American Fast by Kareem Fahmy

Twenty-one-year-old college basketball sensation Khady Salama makes it to March Madness, only to become a flashpoint of controversy when she lies about observing the Muslim fast while competing in the tournament.
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American Fast

Recommended by

  • D.D. Wigley:
    11 Apr. 2024
    “ AMERICAN FAST works beautifully with the particular themes of religion & relationship (mother/daughter, athlete/coach, girlfriend/boyfriend, media – social & news). There are lots of challenging opportunities for designers to shine, though it’s also possible to produce this play quite simply. Good story & good plot elements coming together to form a perfect ‘trap’ for central character Khady – all this with fast pacing & a great ending! I only read AF, but would love to see a production. ”
  • Zach Barr:
    10 Apr. 2024
    “ Breathless as a championship game, Fahmy's script is a whirlwind look at the intersection of faith, sports, and family – how each of them shapes us into a version of ourselves, and how dangerous it can be when any deviation will occur under a watchful eye beyond our control. Enormously variable in production, four plush acting roles, and the most practical food I've seen in a script in quite some time – a strong recommendation for any company at any scale. Game on! ”
  • Red Theater:
    10 Apr. 2024
    “ a confident, well-paced, humanist story with four fully realized and complex characters driving us forward. Full of empathy without holding your hand, AMERICAN FAST explores the consequences of living under the heat of the spotlight. ”
View all 20 recommendations

Character Information

3W, 1M

  • Khady
    21,
    Middle Eastern
    ,
    Female
    A 21-year-old Middle Eastern American woman. A college senior. A point guard on her school’s Division 1 basketball team.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Middle Eastern, North African, or Arab American
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Gabe
    20,
    Black
    ,
    Male
    A 20-year-old Black man. A college junior. A forward on his school’s Division 1 basketball team.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Suzan
    Late 40s,
    Middle Eastern
    ,
    Female
    A Middle Eastern woman in her late 40s. Khady’s mother. She was born in Egypt, so she speaks with an accent. She is devoutly Muslim but does not wear a headscarf.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Middle Eastern, North African, or Arab American
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Coach
    40s,
    Black
    ,
    Female
    A Black woman in her 40s. The Coach of the women’s basketball team and a former player herself.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Gender: 
      Female

Development History

  • Workshop
    ,
    Denver Center
    ,
    2022
  • Reading
    ,
    Capital Rep
    ,
    2021
  • Reading
    ,
    New York Foundation for the Arts (City Artist Corps Grantee)
    ,
    2021
  • Workshop
    ,
    UC Santa Barbara Launch Pad BIPOC Reading Series
    ,
    2021

Production History

Awards

Nominee for Outstanding Original Production
,
Barrymore Awards
,
2032
Finalist
,
Diverse Voices Playwriting Initiative
,
The Crossroads Project, Illinois State University
,
2022
Winner
,
Next Act! New Play Summit
,
Capital Repertory Theatre
,
2021