MILL VALLEY, CA (February 28, 2022)—Marin Theatre Company continues its 2021/22 season with the world premiere of Yussef El Guindi’s Hotter Than Egypt. This passionate new play follows American couple Paul and Jean as they travel to Cairo for their 24th wedding anniversary. Long-dormant troubles within the marriage start to percolate, and their two Egyptian tour guides, newly engaged Maha and Seif, become drawn into the crisis. This dramedy set in the aftermath of the Egyptian revolution explores the uneven power dynamics between these Western tourists and the locals. Dreams and relationships are put to the test when old connections lead to new temptations, in this brand-new piece by El Guindi whom the LA Times calls “undeniably gifted.” Hotter Than Egypt is a co-production with Seattle’s A Contemporary Theatre (ACT).

Hotter Than Egypt will perform at Marin Theatre Company (397 Miller Avenue, Mill Valley) March 31–April 24, 2022. Single tickets ($25–$60) can be purchased online at marintheatre.org or by calling 415-388-5208. Ticket prices are subject to change without notice.

“I am elated to bring Yussef’s voice and newest work to the Marin Theatre Company community, and to continue the life of this world premiere process,” said Nakissa Etemad, Marin Theatre Company’s new Associate Artistic Director and Dramaturg on Hotter Than Egypt. “This play is full of heart and humor, truth and pathos, and I fell for it within three pages of reading it. I had only worked at MTC once—on Noura in December of 2019—and felt back then that MTC was the perfect home for the play. Having known Yussef for years as a fellow Resident Artist of Golden Thread, I had the gift of being his dramaturg for the first time on this piece at the 2020 Colorado New Play Summit in Feb. 2020. There I met John Langs, his director and Artistic Director of A Contemporary Theatre in Seattle, where Yussef is a Core Company Member. We three also ‘fell’ for each other as theatrical soulmates and started scheming on how to collaborate on this play together. When I was handed the choice for a spot in the season, I knew this was meant to be.”

The Bay Area is a second theatre home to El Guindi, where among other accolades, he has been heralded as the most produced playwright at Golden Thread. “I’m very excited to continue the journey and development of the play as we transition from ACT’s theatre-in-the-round production to the proscenium stage at Marin Theatre Company,” said El Guindi. “Much was learned from the first production, and I look forward to implementing some of those changes as we all gather to remount the play here. I have always loved working in the Bay Area when I’ve gotten the chance, so I’m very appreciative of MTC’s invitation and welcome. There’s something about the curiosity, community, and adventurousness of Bay Area audiences that make staging a play here extra special.”

Adds MTC’s Artistic Director Jasson Minadakis, “Nakissa is our company’s first Associate Artistic Director and there is no better way to get to know an artist than by seeing the work that they cultivate. Hotter Than Egypt will give our community a fascinating insight into Nakissa’s vision of the American theatre and a first glimpse at how she will help shape our company’s programming in the coming years.”

Under the direction of A Contemporary Theatre Artistic Director John Langs, the cast of Hotter Than Egypt includes Naseem Etemad (The Dairy Arts Center: Wisdom From Everything; The Pear Theatre: Veils; Resident Artist, Golden Thread), Ahmad Kamal (Mosaic Theater: Musa in Pilgrims Musa and Sheri in the New World; Adventure Theatre: Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp), Wasim No’mani (The Chosen TV series; ACT: People of the Book, Oslo; Paramount+’s Yellowstone), Paul Morgan Stetler (Curtis Craig in Phantasmagoria 2 video game; ACT: The Crucible; Letters Aloud), and Jen Taylor (Cortana in the video game and upcoming TV series Halo on Paramount+; ACT: Dangerous Liaisons; Portland Center Stage: Roxane in Cyrano, Viola in Twelfth Night).

The creative and technical team for Hotter Than Egypt includes Carey Wong (Scenic Designer), Melanie Burgess (Costume Designer), Jeff Rowlings (Lighting Designer), Johanna Melamed (Sound Designer), Nihan Yesil (Composer), Lynne Soffer (Dialect Coach), Ian Bond (Intimacy Director and Fight Choreographer), and Marin Theatre Company Associate Artistic Director Nakissa Etemad (Dramaturg).

Marin Theatre Company is a vaccinated organization, including staff, artists and volunteers. For the health and safety of our artists, audiences, staff, and volunteers, Marin Theatre Company will observe the following safety measures:

• All patrons (including children) must be fully vaccinated to enter Marin Theatre Company; no exceptions will be allowed. A person is considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19 >2 weeks after receipt of the second dose in a 2-dose series (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna) or >2 weeks after the receipt of the single dose of the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine.
   
• All patrons must present a vaccination card, or a legible photo of your card, or a digital vaccine record (for instance, myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov) with matching photo ID. 
   
• Masks must be worn at all times in all areas of the theatre, except actors performing on stage.