Beck Center for the Arts ‘Andy Warhol in Iran’ POPS!

Sometimes everything you need to know about a theatrical production can be found in the program given at the start of the performance. In the case of the Beck Center’s for the Arts production of Brent Askari’s “Andy Warhol in Iran” there is a wealth of information concerning the man known as the “Godfather of Pop Art”.

The Beck Center for the Arts production of “Andy Warhol in Iran” began with a phone call to Director Sarah May from an old friend recommending she check out the new show. It was so new that no script was available. Two years later and the show popped up at the City Theatre in Pittsburgh. It was (in her own words) “...just the kind of play I love...being timely, thought provoking, exciting, funny and hopeful.” Back at the Beck Sarah shared the play with Scott Spence who also liked it thus the plans to produce were set into motion.

Andy Warhol was born Andrew Warhola, Jr. in 1928 and raised by Slovakian immigrant parents in a tiny apartment in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. When eight years old he contracted St. Vitus Dance and was bedridden. At the encouragement of his mother he spent the time drawing and creating scrap books from cut out pictures from Hollywood magazines and comic books his mother bought for him. When his aptitude for photography became apparent his parents built him a darkroom in the basement.

While studying art at Holmes School his art teacher recognized his potential and enrolled him in Saturday drawing lessons at the Carnegie Institute in Pittsburgh. At the age of 14 his father suddenly died after drinking contaminated water. Following high school he enrolled at the Carnegie Institute of Technology studying commercial art and earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.

Warhol made his professional artistic mark by painting satirical renditions of everyday products such as Campbell Soup Cans and Brillo Pad boxes. Though rejected by critics his art was embraced by a new wave of hip artists, musicians and socialites. He questioned the true definition of art.

As a sideline to earn money, he also did portraits of the rich and famous. He soon got weary of painting and began to pursue other artistic endeavors including sculpture, movies, performance art, magazine publishing and rock band management. In the early 70s he began taking photos of notable friends turning those portraits into silk screens. This led to his series of works of repetitive images of different colors with Marilyn Monroe, Mohammed Ali and Chairman Mao. In 1976 he was asked to visit Tehran to begin work on portraits of the Shah Pahlavi and his wife Empress Farah as the revolution began to form in the country.

The show begins with Warhol sitting in the audience telling of his early life and successes. He makes his way to the stage and the show begins.

After a long flight and a very warm tour of Tehran, Andy Warhol (Scott Esposito) is seeking rest in his five star hotel room. He has ordered caviar to be sent to his room. There is a knock on the door and a uniformed hotel worker named Farhad (Kareem McHaourab) enters with the cart of food. Things suddenly take a turn when the “waiter” reveals himself to be an Iranian revolutionary with a mission to kidnap Warhol in order to publicize the plight of the people of Iran. What follows is a series of gives and takes (at times serious at times comical) as the two men begin to discover each other. At the beginning it is Farhad who has the upper hand as he has a gun. Over the course of the standoff, Warhol (using his powerful artistic eye) discovers that everything is not as it seems.

Scott Esposito as Andy Warhol is an example of perfect casting. He more than looks the part of Warhol...he is Warhol with all of the man’s personality traits, characteristics and unmistakable blonde wig looks. The role requires someone to stretch themselves in performing high drama and deep comedy. Scott nails the roll.

Playing opposite is Kareem McHaourab as Farhad who at first appears to be confident and full of bluster but is soon revealed to be the worst choice to be a kidnapper. He plays a determined yet misguided young Iranian who has traveled to the Untied States for college and has returned to his home country to aid in the revolution.

Sarah May directs the fast moving 75 minute no intermission gem by keeping the action tight and taught. There are no lingering pauses, just fast moving dialogue. Patrick Ciamacco adds to the production with a series of projection designs that capture the Iranian conflict, Warhol’s art and the general unrest in the Middle East. The stage set by Cameron Michalak’s captures the essence of a well appointed Iranian hotel room complete with sliding door balcony and off set bedroom. The superb lighting by Jeff Lochshine adds to the authenticity of the scene.

This is one of those little “slice of life” shows that concentrates on an important event of the last century. The taut and realistic characterizations work to involve the audience as more witnesses than viewers. It opens your eyes to the life of a misunderstood artist, his unwilling involvement in the Middle East conflict and the manner in which he is able to extricate himself from the situation with drama and humor.

The Beck Center for the Arts production of “Andy Warhol In Iran will be on stage in the Studio Theatre at 17801 Detroit Avenue in Lakewood, Ohio through November 2, 2025. For more information and to purchase tickets go to http://www.beckcenter,org or call (216) 52102540.