World Premiere
Performances
Apr 3, 2026 -
Apr 25, 2026
Cast & Personnel
Director
Original Music
Choreography
Scenic Design
Lighting Design
Video Design
Sound Design
Prop Design
The Play
“We don’t happen to love; it happens to us.”
Afsaneh Aayani’s latest experimental dance-theatre piece was loosely inspired by two of friends: one from Tel Aviv, the other from her native Tehran who will never be free to express or indulge the deep, true love between them. Featuring an original soundscape by longtime collaborator Hessam Dianpour, Romeos and Juliets also contains echoes of the Persian love story Layla and Majnun sharing striking similarities with and surely influencing Shakespeare’s tragedy. Across human history, we have been told who and how it is okay to love, so there can’t be a single Romeo or Juliet, Layla or Majnun: they are legion.
Audiences will recognize Aayani’s work from her striking scenic designs at Catastrophic, across Houston, and beyond. Catastrophic fans might know her best for the extraordinary original works she has premiered on our stage: The Turn of the Screw and Innominate. (World premiere.)
“Aayani is a major talent with something to say and a multitude of talents with which to say it.” – Houston Chronicle
The Playwright
AFSANEH AAYANI is a Houston-based scenic designer, puppeteer, puppet maker, mask maker, voice actress, and artist with over 15 years of industry experience. She began her artistic journey in Iran where she developed her skills as a puppeteer and puppet maker, performed as a voice actor on television, and built her foundation as an artist. She completed her Bachelors in Puppetry from the Art University of Tehran and shortly thereafter performed in festivals internationally including in China, Poland, and Sri Lanka.
After building extensive experience in Iran, Afsaneh took a leap of faith and moved to the USA where she earned her Masters of Fine Arts in Scenic Design from the University of Houston in 2020. She has been engaged in exciting work around Houston including scenic design, costume design, props master, puppet and mask making, and puppet instructing. In the Spring of 2020, Afsaneh was awarded the USITT Scenic Design Award Sponsored by Rose Brand which recognized Afsaneh's achievements and potential as a young scenic designer. Afsaneh continues to seek ways to express herself, her vision, and learn new things at every opportunity to create magic.
Sponsors
