Doug Cooney, Professor
Cypress College/Theatre Dept.
Diversity in American Theater
October 2019
Worksheet for “Disgraced”
Ayad Akhtar’s “Disgraced” examines issues of cultural and religious tolerance in contemporary Manhattan. The play is a 90 minute, one-act play – that creates a pressure-cooker among its characters.
CHARACTERS: A play is populated by characters.
Akhtar’s characters here are all smart, intelligent, sophisticated, professional New Yorkers. That’s how they are the “same.” But they are also very different. Describe the following characters – with an emphasis on describing what is different between them.
AMIR KAPOOR
EMILY KAPOOR
ABE
JORY
ISAAC
CONFLICT: The action of a play relies on conflict. Conflict creates the plot.
The conflict between these characters comes to a head over a dinner table conversation. What do these characters talk about during their dinner conversation? What’s the nature of this argument/discussion? In short, what are they talking about?
THEME: In addition to plot, a play typically explores an underlying theme, an abstract, intangible subject.
Define “Islamophobia.” If possible, share a personal story when you witnessed or experienced any aspect of Islamophobia.