Ayad AkhtarSpeaker and Booking Agent Information

Ayad Akhtar is an acclaimed American playwright, novelist, and screenwriter of Pakistani descent. Raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, by immigrant parents, he gained international recognition with his debut novel, “American Dervish” (2012), a coming-of-age story set in the Midwest about a young Muslim. His work often explores themes of identity, culture, politics, capitalism, and faith in post-9/11 America. His breakthrough play “Disgraced” (2012) won the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and earned a Tony Award nomination. Other notable works include the plays “The Invisible Hand”, “Junk”, and “The Who & The What”, as well as the novel “Homeland Elegies” (2020). His writings have been translated into over two dozen languages. Akhtar has also served as president of PEN America since 2021 and has received honors such as the Steinberg Playwright Award and an Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters.