Give Me The MacArthur Genius Grant
Written & Performed by Tarek Ziad
10th Annual Queerly Festival presented by FRIGID New York
UNDER St. Marks at 94 St Marks Pl. NYC
June 13-July 3
Photos by Isaiah Hattix
I always forget about The MacArthur Genius Fellow until I come across an announcement and find myself reeducating myself on the grant itself. Then I remember, “Oh, some genius just got $800,000 to do something more genius than they just did.” That’s really genius. Then I get into my feelings. I would love $800,000 – NO STRINGS ATTACHED - their words not mine. So would Tarek Ziad.
Give Me the MacArthur Genius Fellow is an entertaining, well-written, introspective, and interactive performance piece that questions the definition of success. As a multi-hyphenate, queer Muslim with roots in Africa, Ziad leads us on the quest of what success could look like if we had both time and money to explore the path that makes us artists. The piece starts with a congratulatory message from First Lady Michelle Obama to Zaid on becoming a fellow. Spoiler alert: he isn’t a recipient but should be. The eldest of four sons to a low-income family, he followed his dream of becoming an artist. And let’s not get it twisted. He has experienced success by receiving a full scholarship to Yale; shook hands with a Supreme Court Justice for receiving a grant; and even explored the stand-up comedy landscape. However, $800,000 would be a gamechanger in the life of this grant applicant. Any one of us can identify with wishing we had enough money to invest into our future, our craft, our careers. Many of us have also travelled the gig industry path to support our artist career. Zaid’s vulnerability is courageous as he shares his hustle (one that all “marginalized” folks are expected to do) and his trauma. His hustles range from barista to data entry specialist to culture forecaster to a substitute teacher to teaching English in Japan. All this for the sake of being able to create, work, and tour. Most recipients seem to have already achieved success in their chosen field and given this opportunity to continue their interests. He says it’s a Catch-22 which I was thinking and feeling as I watched his performance.
Success and validation are such a tightrope. We all dance it and try to balance it. What is this all for anyway? Then there’s the fulfillment of it all. The struggle is real.
The MacArthur Genius is a five-year grant awarded to those who have already received some success and accomplishment and will continue on that path of innovation. The MacArthur Foundation is a private foundation with assets totaling $8.3 billion. Recipients reflect all backgrounds, fields of study, and industries. Most names may not be recognizable, but here are a few recipients from our industry: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Lynn Nottage, Alison Bechdel, Taylor Mac, and Branden Jacobs-Jenkins.
Reviewed by Malini Singh McDonald.
Published by Theatre Beyond Broadway on June 21st, 2024. All rights reserved.