The Ride

An engaging performer shares his coming of age story of a young gay Muslim in America.... full review

This show opened my eyes to the struggles and conflicts that queer Muslims face. It is an autobiographical journey that touched every emotion of my body. There were moments when I laughed and other moments where tears welled up in my eyes. Ramy's performance was authentic and raw, thought-provoking and inspiring. Although the show was only 50 minutes long, it felt much longer in a really good way. For that short amount of time, Ramy's story was remarkably impactful. ... full review

The Ride Reviewed by Mayank Keshaviah “What kind of God teaches people to hate their own flesh and blood?” This is the question that writer/performer Ramy El-Etreby struggles with in the wake of his public outing by The L.A. Times. It happened after El-Etreby was cast as a gay Muslim in a play: interviewed about the role, he revealed that he himself was both gay and Muslim. As homosexuality is haram (forbidden) in Islam, at least according to El-Etreby’s devoutly religious parents, this personal revelation sent shockwaves through his family and his Muslim community in Southern California. Growing up in Orange County as the son of Egyptian immigrants, El-Etreby “numbs gay” throughout his childhood and even into his college years. After... full review