Mosaic Theater Company presents the DC premiere of Andy Warhol in Iran, a provocative, humorous and fictionalized portrait of the artist’s infamous visit to Iran in 1976. Asked by the Empress Farah to create pop-art portraits of the royals, Andy Warhol arrives in Tehran and is taken hostage by a fascinating university student, hoping to publicize his group’s demands and get their “15 minutes of fame.” A life or death struggle ensues over revolution, responsibility, and the arts.
Written by Brent Askari and directed by Serge Seiden, performances run May 29-June 29, 2025, at the Atlas Performing Arts Center. The press opening for Andy Warhol in Iran is scheduled for Sunday, June 1, at 3 p.m. Members of the media are invited to attend this performance, or any performance thereafter.
“I love comedies that count; plays that make you laugh and make you think,” said director Serge Seiden. “The play asks ‘What is the responsibility of the artist to society–and by extension the responsibility of any individual?’ The play is a roller coaster of emotions–thoughtful, humorous and deeply moving. It’s about truly seeing each other across deep divides. I also love tour-de-force acting opportunities for extraordinary creatives like multi-hyphenate actor Nathan Mohebbi and Alex Mills, whose physical-theater superpowers are no secret to DC audiences.”
“I am thrilled to welcome Serge back to the director’s chair for this production following his previous work at Mosaic and throughout the DC community,” said Reginald L. Douglas, artistic director of Mosaic Theater. “The questions that playwright Brent Askari asks in this play are strikingly relevant: What is the value of art in a world of war? How do we find the humanity in a pop icon as well as for the people who often go unnamed and untold? What responsibility do we all share to help make our world a more just place for people of all backgrounds including those vastly different than ourselves? The questions are core to Mosaic’s identity and provide a fitting close to our 10th Anniversary Season.”
Additional Events
Mosaic continues its Reflection Series, started in 2022 in conjunction with The Till Trilogy, with year-round programming that provides inroads for deep engagement with the themes of our plays. In addition to being an official partner of Capital Pride Alliance and a Featured Event in World Pride 2025, events for Andy Warhol in Iran include:
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Thursday June 5, 2025 at 11 a.m. — Intergenerational Matinee. After watching Andy Warhol in Iran together, students and seniors will engage in a post-show conversation with Mosaic’s artists and one another.
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Thursday June 12, 2025 at 11 a.m. — Intergenerational Matinee. After watching Andy Warhol in Iran together, students and seniors will engage in a post-show conversation with Mosaic’s artists and one another.
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Thursday June 12, 2025 at 7:30 p.m. — Equality Chamber of Commerce Night. Come join the Equality Chamber of Commerce for a night of queer community, featuring a curated post-show conversation alongside space to gather for LGBTQ+ business owners and community members alike.
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Saturday June 28 at 7:30 p.m. — Open-Captioned Performance
Additional events and partner organizations include a Pride Performance in partnership with DC Public Libraries, a panel diving into Iranian history and how it impacts the story of Andy Warhol in Iran, and an event highlighting DMV queer artists and photographers with the Hill Center, with dates to be announced soon.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
Mosaic Theater aligns its safety protocols with those of the Atlas Performing Arts Center. Masking is recommended, however it is no longer mandatory—masks in theaters and public spaces at the Atlas Performing Arts Center are now optional. For the latest information, visit mosaictheater.org/health-and-safety.
PLAN YOUR VISIT
Press Performance
Sunday, June 1 at 3 p.m. (or any performance thereafter)
Tickets
$42-$78; available at mosaictheater.org
Locations
Sprenger Theatre at Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H Street NE, Washington, DC 20002
Performances
Thursdays at 11 a.m. (June 12); Thursdays–Saturday at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 3 p.m. (except May 31); and Sundays at 3 p.m.
Box Office
The Box Office can be reached at (202) 399-7993 or [email protected] from 12PM–6PM Tuesday through Sunday, or one hour prior to a performance.
Discounts
Rush Tickets: A limited number of $20 rush tickets are available via walk-up cash purchase at the box office beginning one hour before the start of each performance. Cash preferred.
Senior Rate (65+): Save 10% with code: SENIOR
Student Rate: $20 tickets with code: STUDENT
Educator Rate: $20 tickets with code: EDUCATOR
Military and First Responder Rate: Save 10% with code: HERO
Furloughed and Laid Off Federal Workers: Get $20 tickets with code: SOLIDARITY
Under 30: Patrons 30 and younger can access $25 tickets to Mosaic mainstage performances. Use code UNDER30. Restrictions: One ticket per order. Discount is not available on weekend matinees.
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