our founding

Sihr Theatre was founded in 2023 by Artistic Director Tony-Elias Choufani in Wilmington, NC. Drawing on his Lebanese-American heritage and childhood love of sleight-of-hand, he chose “Sihr” (a Lebanese word for “magic”) as a reflection of himself and the type of theatre he wished to create.

As a Lebanese-American actor/writer/director, Tony-Elias felt dissatisfied with the representation he experienced in the American Theatre and Film/Television industry. Sihr Theatre was created as an antidote to inauthentic and stereotypical portrayals of MENA (Middle-Eastern & North African) people.

Our mission

Sihr Theatre strives to produce original and published works that explore the magical, fantastical, and altogether unfathomable.

We are also committed to lifting Middle-Eastern and BIPOC voices and stories.

We believe in a true ensemble spirit and practice innovative rehearsal methods that echo the intense rigor and deep humanity of the Moscow Art Theatre and the Group Theatre.

This is Sihr.