, he has been writing, producing and directing plays, films, and comedy sketches since he was a child, enlisting his friends to be actors and crew. In Fall, 2001, during his undergraduate studies at U.C. Berkeley, he hesitantly began writing The Domestic Crusaders in order to pass a 20 page short story assignment due for a writing class taught by Ishmael Reed, and with his encouragement, transformed the piece into a play which in 2005 was first presented in staged readings and showcase productions in the San Francisco Bay area.

Ali’s essays and interviews on contemporary affairs, politics, the media, popular culture and religion frequently appear in the Washington Post, The Guardian, and Huffington Post, CounterPunch and Chowk, among other on-line sites. His blog, "Goatmilk: An Intellectual Playground" is ranked in the top 7% of all political blogs and recently rated “Great” by blogged.com. He is the associate editor of Altmuslim.com and contributing editor to Illume Magazine. His first short story, “Ramadan Blues,” is published in Powwow: Charting the Fault Lines in the American Experience, Short Fiction From Then to Now (Da Capo Press, 2009). His first movie, “Ms. Judgments,” was a finalist for the Link TV Muslim American Film Competition.

Wajahat Ali was honored as an “An Influential Muslim American Artist” by the State Department and invited to their 2008 Annual Ramadan dinner. He was named a “Muslim Leader of Tomorrow” for his journalism work and invited to participate in the 2009 “Muslim Leaders of Tomorrow” conference in Doha, Qatar. He is the recipient of Muslim Public Affairs Council's prestigious “Emerging Muslim American Artist” recognition of 2009. Wajahat Ali is also an Attorney at Law, practicing in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Imran S. Javaid see above for bio

 Imran W. Sheikh see above for bio