Hassan Al Rawas hails from Beirut, Lebanon but was raised in Kuwait City, Kuwait. Hassan holds a Master of Fine Arts in Directing along with a PhD Certificate in Middle East/North African Studies from Northwestern University. Whether breathing new life into classic plays or tackling new work, Hassan approaches all projects with a unique worldview that sprouts from his numerous travels and international upbringing.

Favorite directing credits include “Little Women, the Broadway Musical” and “Rosmersholm” for Quintessence Theatre Group in Philadelphia, “The Orange Garden” by Joanna Garner, Stephen Karam’s adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s “The Cherry Orchard”, “Sylvia” by A.R. Gurney, and “Les Miserables”, to name a few. Hassan was the assistant director on the world premieres of “Witch” by Jen Silverman at Writer’s Theatre (dir. Marti Lyons) and “Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein” at the Lookingglass Theatre (dir. David Catlin). He is the founder of The IMPROVengers, Kuwait’s first and only improv comedy troupe.

Hassan developed and served as associate director on a new musical at the Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad Cultural Center in Kuwait City called “New Jibla”, which premiered in December 2019. He was also the associate director on the upcoming Broadway musical, “The Devil Wears Prada” from June 2019 until January 2021. Currently, Hassan is attached to a new play by American playwright Jacob A. Greenberg, called “The United States vs. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.” This thrilling, morally and politically complex drama tells the story of the lawyers who volunteered to defend the man who planned 9/11 and those who rose up to oppose them. It’s daring, powerful, often hilarious — and it all happens to be true. 

In addition to his MFA, Hassan also holds a Master of Arts in Theatre Performance from Northwestern University (2003) and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts and Performance Studies from Xavier University (2000). Hassan is currently based in Beirut, Lebanon.