United States of Zaf

This solo show tells the saga of how my zany Syrian-American father, Zaf Basha, ran for public office in my hometown and dragged my entire family into the madness.

Following a successful world premiere at the 2025 Elysian Spaghetti Festival, UNITED STATES OF ZAF is back! This is the saga of how my zany Syrian-American father, Zaf Basha, ran for public office in my hometown and dragged my entire family into the madness. He ran for the lowest possible government position imaginable, an “advisory neighborhood council seat”, took it WAY too seriously, then lost by 6 votes! Me, my sister, and mother were all reluctantly assigned official roles on his “political campaign.” This show takes the audience through the chronological journey of my batshit Arab dad’s political journey by showcasing family videos, group chat messages, and real-life images from that time. His story will be interspersed with some of my own hot takes about politics, identity, and what it means to be an immigrant in America.

Written & performed by Gena B. Jones (Netflix Is A Joke Fest, NY Comedy Fest). Directed by Maurin Mwombela.