Meet the cast of Mosque4Mosque
About Face’s 28th season kicks off with Omer Abbas Salem’s hilarious new play Mosque4Mosque. In the play, Ibrahim is an average 30-something queer Arab-American Muslim on the precipice of his first real relationship. But his relentlessly caring immigrant mother Sara takes Ibrahim’s future into her own hands when she attempts to find the perfect man for him to marry. Learn more about the play…
The Cast of Mosque4Mosque
OMER ABBAS SALEM (he/they)
playwright, playing Ibrahim
Omer Abbas Salem is a Chicago actor and playwright. As an actor, he’s worked with Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, The New Coordinates, Jackalope Theatre, Steep Theatre, Silk Road Rising, Griffin Theatre, The House, Bailiwick Chicago, and more. As a playwright, his work has been developed and produced at Steppenwolf Theatre, Goodman Theatre, Jackalope Theatre, First Floor Theater, DePaul University, National Queer Theater, Definition Theatre, About Face Theater, and The New Coordinates. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign and the University of Chicago. Learn more at omerabbassalem.com.
RULA GARDENIER (she/her)
playing Sara
Rula is thrilled to make her About Face Theatre debut and for the opportunity to work with this amazing team of artists. Now based in Los Angeles, Rula was last seen in the Chicago stage production Mosque Alert (Silk Road Rising). Film: Breaking Fast, theatrical/streaming on Amazon and Hulu; First Gens out in 2023. TV: The Consultant, Leech, Chicago Med, New Amsterdam, Pearson, The Looming Tower, The Following. Rula is the recipient of the Jury Award for best performance in a supporting role (OUT International film festival) for BreakingFast.
GLORIA IMSEIH PETRELLI (she/them)
playing Lena
Gloria is a Chicago-born and based artist and organizer. She is overjoyed to be home after finishing up a season of understudying unseen by Mona Mansour at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Other credits include Layalina (New Stages, Goodman Theatre), Kiss (Haven Theatre), and Three Sisters (The Neighborhood Theatre). She is also the voice of M. Bubbz in the Jackbox Game Job Job. Gloria is so honored to be a small part of changing the American canon. To find out more and subscribe to her newsletter, visit thegloriaimseihpetrelli.com.
JORDAN DELL HARRIS (he/him)
playing James
Jordan is thrilled to make his About Face Theatre debut in this beautiful play! A Georgia native, Jordan is now proud to be a Chicago-based Actor and Visual Artist. Recent work includes Queer Eye: The Musical Parody at The Second City and The Boys in the Band at Windy City Playhouse (Jeff Award Winner – Best Ensemble). Other Chicago credits include work with Goodman Theatre, Raven Theatre, Griffin Theatre, The Story Theatre, BoHo Theatre, and many more. TV credits include 4400 (CW) and Next (Fox). Learn more at JordanDellHarris.com
ROM BARKHORDAR (he/him)
playing the Lawyer and others
This is Rom’s first production at About Face Theatre. He’s been living and acting in Chicago for 23 years. Local credits: Wife of a Salesman (Writer’s Theatre); Acts of God (Lookingglass Theatre); Yasmina’s Necklace (Goodman Theatre); Vanya, or, that’s Life! (Rasaka Theatre); Mosque Alert (Silk Road Rising); The Who and the What (Victory Gardens); In a Garden (A Red Orchid Theatre, Jeff Nomination Best Actor); Regional credits: Proof (Kitchen Theatre); Disgraced (Virginia Stage Co.); The Who and the What (Huntington Theatre, IRNE Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor); Around the World in 80 Days (Center Stage Theatre). Television credits: Chicago Med, Proven Innocent, Chicago Justice, Chicago Fire, Boss. Rom is a proud Organizer for SWANASA Central.