LAFPI

Iranian Artist Breaks Silence with “Freedom in Limbo” A searing Solo Performance.

Illuminating the Underground Lives of Silenced Iranian Artists.

Iranian actor and playwright Julia Rahmanzaei presents Freedom in Limbo, a deeply personal and politically urgent solo performance that explores the realities of censorship, exile, and artistic resistance. Written and performed by Rahmanzaei and directed by Jesimiel Jenkins, Freedom in Limbo takes audiences on an intimate journey from Tehran’s heavily restricted theater scene to the freedom— and loneliness—of artistic exile in the United States. Through vivid storytelling and personal testimony, Rahmanzaei recounts her own experience of being banned from performing in Iran and the difficult choices artists must make when forced to choose between their homeland and their art.

“This performance gives voice to countless Iranian artists who endure years of script rejections, censorship, and, ultimately, forced migration,” says Rahmanzaei. “It is not just my story—it is the story of an entire creative community fighting to preserve our culture and our art despite overwhelming obstacles. Freedom in Limbo reveals the hidden world of Iran’s creative underground, where plays sit in drawers for years awaiting approval, women’s movements are restricted on stage, and artists are often left with only two options: silence or exile. Through one woman’s journey, audiences witness a broader struggle for artistic freedom and the resilience of creators who refuse to be silenced.

June 20, 2026 1:00 PM, June 22, 2026  5:30 PM, June 24, 2026 5:30 PM .

Tickets available through the Hollywood Fringe Festival website.

About Julia Rahmanzaei:

Originally from Tehran, Iran, Julia Rahmanzaei is an actor, writer, and director whose work bridges Iranian and American theater traditions. She holds a Master’s degree in Theater Directing from Iran and an MFA in Acting from the University of Washington School of Drama. Since immigrating to the United States in pursuit of unrestricted artistic expression, she has appeared in productions such as Bull in a China Shop, The Saint Plays, and The Moors. I am an actress, where is my country , and recently appeared in her debut feature film, Mistakhan.