Rohina Malik

Rohina Malik
Born	London, England
Occupation	Playwright
Nationality	American
Period	2008-present
Notable works	Unveiled, Yasmina's Necklace, The Mecca Tales

Rohina Malik is a critically acclaimed playwright, actress, speaker, story teller and solo performance artist of South Asian descent.

Biography

She was born and raised in London, England, where she showed great interest in theatre and drama. Her father is Pakistani while her mother is Indian.^[1] At the age of 15 she migrated to Chicago with her family and attended Niles North High School in Skokie, Illinois, where she wrote and performed in several theatrical plays. ^[2]

Her career in playwrighting and performance arts started in 2008 after taking a class on writing a one-person play with Tekki Lominicki in April 2008. During the same class, she started writing her much-acclaimed play Unveiled. She was offered at the end of the class to perform a sample of her play in the Fillet of Solo Festival at Live Bait Theater in July 2008. The next year, "Unveiled" had its world premiere at the 16th Street Theater, directed by Ann Filmer. Malik was offered a one-year residency at The Goodman Theater, in the inaugural group of The Goodman's Playwrights Unit.

Since 2010, Malik has performed her play "Unveiled" in over 200 universities, churches, synagogues and other places of worship to open up discussion about hate crimes, identity and discrimination.

Career highlights

• January 2017 - St. Louis Premiere of "Yasmina's Necklace" at Mustard Seed Theater Jan/Feb 2017
• September 2016 - Accepted as an artistic affiliate at American Blues Theater, Chicago IL
• June/July 2016 - South Africa Premiere of "Unveiled" "" at 2016 National Arts Festival, Grahamstone & "" 969 Festival, Johannesburg
• March 2016 - Commissioned by The Hypocrites to develop new play inspired by Syrian musician responses to the refugee crisis.^[3]
• January 2016 - World Premiere of "Yasmina's Necklace" at 16th Street Theater in Berwyn, IL
• June 2015 - New York Premiere of "Unveiled" at Voyage Theater Company ^[4]
• January 2015 - Accepted as an artistic associate at Voyage Theater Company, New York, NY
• October 2014 - Chicago Dramatists announces the World Premiere of "The Mecca Tales" in March/April 2015^[5]
• September 2014 - 2017 - Accepted again as Resident Playwright at Chicago Dramatists
• September 2014 - "Unveiled" performed at Edison Theatre as part of the Ovations Series^[6]
• November/December 2011 – Collaborated with Tanya Saracho and Elizabeth Berg in "Our Holiday Stories" which was produced by 16th Street Theater, Chicago IL
• September 2011 – 2014 – Accepted as one of the 4 new additions to Chicago Dramatist's resident playwrights^[7]
• May 2011 – Playwright Unit Series; "The Mecca Tales", Goodman Theatre in Chicago, IL
• 2010/11 – Accepted as one of the four playwrights in the inaugural Playwrights Unit at Goodman Theatre in Chicago, IL
• 2010 – Accepted as an artistic associate at 16th Street Theater, Berwyn IL
• December 2009 – New Stage Series; "Yasmina's Necklace" Goodman Theatre in Chicago, IL
• May/June 2009 - "Unveiled" was extended for an additional month at 16th Street Theater in Berwyn, IL
• April/May 2009 – World Premiere of "Unveiled" at 16th Street Theater in Berwyn, IL
• August 2008 – Workshopped her play "Unveiled" with Rivendale Theatre
• July 2008 – Performed sample of "Unveiled" at the Filet of Solo Festival

Nominations and awards

• February 2016 - Yasmina's Necklace 2016 Equity Jeff Recommended 2016 Equity Jeff Award Nominee For New Work
• March 2015 - The Mecca Tales 2015 Equity Jeff Award Nominee For New Work
• October 2013 – 2013 YWomen Leadership Award – Woman of Promise
• August 2011 – Nominated for 3 Arts Artist Award in playwrighting

Plays

• Zujaj (Glass) (2016)
• The Mecca Tales (2011)
• Yasmina's Necklace] (2010)
• Unveiled – One Woman Play about Muslim Women post 9/11 (2009)

Publications

• Unveiled - One Woman Play about Muslim Women (2013)

Other activities

She was requested to provide video based inspirational reflections for 30 Good Minutes (a weekly multifaith program on WTTW (Channel 11)) PBS in Chicago. Her reflections will be shown throughout 2012 as part of the weekly program.

She has also performed her play "Unveiled" at various interfaith events, high schools and universities for example Princeton, Yale, University of Chicago, Brigham Young University, University of Oklahoma, Columbia University, University of Illinois, Stanford University.

She gave the keynote address at Dartmouth College for MLK Event in Jan 2016 ^[8]

References