SHOWS
These five shows have been featured at the International Storytelling Center, off-Broadway, and nationwide. NPR presented the show Flirting Like an American as "a show about romance, culture, and one immigrant's story" and the show From Russia Without Love as "an escapist James Bond parody." Sufian's shows are based on his personal experience as a first-generation immigrant and political analyst, which might be funnier than it sounds.
An Immigrant's Guide to America
A renowned immigrant scholar is forced to test his own intercultural theories in real life when he immigrates to the United States. Can he survive in the wild among these mysterious species he studied - Americans? The awkward professor goes through painful culture shock and endless missteps before fully assimilating into American society. In this humorous solo show, award-winning author and performer Sufian Zhemukhov will have audiences reevaluate what they thought they knew about Americans.
Saturday, January 11, 2025
7:00 PM EDT
Storytelling Arts of Indiana
A naive single professor arrives from Russia. His fluency in numbers and statistics is only matched by his cluelessness in the not-so-international language of women and romance. Will he ever understand and be able to conquer the heart of the mysterious, exotic creature known as the American Woman? Will he find love or remain romantically monolingual forever? Follow Sufian Zhemukhov’s harrowing and hilarious journey as he navigates the foreign world of dating and romance in the New World in 'a show about romance, culture, and one immigrant's story,' according to NPR.
Lost and Almost Found
While preparing for this show, I put together a focus group of my brightest and most honest friends, who advised: “Whatever you do, avoid religion, politics, or guns.” Maybe it’s human nature, but when somebody tells me, “Whatever you do, don't do this,” that’s exactly what I want to do. But on a more serious note, I believe that storytelling, as a true art form, can reflect on anything and does not need to avoid controversial topics. I decided to go the other way and have created this Taboo solo show that covers nothing but these controversial topics—thanks to my honest friends for the list. Ladies and gentlemen, put your crash helmets on, fasten your seatbelts, and brace yourselves for a wild ride about religion, politics, and guns! As a bonus, Debussy's Clair de Lune on a classical guitar.
Soviet Boy With Magic Powers
What was it like growing up behind the Iron Curtain in the Soviet Union? Were Soviet kids raised in drawers, force-fed borscht, and forbidden from smiling? Yes, that's almost how it was. But there was one special boy who learned his grandpa's magic and developed an antidote to communist propaganda. In this show, award-winning storyteller and former Soviet boy Sufian Zhemukhov will share heartwarming and delightful childhood stories about how he played with his baby buffalo, memorized foreign books, and attempted to solve the dark mysteries of the Cold War.
From Russian Without Love
A political science professor stumbles into the underworld of Russian organized crime - what could possibly go wrong? As he escapes to the United States, will the KGB and Russian mafia track him down? Will his academic skills, ingenuity, and luck lead to his salvation or demise? In this wildly entertaining 'escapist James Bond parody' (NPR), award-winning author and performer Sufian Zhemukhov will regale the audience with his quirky observations, humorous insights, and intriguing stories that just may have you reevaluate what you thought you knew about everything from nerdy professors to mafia members!
Audience feedback
"Deserves its own radio show. Move over, David Sedaris." - Talya B.
"Couldn't have picked a better way to spend date night with my husband!" - Jordana C.
"Can’t wait for the next one!!!" - Charles K.