Chronology

1963      23 February in Iran, first child born to Homa and Ali Abdoh.

1970      Sees Peter Brooks’ Midsummer Night’s Dream in London.

1978      Peer Gynt at the Wellington School, co-directed with his teacher, Tony Charles. It is Abdoh’s first opportunity to direct. Wins the school’s Literature Prize.

1979      Publishes a small volume of poetry, The Sound of a Poet Breathing in an Imprisoned Air, with the Viking Press.

Moves to Los Angeles. Matriculates for fall semester at University of Southern California.

Father dies of a heart attack shortly after the overthrow of the Shah.

1981   Darkness Visible, perhaps directed by Abdoh.

1983   Three Plays by Howard Brenton (Pristine Love, Heads, and Saliva Milkshake), directed by Abdoh at Fifth Estate Theater, Los Angeles.

One-Acts by Samuel Beckett, directed by Alan Mandell, assistant directed by Abdoh at Los Angeles Actors’ Theatre, Los Angeles.

1984   King Lear by Shakespeare, directed by Abdoh at Gangway Performance Center, Los Angeles.

1985   The Farmyard by Franz Xaver Kroetz, directed by Abdoh at Theater Upstairs, Los Angeles.

The Sound of a Voice and As the Crow Flies by David Henry Hwang, directed by Abdoh at Los Angeles Theatre Center, Los Angeles.

1986   A Medea: Requiem for a Boy with a White White Toy adapted from Euripides and directed by Abdoh at Hollywood Gymnasium, Los Angeles.

Rusty Sat on a Hill One Dawn and Watched the Moon Go Down written and directed by Abdoh at Stages Theater, Los Angeles.

Videos: My Face and Oh Thello Sit Still.

1987   King Oedipus adapted from Sophocles and directed by Abdoh, Theater Upstairs, Los Angeles.

Eva Peron by Copí, directed by Abdoh, at Theater Upstairs, Los Angeles.

Videos: Jane Kirkpatrick in my Bathtub and Tiger Turd.

1988   Peep Show by Abdoh and Mira-Lani Oglesby, directed by Abdoh at Hollywood Highland Hotel, Los Angeles, wins L.A. Weekly’s “Production of the Year” Award.

Videos: Demon Lover and Loose Ends.

1989   Minamata by Abdoh and Mira-Lani Oglesby, directed by Abdoh at Los Angeles Theatre Center, Los Angeles.

Video: The Boardroom Incident.

Wins Princess Grace Foundation’s U.S.A. Theater Fellowship Award for 1989-90.

1990   Father Was a Peculiar Man by Abdoh and Mira-Lani Oglesby, directed by Abdoh in the meatpacking district, En Garde Arts, New York.

The Hip-Hop Waltz of Eurydice written and directed by Abdoh, Los Angeles Theatre Center, Los Angeles.

Pasos en la Obscuridad by Frank Ambriz and Abdoh, directed by Abdoh, Los Angeles Festival, Los Angeles.

Videos: Day of Wrath and Sleeping with the Devil.

1991   The Hip-Hop Waltz of Eurydice, Festival de Théâtre des Ameriques, Montréal.

Bogeyman, written and directed by Abdoh at Los Angeles Theatre Center, Los Angeles.

Creates the Dar A Luz company.

Wins Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Commission Grant for Film-Making; also, the Audrey Skirball-Kenis Theatre Award for Outstanding New Work.

Videos: The Weeping Song and Daddy’s Girl.

1992   The Law of Remains written and directed by Abdoh, with Dar A Luz, at Diplomat Hotel, New York City.

Simon Boccanegra by Giuseppe Verdi, directed by Abdoh, at Long Beach Opera, Long Beach.

The Hip-Hop Waltz of Eurydice, Sigma Festival, Bordeaux, and Mercat des la Flors, Barcelona.

The Blind Owl (90 minute feature film), written and directed by Abdoh.

1993      Tight Right White written and directed by Abdoh, with Dar A Luz, at 440 Lafayette Street, New York City.

1994   Quotations from a Ruined City by Reza Abdoh and Salar Abdoh, directed by Reza Abdoh, with Dar A Luz, at 448 West 16th Street, New York City.

1995   On May 5, is among the first five winners of the CalArts /Alpert Award in the Arts.

Dies in New York City on May 11.

1996   Posthumously receives a “Bessie,” Choreographer and Creator Award for Sustained Achievement.