Each semester, the Department of Theatre’s NU Broadway series offers seminars and master classes with nationally acclaimed theatre artists. NU Broadway is designed to help students learn more about New York theatre with special focus on the new generation of theatre artists.

The first NU Broadway guest artist for 2018-19 will be alumnus Saheem Ali ’03.  He will be the focus of a seminar on Directing for the Stage on Friday, October 26 from 1:35-3:15 pm in the Ryder Theatre Lab.

Born in Kenya, Ali is one the most sought-after young directors in the U.S. He has enjoyed a successful career working on and off Broadway as well as at theatres nationwide. Last year he was the subject of a New York Times profile.

His next project is Passage by Chris Chen at NYC’s Soho Rep. 2018 projects included: ​Fireflies by Donja Love (Atlantic Theater, NYC), Dangerous House by Jen Silverman (Williamstown Theater Festival), Sugar in Our Wounds by Donja Love (Manhattan Theatre Club, NYC), and Tartuffe by Molière (Playmakers REP,  NC). He was Associate Director of The Tempest starring Sam Waterston and Jesse Tyler Ferguson at the Public Theatre/Shakespeare in Central Park, and he worked with George Wolfe (The Normal Heart) and Michael Greif (Angels in America). Other directing credits include the New York Theatre Workshop, Lincoln Center, Cherry Lane, National Black Theatre, Theatre de la Jeune Lune, and Signature Theatre.

Ali has said: “My under­grad­u­ate edu­ca­tion at NU’s The­atre Depart­ment was instru­men­tal in launch­ing me into the pro­fes­sional world in New York. The com­bi­na­tion of the­o­ret­i­cal in-class learn­ing, prac­ti­cal rehearsal and per­for­mance, and expe­ri­en­tial co-op oppor­tu­ni­ties equipped me with the tools that I needed to enter the pro­fes­sional arena. I look back at my time in the The­atre Depart­ment as the essen­tial foun­da­tion to my career as a director.”

Students who are interested in attending his open class should contact Janet Bobcean at [email protected].