English – Play at Todd Haimes Theatre

Get set for one of the most highly anticipated plays of the year! The comedy epic from Pulitzer Prize winning writer Sanaz Toossi English is finally hitting Broadway and it’s guaranteed to be a riveting spectacle packed with plenty of laughs but also some valuable lessons! This Pulitzer Prize winning play comes to the legendary Todd Haimes Theatre starting this winter and it’s bound to bring all the stops – from captivating scenes and sets to a stellar cast! Join this new adventure as four foreign students try to learn English but discover something beyond adapting to a non native dialect! A simple langugae class turns to a cultural awakening, finding of ambitions, and discovering hope for the future! Reviewers have nothing to say but praised this “stunning play about hope, belonging, and desire.” Hurry and see this amazing story on stage by securing access to English playing live at the Todd Haimes Theatre!

English Play Tickets

“A buoyant comedy of communication and a subtle but probing exploration!” – The New York Theater Guide

Karaj, Iran 2008 – four students come in class in hopes to learn a non-native language, English. Elham, Omid, Roya, and Goli each have their own reason why they are in the same class. Elham plans to become a medical student, learning English to catapult her chances to excel in her path. Meanwhile, Omid, a lover of English language movies, wants to obtain a green card and live in the U.S.. Roya’s desire to learn English is connected to her hopes of communicating with her Canadian granddaughter. Lastly, Goli just wants to learn English and comes with great determination. Their teacher Marjan is an Iranian who had lived in England for several years. She imposed an English-speaking only rule while in her class. Now, with incredibly different personalities – all with various reasons on why they want to learn the language, these students class but also find themselves. Will taking on the language means losing some of their Iranian identity? Or will all of these individuals excel on their new path? Find out by catching English at Todd Haimes Theatre! 

English features a storyline by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Sanaz Toossi. In 2023, she was awarded the prize for Drama. In addition, Toossi also secured a Lucille Lortell Award four outstanding play and an Obie Award for Best New American Play. In 2022, the Dramatists Guild of American awarded her the Horton Foote Award. English premiered Off-Broadway in 2022, followed by a production in Chicago in 2024. The show was led by esteemed Iranian director Amid Dehghani and featured a mighty ensemble cast. The spectacle was a lot more improved compared its Off Broadway counterpart and the production featured the work of a talented creative team including Courtney O’Neill on set design, Shahrzad Mazaheri on costume, Jason Lynch on lighting, and Mikaal Sulaiman on sound. In the summer of 2024, another production in Minneapolis was mounted.

Despite its incredibly simple set – with scenes taking place in the classroom, English received wide acclaim for its compelling storytelling. The humous script also adds to its charm as the very subtle narrative shows how four students struggled with a new language and also discover new insights on culture, ambition, hope, and tons more. The play was revered for its plot and powerful performances from the original cast, which included Tala Ashe, Ava Lalezarzadeh, Pooya Mohseni, Marjan Nesha, and Hadi Tabbal.  

For the upcoming Broadway production, English brings in director Knud Adams. Cast has yet to be announced but given past performances, the play is surefire to feature an electrifying group of performers. 

“Fully engrossing and deeply moving!”  Chicago Sun Times

The New York Theater Guide praised this roaring play in their review, “English is both a buoyant comedy of communication and a subtle but probing exploration of what it means to speak out loud and feel understood.” The article also lauded Toossi for exploring on heavy themes with light hearted approach, “Toossi approaches big, thorny questions with an expertly light touch, rooting her play’s intricacies in well-shaded characters. But take a slight step back and the full picture comes into view — a stunning meditation on what makes us human.”

Over at the Guardian, Toossi also received compliments for her very subtle message. “Toossi employs a dramatic device that initially feels merely pragmatic, but resonates in increasingly intriguing ways. As a metaphor for cultural imperialism, it’s ingenious and disturbing.”

“It nails every opportunity for big laughs!” – New York Times

Over at the New York Times, the play was praised for its fantastic comedic content. “Both contemplative and comic, it nails every opportunity for big laughs as its English-learning characters struggle with accents and idioms.” The Chicago Sun Times also added, “Subdued in tone but fully engrossing and deeply moving, the play has twists that surprise and a lot of humor.”

This 2025, English opens at Todd Haimes Theatre in New York. The legendary Broadway Theater is an excellent location to accommodate this fast rising play. Upons securing its Pulitzer Prize and garnering universally positive reviews, English is currently the most talked about epics for theater fanatics. The Todd Haimes has a long history in hosting some of Broadway’s most exciting plays. The 700 capacity theater is just right for a compelling play’s intimate setting. Fantastic stories like that of English works perfectly with a right-sized venue, such as Todd Haimes Theatre. Even with its small capacity, the venue provides state-of-the-art facilities similar to larger theaters. Todd Haimes is equipped with top-tier lights and sound, a great ambiance, and stunning acoustics. Top calibre entertainment awaits at the Todd Haimes Theatre. English is surefire to provide the most thrilling experience with the utmost comfort.

“Effortlessly evocative” – The Guardian

Don’t miss out on this award-winning play that has peaked theater fans’ interest. The riveting story provides a great perspective into maintaining cultural identities and ambitions of various personalities. It’s a spectacle perfect for all types of audiences. Get set and join this thrilling epic featuring Elham, Omid, Roya, Goli, and teacher Marjan! Hurry and don’t miss out on this Pulitzer Prize winning showcase by award-winning playwright  Sanaz Toossi! Secure your access easily by clicking on the Get Tickets link!