IN ARABIA WE’D ALL BE KINGS
IN ARABIA WE’D ALL BE KINGS
BLUE IRADIO Presents
In Arabia We’d All Be Kings
A Play by Stephen Adly Guirgis
Directed By Emilio Salituro
Live at the waterfront theatre on Granville Island
About The Author
Stephen Adly Guirgis (b.?1965, Kearny,?NJ) is a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, screenwriter, director, and actor known for his raw, poetic dialogue and unflinching exploration of urban life. A former co-artistic director of New York’s LAByrinth Theater Company, Guirgis has penned notable works such as Between Riverside and Crazy (Pulitzer Prize for Drama, 2015), Jesus Hopped the ’A’ Train, Our Lady of 121st Street, and The Motherf**ker with the Hat. Here, Guirgis turns his gaze back to Hell’s Kitchen in the late 1990s—a neighborhood on the verge of gentrification. In Arabia We’d All Be Kings premiered in 1999 with LAByrinth Theater Company and centers on a fractured community grappling with addiction, despair, and the erosion of hope under Giuliani-era redevelopment. “These are the voices I wanted to hear on stage because they never get heard anywhere else.” Guirgis’s work gives voice to the marginalized—characters whose stories are often overlooked. If this play makes you laugh, wince, or feel uneasy, that’s the point: it’s a mirror held up to those who live on society’s edge. Currently, Guirgis is adapting the 1975 film Dog Day Afternoon for the stage—a project set for a Broadway debut in spring 2026, starring Jon Bernthal and Ebon Moss-Bachrach Attached the link
Director’s Notes
I love working with actors. That passion is what led me to transition from acting to becoming a film and TV agent 17 years ago – and I’ve never looked back. For me, being a good agent has always meant more than finding opportunities or negotiating contracts. It’s about helping artists see the greatness that already lives within them. Showing people the excellence in themselves is one of the greatest gifts one can give – and that philosophy continues to guide my work. I believe the same holds true for directing. No matter an actor’s level of training or experience, a director’s role is to help them unlock something deeper in their work. That belief was my strongest motivation when I was approached by Blue iRadio to direct this play. I wanted the process to be not only enjoyable, but also a meaningful learning experience for everyone involved – including myself. That’s why I cast actors with a wide range of experience and training, making this project as much about mentorship as it is about storytelling. Watching the growth of each cast member over the course of rehearsals has been inspiring. It reminded me of an old adage: If you want to make money, do TV. If you want to be famous, make movies. But if you want to be good, do theatre. I come from the world of theatre, and in a city like Vancouver – where film and TV dominate – it is important to remember how vital theatre is in shaping an actor’s craft. I also want to give a special thank you to Hellal Jawhari, whose organizational skills and dedication to the process rival any producer or actor I’ve ever worked with. Every director needs a steady collaborator, and Hellal has been exactly that throughout this journey. Thank you for being here, for supporting live theatre, and for giving us the chance to share this work with you. – Emilio Salituro
The Cast
Hellal Jawhari
Lenny
Chris Cope
Skank
Tirion Jones
Daisy
Michael Fera
Sammy
Mimi Toma
Demaris
Andrea Echeverría Díaz
Miss Reyes
Michael Vairo
Jake
Alejandro Montoto Francesena
Vic/Carroll
Lee Tichon
Charlie
Isabelle Madrigal
Chickie
Steve James
Greer
Patrick Bahrich
Holy Roller
Hellal Jawhari
Lenny
Chris Cope
Skank
Tirion Jones
Daisy
Michael Fera
Sammy
Mimi Toma
Demaris
Andrea Echeverría Díaz
Miss Reyes
Michael Vairo
Jake
Alejandro Montoto Francesena
Vic/Carroll
Lee Tichon
Charlie
Isabelle Madrigal
Chickie
Steve James
Greer