IZAD ETEMADI: LET ME EXPLAIN
Top 10 Toronto Theatre Artists & Toronto Productions of 2024 – Glenn Sumi
Best In Venue (Theatre Aquarius) at the 2024 Hamilton Fringe Festival
Photo by Conan Stark
Written by Izad Etemadi
Developed by Green Light Arts
Izad Etemadi has spent most of his life explaining himself to others—his ethnicity, his sexuality, the pronunciation of his name. But as an elder millennial dealing with back pain and digestive issues, he doesn’t have the time or energy to keep explaining himself. Through jokes, songs, and deeply personal stories, this queer Iranian-Canadian immigrant who was born in Germany is going to attempt to explain his entire existence in sixty-ish minutes, so he never has to do it again. This is not a play. It’s a theatrical comedy show.
Photo by Conan Stark
PRODUCTION TEAM
Writer and Performer: IZAD ETEMADI
Director and Dramaturg: MATT WHITE
Original Set Designer: HELEN YUNG
Original Lighting Designer: PAUL CEGYS
Stage Manager: FARNOOSH TALEBPOUR
Production Manager: CAMERON SLIPP
Producer: CARIN LOWERISON
This show was conceived by Izad and developed by Green Light Arts during the Pandemic. It premiered on May 26th in Kitchener, Ontario at The Conrad Centre.
REVIEWS
“A gift of a show. Izad Etemadi is an irreverent, funny, graceful comedian and performer who takes his life experiences and finds the humour and truth in each moment. He knows how to read the room and engage immediately with those in the audience and include them in his observations.” – Slotkin Letter
“If we’re going to survive 2025 and beyond we clearly need more of the irrepressible Etemadi. Nothing prepared me for the utter transcendence of his new autobiographical solo show.” – Glenn Sumi
“The immigrant story is a very Canadian trope, but Etemadi personalizes it, is specific thus making it universal. As he morphs from character to character, one not only relates to his travails but also gets to share in his triumphs.” – Drew Rowsome, My Gay Toronto
“You haven't heard the opening number from Disney's Beauty and The Beast until you have heard it in its original German. This is a MUST SEE!” – Centre Stage
“At times, Let Me Explain feels more like a stand-up storytelling routine in the style of Spalding Grey, that is until Izad dips into the well of his excellent character work. At these points, he’s closer to Daniel MacIvor skewering bullies and the privileged alike in wicked satirical turns with his self-styled ‘ethnically ambiguous’ identity.” – Near and Now
“With only a bedazzled microphone and a stool, Etemadi skillfully charms the audience and inspires all the laughter we’ve come to expect from one of his shows.” - Hamilton City Magazine
