Golden Thread Productions is a left-leaning, critical race theory-aligned theater company based in San Fransisco, California, that produces plays dealing with Middle East culture and politics.

Background

Golden Thread Productions, which takes its name from the golden thread given by Ariadne to Theseus in Greek mythology, was founded as a Middle Eastern culture- and politics-focused theater company in October 1996 by actor, director, and activist Torange Yeghiazarian with the assistance of Maria Zamroud, Termeh Yeghiazarian, Gen Hayashida, and Kamshad Kooshan. In August 2002, the organization was registered as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in San Fransisco, California. ^{1 2}

Since its founding, the organization has staged politically themed plays. For instance, its debut production, an adaption of Aristophanes’ Lysistrata, was set in the Middle East and featured representations of Israeli and Palestinian women forcing men to sign a treaty. In that vein, the organization describes another one of its early productions, Back of the Throat by Yussef El Guindi, as an examination of the aftermath of the controversial PATRIOT Act. ³

Critical Race Theory

In a statement outlining its political commitments, Golden Thread Productions makes various critical race theory-aligned claims: for instance, that the communities comprising the organization have been harmed by “systems of bigotry and prejudice that uphold white supremacy.” The organization affirms that it has “internalized these very same values and practices that often result in lateral violence that further harms our intersectional communities.” In that vein, the organization characterizes its aim as “to combat the deep-seated framework of white supremacy in the US,” which the organization claims continues to “endanger, silence, and isolate artists of color.” ⁴

Funding

Organizations and institutions that have provided financial support to Golden Thread Productions include the San Fransisco Arts Commission, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, San Francisco Grants for the Arts, Sam Mazza Foundation, Walter and Elise Haas Fund, Theater League of Kansas City, and Zellerbach Family Foundation. ⁵

Leadership

Sahar Assaf is the executive artistic director of Golden Thread Productions as well as an ensemble member of The Faction. Previously, she headed the minor program in theater arts as an assistant professor at the American University of Beirut and cofounded and worked as the artistic director of Directors Lab Mediterranean. ⁶

Torange Yeghiazarian is the founder and artistic director emeritus of Golden Thread Productions. Previously, she was a member of the development team of BENEDICTUS, a creative collaboration involving Iranian, Israeli, and American artists. ⁷

Navid Ghaem Maghami is the art director of Golden Thread Productions as well as the head of NaMa, a graphic design studio and creative consulting firm. ⁸

Michelle Mulholland is the managing director of Golden Thread Productions. Previously, she worked in management roles with similar organizations, including Brava Theater, Beach Blanket Babylon, Theater Artaud, Commonwealth Club of California, Coral Reef Alliance, and Forests Forever. Additionally, Mulholland has spent two terms on grants panels for the San Francisco Arts Commission and is a former member of the TBA Theater Services Committee. ⁹

Babak Sani is the president of Golden Thread Production’s board of trustees as well as a member of the board of Body Positive, a body-image nonprofit organization, and a partner at Weaver Austin Villeneuve & Sampson, an intellectual property law firm in the Bay Area. Previously, he taught international patent law courses at the University of California Hastings College of Law. ^{10 11}

1. “History.” Golden Thread Productions. Accessed August 26, 2024. https://goldenthread.org/about/history/
2. “Golden Thread Productions.” ProPublica. Accessed August 26, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/753009451
3. “History.” Golden Thread Productions. Accessed August 26, 2024. https://goldenthread.org/about/history/
4. “Equity and Social Justice.” Golden Thread Productions. Accessed August 26, 2024. https://goldenthread.org/about/equity/
5. “Donors.” Golden Thread Productions. Accessed August 26, 2024. https://goldenthread.org/about/donors/
6. “People: Sahar Assasf.” Golden Thread. Accessed August 26, 2024.   https://goldenthread.org/about/people/#open-modal-Sahar%20Assaf
7. “People: Torange Yeghiazarian.” Golden Thread. Accessed August 26, 2024.  https://goldenthread.org/about/people/#open-modal-Torange%20Yeghiazarian
8. “People: Navid Ghaem Maghami.” Golden Thread. Accessed August 26, 2024. https://goldenthread.org/about/people/#open-modal-Navid%20Ghaem%20Maghami
9. “People: Michelle Mulholland.” Golden Thread. Accessed August 26, 2024. https://goldenthread.org/about/people/#open-modal-Michelle%20Mulholland
10. “People: Babak Sani.” Golden Thread. Accessed August 26, 2024. https://goldenthread.org/about/people/#open-modal-Babak%20Sani
11. “Babak Sani.” Weaver Austin Villeneuve & Sampson. Accessed August 26, 2024. https://www.wavsip.com/people/babak-sani