Hamid Dehghani

Hamid Dehghani is an Iranian director, playwright, and actor. His work spans theatre productions in both Iran and the United States, with a focus on storytelling that explores complex themes of identity, language, and human experiences. Dehghani has directed several notable plays, including English (play) by Sanaz Toossi and Selling Kabul by Sylvia Khoury. His career has also included acting roles and playwriting, with some of his works receiving awards in Iranian theatre festivals. He has collaborated with prominent theatres such as the Goodman Theatre, Guthrie Theater, and Northlight Theatre, contributing to both international and regional theatre landscapes.

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Early life and education

Hamid Dehghani was born in Iran, where he developed an early passion for theatre and storytelling. He pursued a bachelor's degree in theatre from Tehran University of Art, followed by a master's degree in Theatre Directing from the same institution. His academic journey culminated in earning an MFA in Theatre Directing from Northwestern University in the United States in 2023.

Career

Directing

Dehghani has directed productions in both Iran and the United States. His works include a range of plays that have been noted for their thematic focus and execution. His major works include:

Year	Title	Playwright	Theatre	Notes
2024	English (play)	Sanaz Toossi	Guthrie Theatre, Goodman Theatre	Co-production, critically acclaimed
2024	Selling Kabul	Sylvia Khoury	Northlight Theatre	Emotional, tense production
2024	Baba	Denmo Ebrahim	Amphibian Stage	Focus on immigrant stories
2016	From the Environs of Milad	Hamid Dehghani	Iranshahr Theater	Best Directing Award, Iran International Festival of University Theatre
2009	Sohrab’s Transgression	Hamid Dehghani	Entezami Theater/Fajr International Theater Festival	Selected for the prestigious Fajr International Theater Festival
2004	Carnations	Raymond Carver	Tehran University of Art	Early directorial work
2004	Leila	Morteza Hoseinzadeh	Tehran University of Art
2004	Nathan and Tabileth	Barry Bermange	Khourshid Theatre
2004	Le Bel Indifférent	Jean Cocteau	Tehran University of Art

Acting

Dehghani has a background in acting, having performed in various Iranian and international productions:
Acting in Short Films

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2012	Jade Farei	Ali
2009	Yek Bar Se	Husband
2007	Occasion	Patient
2007	Unbreakable Mirrors	Officer Ahmadi
2006	Night Story Of The Boulevard	Driver
2005	Who is Going All This Way	Reza
2005	C473 Monologue	C473
2006	To Die in Place of Another One	Father

Acting in Plays

Year	Title	Role	Theatre
2023	Andy Warhol in Iran	Farhad	Northlight Theatre
2015/2016	Sohrab’s Transgression	Ali	Entezami Theater/Iran International Fadjr Theatre Festival
2012	Barren	Sailor	Iran International Fadjr Theatre Festival
2009/2011	From the Environs of Milad	Soroush	Iranshahr Theater/Iran International Festival of University Theater
2008	Afsooskhar	Shahin	Khourshid Theatre
2007	The Archbishop's Ceiling	Adrian	Khourshid Theatre
2007	Equus	Alan	Iran International Festival of University Theater
2006	The Last One Confessed	Hamid	Khourshid Theatre
2005	Let's Take a Little Walk	Boy	Iran Theatre Forum
2008	Charlie	Grandson	Molavi Theatre
2004	Rhinocéros	Bérenger	Experimental Theatre Festival
2002	The Legend of Nimrooz	Messenger	Fooladshahr Theatre

Writing

Dehghani has also written several plays, including:

Year	Title	Notes
2016	Rood
2009	Sohrab’s Transgression	Featured at the Fadjr International Theatre Festival
2008	From the Environs of Milad	Award-winning play
2007	Sculpture
2004	I'm Not Cold Anymore

Notable productions

English : Directed by Dehghani at the Guthrie Theater and Goodman Theatre. The play, written by Sanaz Toossi, focuses on language, identity, and the immigrant experience. Dehghani's direction was lauded for its humanity and clarity, with critics praising his ability to bring out the nuances of the immigrant struggle.Selling Kabul : A tense and truthful story set in Afghanistan, this production received widespread critical acclaim for its emotional depth and topical relevance.

Awards and honors

Best Directing Award, From the Environs of Milad, Iran International Festival of University Theatre.
Best Playwriting Award, From the Environs of Milad, Iran International Festival of University Theatre.
Best Actor Award, Equus, Iran International Festival of University Theatre.

Press and reception

Dehghani's works have been covered by both Iranian and international media, receiving attention for their thematic depth and direction. Selected reviews include:Chicago Tribune: Chris Jones (drama critic) observed, "I was frankly knocked out by the quality of the direction, which is exquisitely paced, subtle of idea, and formidably communicative," in his review of *English* at the Goodman Theatre.Chicago Reader: In their review of *English*, the *Chicago Reader* noted, “Dehghani made his professional directing debut in Chicago earlier this year with Northlight Theatre’s production of *Selling Kabul*. *English* further establishes his work as notable within the Chicago theater scene.”Chicago Sun-Times: According to the *Chicago Sun-Times*, “Dehghani, his design team, and this cast make every moment of the production active, sharp, clear, and relatable.”