Ayad Akhtar

State: Wisconsin

Raised in Milwaukee, Ayad Akhtar (born 1970) is an acclaimed author, playwright, and screenwriter whose work confronts themes of identity, faith, immigration, and the tensions of contemporary American life. His debut novel American Dervish (2012) explores a Pakistani-American boy’s struggle with religious identity and family dynamics. His award-winning plays—including Disgraced, Junk, The Invisible Hand, and McNeal—have appeared on Broadway and earned him the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Obie Awards, and Tony nominations. His novel Homeland Elegies (2020) blends memoir and fiction to critique American socio-political divisions post‑9/11. Akhtar’s work is sharply observed, intellectual, and deeply personal, often engaging with economic, religious, and cultural conflicts. He is widely respected in literary and theatrical circles and remains rooted in his Milwaukee upbringing.

Genres: Contemporary, Memoir

Audiences: Adult