A Cultural Conversation: Betty Shamieh & Lou Hamou-Lhadj

Betty Shamieh, a leading Arab-American playwright and a Denning Visiting Artist at Stanford, will host a conversation and interview with Lou Hamou-Lhadj, an Academy Award Nominated Writer/Director of North African heritage.  Together, they will discuss the origins of their early works, current creative projects, and how issues of race and identity inform the stories they tell.

Betty Shamieh is the author of fifteen plays. Her productions include THE BLACK EYED (New York Theatre Workshop & The Magic Theatre), TERRITORIES  (EU Capital of Cuture Festival & The Magic Theatre) and ROAR (The New Group).  A New York Times Critics’ Pick, ROAR was the first play about an Arab-American family produced off-Broadway and is widely taught at universities across the country.  A UNESCO Young Artist for Intercultural Dialogue, her works have been translated into seven languages.  Shamieh is currently the playwright-in-residence at the Classical Theatre of Harlem and a Denning Visiting Artist at Stanford.

Lou Hamou-Lhadj is an Academy Award Nominated Writer/Director, currently working as an Art Director at Pixar Animation Studios on the upcoming Disney+ Original Series WIN OR LOSE. Currently his personal creative efforts are centered in developing stories that reflect and explore his North African heritage. Previous film credits include BORROWED TIME, WALL-E, TOY STORY 3, BRAVE, THE GOOD DINOSAUR, INCREDIBLES 2, ONWARD and TURNING RED.  (Photo Credit: Debby Coleman)