The Lab

This #FellowsFriday we’re highlighting Global Fellow Samwel Japhet. We’re excited to share that Samwel has been appointed to the Salzburg Global Advisory Council on Culture and Arts (ACCA) for the 2026–2028 term! The Council brings together Salzburg Global Fellows and representatives of the Edward T. Cone Foundation to support the Salzburg Global Seminar in developing international programs in culture and the arts, while shaping long-term goals, leadership, and collaboration across the sector. “Through this three-year appointment, I look forward to contributing to Salzburg Global’s initiatives, building meaningful creative collaborations, and connecting communities and countries worldwide.” #TheLab

Thank you to the 700 people who joined us in person for The Oedipus Project at Georgetown University on Tuesday, April 21, and over 1,000 more who joined us on Zoom from all over the world, spanning eighteen countries, including: the United States, Canada, Ghana, Italy, Australia, South Africa, Ecuador, China, Greece, Singapore, Hong Kong SAR, Costa Rica, United Kingdom, Mexico, New Zealand, Jamaica, Taiwan, and Guatemala. We are delighted to share the full recording of this unforgettable event, which presented acclaimed actors and public servants performing scenes from Sophocles’ Oedipus the King as a catalyst for a powerful, constructive, global discussion about climate change, ecological disaster, ethical leadership, and environmental justice on the eve of Earth Day 2026. Thank you to our cast for their thrilling, committed performances, including: Jesse Eisenberg, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Jumaane Williams, Chuck Schumer, Mare Winningham, Marjolaine Goldsmith, Bill Irwin, Erika Rose, and Craig Wallace. Thank you to our community panelists: Megan Lickley, Michaela Harrison, Megan Lu, and Nathaniel Rich for their candid responses and powerful insights. Special thanks go to our partners at Georgetown University who co-presented The Oedipus Project as part of DC Climate Week: The Earth Commons and the Laboratory for Global Performance & Politics. Thank you to Lasser Media for their technical support! Translated, directed, and facilitated by Bryan Doerries.

On April 8, The Lab and Studio Theatre presented a special screening of The Horse of Jenin, written and performed by Alaa Shehada, featuring a special Zoom pre-show introduction with Alaa, world-renowned actor, stand-up comedian and graduate of The Freedom Theatre of Jenin. His solo show The Horse of Jenin won the Fringe First Award at Edinburgh 2025 and is a poignant coming-of-age story centered around the giant sculpture created from the 2003 Jenin invasion rubble. Produced by 55B Productions

Student Job Opening: Webmaster/Multimedia Assistant We're hiring 2 students to join our team at The Lab as webmasters in Fall 2026! Apply by May 11 Search Job ID: JR25346 in GMS or apply via the link in our bio! Job Details: Part-time, Hybrid, more info on GMS

Now in year 2 of The Bridges Fellowship program, we’re highlighting each fellow in this new weekly series. First up – Yassmin Abdalazeim! Yassmin Abdalazeim is a Sudanese art and culture practitioner focusing on project management, filmmaking, and creating creative projects and activities within the art and culture sector. With over 9 years of experience in managing art projects. Yassmin worked as a project manager and coordinator with Contraband, Fredrick Ebert Stiftung, REMCO and ASWAT Creative Hub in Khartoum-Sudan maintaining an excellent delivery of all the project’s aspects. In addition to her professional career, Yassmin is also a dedicated advocate for arts education. She co-founded an initiative in Sudan aimed at teaching children the art of filmmaking. Through this program, Yassmin has empowered young minds to express themselves creatively, fostering a new generation of storytellers and filmmakers in the region. Throughout her career, Yassmin has collaborated with diverse organizations , including artists, curators, and cultural institutions in managing projects, festivals and activities. Her commitment to fostering creative excellence and promoting cultural exchange has made her a respected figure in the art and culture community in Sudan. Yassmin continues to push boundaries, exploring new ways to merge art, film, and social impact. Her dedication to her craft and her passion for storytelling through different arts majors have cemented her position as a leading creative voice in the industry in Sudan. To learn more about The Bridges Fellowship, visit producerhub.org/bridges ⚡️

Join us on Tuesday, April 21, at 7pm EDT! The Oedipus Project presents acclaimed actors, public servants, and community members reading scenes from Sophocles’ Oedipus the King as a catalyst for powerful, constructive, global discussions about climate change, ecological disaster, ethical leadership, and environmental justice. Sophocles’ ancient play is a timeless story of arrogant leadership, ignored prophecy, intergenerational curses, and a pestilence and ecological collapse that ravages the city of Thebes. Seen through this lens, the play has served a powerful catalyst for engaging diverse communities in dynamic discussions about the climate crisis. Featuring performances by Jesse Eisenberg (A Real Pain, The Social Network), Dr. Anthony Fauci (Distinguished University Professor, Georgetown University School of Medicine and McCourt School of Public Policy), Jumaane Williams (New York City Public Advocate), Chuck Schumer (Minority Leader of the United States Senate), Mare Winningham (St. Elmo’s Fire, Dopesick), Bill Irwin (Interstellar, Sesame Street), Erika Rose (Queens Girl in Africa, In Darfur), and Craig Wallace (Fences, A Christmas Carol). The Oedipus Project at Georgetown University is presented as part of DC Climate Week by Theater of War Productions, The Earth Commons, and the Laboratory for Global Performance & Politics. Translated, directed, and facilitated by Bryan Doerries.

We are so excited to present the Oedipus Project tomorrow! Swipe for important arrival information. Most importantly, we recommend arriving by 6:20 pm, as in-person attendance is completely sold out. For more information, especially about getting to Georgetown, check the email from Eventbrite

This #FellowsFriday we’re highlighting Global Fellow Tanvi Hegade who was recently selected for the 2026 cohort of the Dalai Lama Fellowship, co-organised by the University of Virginia’s Contemplative Sciences Center and the University of Colorado Boulder’s Renée Crown Wellness Institute. The program brings together 19 young leaders from 12 countries working on a diverse array of social innovation projects to promote the flourishing of their communities. This prestigious program for emerging changemakers aims to cultivate leadership practices rooted in awareness, compassion, and integrity. Through the program’s “Head, Heart & Hands” approach, Tanvi aims to cultivate and implement her learnings in her Dance for Parkinson’s program, to help make it more intentionally rooted in self-awareness, mindfulness, emotional intelligence, listening and communication, and systems-thinking.

Join us for GDISC XI: Rules in a Changing World! Hosted by the Georgetown International Relations Club, this year’s conference dives deep into the shifting landscape of global diplomacy and security. Ambassador Cynthia Schneider, Lab Co-Director and former Ambassador to the Netherlands, will be featured as a panelist on the Global Threats to Democracy panel (1:50 PM - 2:50 PM). Join the session via Zoom: https://georgetown.zoom.us/j/91731122133?jst=2

On March 18th, The Art of Care Initiative was thrilled to host three dear friends and collaborators of The Lab, James Thompson, Devika Ranjan, and David Olawuyi Fakunle. They each gloriously embody the art of care in their work: James as a scholar of care aesthetics in the UK, Devika as a theater-maker who creates communities of care, and David as a storyteller who humanizes public health. Through open discussions and dinner, the evening created space for the Art of Care community to share, connect, and learn from one another.

Join us this Friday for our last monthly In Your Shoes Open Sessions of the year! April 17th from 2-4 pm in the Ecumenical Chapel in Isaac Hawkins Hall, Dahlgren Quad. RSVP using the link in bio (not required)

The Virtual Tour of The Horse of Jenin is reaching people across the U.S. and bearing witness to life under Occupation in the West Bank. From coast to coast, audiences are meeting @alaashehada_ and responding to his story with laughter, tears, and “hmms.” Two more screenings this April. Then in May, a weeklong run in NYC, a night in Seattle, and others in the works. 📍 San Francisco — Thursday, April 16 @ 8p PDT @goldenthreadplays @crowdedfire $5 discount with code: GOLDEN5 📍 Amherst — Sunday, April 19 @ 1:15p EDT as part of 5PAN student symposium on diaspora, migration, and resistance @umassaaaacp @5collegepan 📍NYC — Thursday, May 8 - Thursday, May 14 @ 2, 4, 6, 8p EDT daily @cinemavillage @nytw79 @playcompany 📍Seattle — Saturday, May 16 @ 7:30p PDT @dunyaproductions @donkeysaddleorg 🔗 Tickets and info in bio. Special thanks to all of the presenters and partners who have made this tour possible. 💚 #thehorseofjenin #alaashehada #troupecourage