2025 MAKER’S SERIES
Close to Home
Written and Directed by Sharifa Yazmeen
Three southerners, each on their own journey, discover transformative connections in this vibrant and deeply human comedic drama about belonging, and second chances.
Zara, a sharp-witted and determined Trans teen, Colt, a rugged yet compassionate construction worker, and Kaysar, a devoted and steadfast Muslim immigrant, navigate the intersections of hope, survival, and joy. When their lives intertwine, they find new possibilities for community and mutual care, reshaping their understanding of themselves and each other.
Performance Dates
April 10 – April 27
Wednesdays–Saturdays
7 PM
Sundays
2 PM
Preview
April 10, 7 PM
Opening Night
April 11, 7 PM
Special Event with Our Space
April 13, 12 PM
Artist Community Night
April 16 5:30 PM
Pre-Show Art Activity
April 17, 6 PM
Post-Show Trans Care
April 17, 8:45 PM
ASL Performance
April 18, 7 PM
Audio Description Performance
April 20, 2pm
Industry Night Performance
April 21, 6 PM
Post-Show Trans Artist Panel
April 24, 8:45 PM
Closing Matinee
April 27, 2PM
“This could be an artist statement or a general Maker’s Series philosophy moment. My work explores connection–to the self, to the world, and to others. That is the ultimate goal in both their teaching and the art they make, to create or strengthen connections. ”
Sharifa Yazmeen
Sharifa Yazmeen
Sharifa Yazmeen
Sharifa Yazmeen (she/her) is a trans Arab-American director, actor, and playwright.
Yazmeen’s playwriting focuses on the intersection of Queer and Arab identities. Her plays have been published in Overheard, a collection of monologues by and for TNB2S+ artist and the both editions of the Methuen Drama Book of Trans Plays.
Meet the Actors
Ibimina Dominiqu Thompson (Zara)
Ibimina Dominique Thompson is a multi-hyphenate artist based in the Midwest and New York. She creates work that centers Black transness and looks to remove a fictional veil of Maya created by whiteness on art. They were recently recognized among “Theater workers to watch” by American Theater magazine.
SPECIAL THANKS TO MY FRIENDS, AND FAMILY (CHOSEN AND BLOOD) FOR BRINGING ME THUS FAR.
Previous credits: Guthrie theater (little Prince), artistry theater (Godspell/ 25th annual Putnam county spelling bee), theater latté da (twelve angry men (world premiere)), underdog theater company x mixed blood (how it’s gon be (world premiere)), gremlin theater (samuel j and k)
Film : love is like (North Carolina black film festival, cinema filming festival)
Phineas Clark (Colt)
Phineas Clark (he/him) is a New England based actor, improviser and voiceover artist. On stage, he has performed at regional theaters across the country including Cincinnati Playhouse In The Park, The Peterborough Players, and The Guthrie Theater. Favorite past roles include Stanley in A Streetcar Named Desire, Edmund in King Lear, and Mr. Marks in Intimate Apparel. Most recently, Phineas was seen originating the role of Mac in Die Hard Is A Christmas Movie at KNOW Theatre of Cincinnati. Having trained and performed in Minneapolis years ago, he is excited to return to the Twin Cities for his Pillsbury House + Theater debut with friends both old and new. It is an honor to be working on this piece, with this cast and creative team, at this theatre, at this moment in time. Phineas would like to thank his amazing wife, family, and friends for their love and support. Special thanks go to the Shuford family.
Noor Hamdi (Kaysar)
Noor, who is proudly queer and Syrian-American, is a New York based actor, teaching-artist, dialect coach, writer, clown, and circus artist. He’s worked on Broadway (including “Skin of Our Teeth” dir. Lilean Blain-Cruz), Off-Broadway (including “Cartography” by Kaneza Schaal and Chris Myers), regionally, and internationally. Noor also has a solo show titled “2014”, performed with special appearances by his imaginary friends. Film credits include “Flunkyball” (dir. Tess Forestieri), and “Sherman” (dir. Darine Hotait), among others. Noor seeks to normalize and popularize SWANA and queer narratives (and especially the intersection of the two) in order to promote a deeper tolerance and understanding of those communities in the current social framework of the world.
Website: www.noorhamdi.com
More about Sharifa Yazmeen
Sharifa Yazmeen (she/her) is a trans Arab-American director, actor, and playwright. She has completed directing fellowships with The Drama League, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Manhattan Theatre Club, Geva Theatre, and was a Eugene O’Neill national directing fellow.
Some of Sharifa’s favorite directing projects include Disgraced (American Stage), Beirut (Brown/Trinity Rep), The War Boys (Hangar Theater), 3:59AM (Actors Theatre of Louisville), Babel (CATF), Noon Panir in the Dark (Dartmouth College), In the Blood (Duende Productions), and Mosque4Mosque (National Queer Theatre). Yazmeen’s playwriting focuses on the intersection of Queer and Arab identities.
Her plays have been published in Overheard, a collection of monologues by and for TNB2S+ artist and the both editions of the Methuen Drama Book of Trans Plays. Her play Close to Home was distinguished by the American Theatre Wing at the annual Antoinette Gala, and was recently included on the 2023 Kilroy’s list.
Yazmeen was also honored as the inaugural recipient of the SCDF’s Barbara Whitman Award in 2021, and Abe Burrows award in 2024. She holds a MFA in Directing from Brown/Trinity Rep. www.sharifayazmeen.com