about me

“Yasmin Zacaria Mikhaiel is a young person that is a force to be reckoned with. The dramaturg, theater journalist, and oral historian practically redefines artistic acrobatics.”

— Footlights

“One of American theatre’s most audacious dreamers . . .”

— Theatre Communications Group

THE SHORT BIO

Yasmin Zacaria Mikhaiel (she/they) is a Chicago-based dramaturg, journalist, and oral historian. Their multi-disciplinary work as a queer, fat, Iranian-American femme endeavors to amplify and archive stories that go lost/stolen/forgotten. Follow them on Twitter/IG @yasminzacaria.

THE LONG BIO

Yasmin Zacaria Mikhaiel (she/they) is an award-winning dramaturg, journalist, and oral historian with roots in and around Chicago. As a queer, fat, Iranian-American femme, they endeavor to amplify and archive stories that go lost/stolen/forgotten. Their dramaturgy centers care work and facilitating brave spaces for ensemble-made theatre and performance. Their theatre writing and research explores possibility models for the future of theatremaking and writing that is reflexive, culturally competent, and sustainable. Mikhaiel holds a MA in Performance as Public Practice from The University of Texas at Austin (2021) and a BFA in Dramaturgy/Criticism from DePaul University (2017). Mikhaiel now teaches as adjunct faculty of The Theatre School at DePaul, with hands on courses across dramatic literature and Chicago theatre history. They also work as a curriculum consultant and post-production facilitator for student debriefs.

Mikhaiel is a dedicated mentor and advocate of dramaturgy, serving as the VP of Freelance for the Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas and as a committee member of the Association for Theatre in Higher Education. Mikhaiel has also served as a Guest Respondent for the Kennedy Center College American Theater Festival (R3 Journalism, R5 Dramaturgy). Select bylines include American Theatre magazine, Chicago Reader, In These Times, Teen Vogue, and The Methuen Drama Book of Trans Plays (Finalist in the 2022 Lambda Literary Awards for the LGBTQ Anthology category).

Through their parallel career as an accidental communications specialist, they’ve supported radical and ambitious organizations in assessing their audience goals and developing inclusive data-driven strategies. Mikhaiel honed their digital media skills on-the-ground, pairing their experiences as a theatre-maker/dramaturg and cultural organizer in order to thrive in local news and media spaces. From serving as the Chicago Reader’s first Audience Engagement Manager to The Hoodoisie’s Editorial Producer and Social Media Manager, they are committed to supporting narratives that keep it real, breathing back truth and hope into our everydays. They are currently City Bureau’s Digital Producer, where they pitched and project managed an award-winning video series as a part of a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation, “Missing in Chicago.”

Mikhaiel is a founding cultural producer with the volunteer-led collective Salon Kawakib, a community of SWANA organizers hosting monthly art, education and action-oriented events across Chicago since 2022. They recently founded BIYA BIYA, a Creative Agency and Production House.

Follow them on Instagram and Twitter @yasminzacaria (dramaturgically it tracks).

CURRENT ROLES

Digital Producer & Project Manager, City Bureau
Adjunct Faculty & Post-Production Debrief Facilitator, The Theatre School at DePaul University
Cultural Organizer, Salon Kawakib (read my In These Times op-ed and follow us on Instagram @Salon.Kawakib)
Fellow, Chicago Critics Table, Arts + Public Life, UChicago
Director of Communications, Digital Development Project
VP of Freelance, Literary Managers & Dramaturgs of the Americas
Freelance Reporter: Chicago Reader, In These Times, American Theatre magazine

Yasmin Zacaria Mikhaiel coaches City Bureau fellows on aundience engagement strategy and self-marketing. (Video: Caroline Olsen /City Bureau)

sliding scale:

Consulting

As a creative, my work always centers storytelling, audience, and care. I want to help people and their orgs feel confident about what they create and who they create it for. In my practice, I coach on the short- and long-term in 1-1 and group sessions.

Skim my skills and reach out if there’s something you’d like to share brainspace on!

Building Your Brand

Getting started with goals and an audience
Building your portfolio and archiving your work
Finding your people (and $$$)
Career coaching (early career insights, to grad school or not to grad school, etc.)