Mokeb – Circle Theater Festival

Mokeb is a dark comedy following Ayan, a late-20s freelancer from NYC, as she joins 20 million pilgrims on the Arbaeen walk—an 86-kilometer spiritual journey from Najaf to Karbala in Iraq. Desperate to reconnect with her Shia identity and regain a sense of spiritual grounding after a painful personal decision, Ayan finds herself in the mokebs (guesthouses) alongside five other women, navigating grief, faith, and unexpected friendships in the scorching desert heat.

Written by Hannah Dehradunwala and directed by Darine Hotait, this production centers the voices and experiences of SWANA artists telling a deeply personal story about identity, trust, and belonging. The play unfolds in those otherworldly spaces of rest and reprieve, where strangers become witnesses to each other's journeys.

Tickets range from $15 (wheelchair accessible) to $50 (front section premium seating), with middle and balcony options at $40 and $30. Student and senior discounts available with valid ID. The AMT Theater is located in Hell's Kitchen; arrive early to settle in before the lights dim.