American Fast

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

  • Giulianna Marchese:
    21 Mar. 2024
    This play has lots of great opportunities for media design. There is a lot of projection and direct address to the audience, but Fahmy very thoughtfully brings more tangible objects to the stage at certain moments. Food, alcohol, a basketball. It would be so cool to actually watch actors play a game of HORSE on stage.

    I also love that this play talks a little about why Muslim's fast and the purpose of the Holiday. If you're looking for a play that explores a mother/daughter relationship, has Arab representation, and opportunities for creative and theatrical staging, read this!
  • Annalise Cain:
    9 Apr. 2023
    A moving, surprising play about faith, mothers and daughters and sacrifice. I can't stop thinking about the line "I needed you to be weak with me."
  • Risa Brainin:
    17 Oct. 2022
    "American Fast" had its first workshop/reading with us at LAUNCH PAD in 2020, and our audience was blown away by the piece. Kareem Fahmy tackles the complexities ambition and how the desire to succeed at the highest level impacts both the individual and their relationships. It is at once a love story, a coming of age story and a story which continuously challenges the characters' and audience's moral compass. And all the while, we are on the edge of our seats watching a thrilling basketball championship! No doubt this play will have a long life. I highly recommend it.

Character Information

  • 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.
  • Gabe
    20,
    Black
    ,
    Male
    A 20-year-old Black man. A college junior. A forward on his school’s Division 1 basketball team.
  • 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.
  • Coach
    40s,
    Black
    ,
    Female
    A Black woman in her 40s. The Coach of the women’s basketball team and a former player herself.

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