Back by popular demand BATS Improv to present Improvised Arabian Nights 

BATS celebrates National Arab American Heritage Month with the 

completely unscripted reimagining of “One Thousand and One Nights”

features improvised music by musicians from Aswat Ensemble, and costumes by Zawaya

After captivating audiences in multiple sold-out runs, BATS Improv, San Francisco's premier center for improvisation, is thrilled to announce the highly anticipated return of Improvised Arabian Nights. As part of April’s National Arab American Heritage Month, BATS reunites with Zawaya, the Bay Area's Arabic music community ensemble, to present the enchanting performance at the historic BATS Bayfront Theater on the Fort Mason campus in San Francisco. This unique take on the beloved tales spun by Scheherazade during the “Thousand and One Nights,” directed by Basel Al-Naffouri with improvised music by the Aswat Ensemble and sets and costumes by Zawaya, plays Saturday evenings at 8pm from April 5-26.

Since its creation by BATS Company member Basel Al-Naffouri in 2009 and premiere at the Magic Theatre in San Francisco, Improvised Arabian Nights has built a devoted following. The production's international acclaim at the Theatresports Institute Conference in Dubai in 2017 and its successful return engagement at BATS in 2022 prompted overwhelming audience requests for another season.

According to Al-Naffouri, "I wanted to bring my culture into the world of improv. While “Arabian Nights” isn't the most important book in the Arab world, it is well-known in the West. It serves as a nice bridge between the two cultures."

He continues, "When I read the book, it was perfect for improv. The format is an excellent vehicle to tell stories. The stories derive from strong emotions, which makes them matter much more. It is full of adventure, magic, and most importantly, humanity. And unlike many shows where you have 1-2 protagonists and the rest are supporting cast, the story-within-a-story structure makes everyone a major character at some point."

Starting with a title provided by the audience, two players, playing the ruler Shahryar and his wife Scheherazade take the stage and Scheherazade begins to tell him a story. The story within a story structure takes us inside her tale, where we live with the characters for a while before one of them begins to tell another. Each story varies in tone, characters, setting and style: an adventure story told by a fisherman might lead to a romance told by a beggar, might lead to a tragedy told by a lion. Only when the lion’s story is finished do we return to the beggar’s story and only when that is finished do we return to the fisherman.

Everything is improvised: The players create and act out the stories in the moment without prior knowledge of who their characters are, what they will say or what will happen next. Director Basel Al-Naffouri has familiarized the players with the elements of the “Arabian Nights” folktales including character types, settings, and other typical story conventions. Some of these elements may show up, but the players have no plan to guide them, only a connection to their fellow players.  

From its beginning, Improvised Arabian Nights has enjoyed the generous support of Zawaya, which has provided costumes, sets, promotion, and musicians from the Aswat Ensemble. Founded in 2003, Zawaya is a non-profit organization that seeks to contribute to the Bay Area's multicultural discourse by supporting Arab arts. Zawaya's vision is to achieve intercultural solidarity, respect, and understanding through the universal languages of the arts and music. The Aswat Ensemble, the Bay Area's premier Arabic music community ensemble, is a multi-ethnic, multicultural, and multi-generational music ensemble and volunteer choir that reaches out to the diverse Bay Area community with folkloric, classical, and contemporary Arabic music. 

Tickets for the highly anticipated return of Improvised Arabian Nights range from $15-$25, and may be purchased online here or in person beginning half-hour before the performance. The second Saturday of the run (April 12) is “pay what you will,” with all seats available on a sliding scale beginning at $5. Advance reservations are strongly recommended. All performances take place in the historic BATS Bayfront Theatre in Landmark Building B on the Fort Mason campus in San Francisco. Paid parking is available in the adjoining lot.

Directed by Basel Al-Naffouri

Watch Video Here

Saturday 4/26 8pm

Tickets: $20 Student/ Senior $25 for General Admission

Weekend Special: Buy 1 get 1 free on all beverages on the Closing Night of BATS Shows*

(Good for all non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks for 21+ with valid ID. Must consume onsite before closing time. Free beverage is good for equal or less value)

Cast: Will Gutzman, Zoe Galvez, Basel Al-Naffouri, Lisa Wang

Live Improvised Lighting by Nick Rice

Live Improvised Music by guest musicians from the Aswat Ensemble

BATS performances are all ages may contain adult situations and adult language. Then again...they may not. It's all made up on the spot, so we never know beforehand! Please be aware that younger audience members might be introduced to some new words or situations during the performance.

Genre: adventure, drama

At BATS Improv, one of our core values is respect for our audience. We understand that some people hesitate to sit up front because they’re worried about being "picked on." That’s not our style.

While we may invite audience members to join us on stage, it’s always your choice—and if you do, we’ll treat you with the same respect and playfulness that we bring to the entire show. No embarrassment, no mean-spirited jokes—just a fun, welcoming experience for everyone.

So sit where you like, relax, and enjoy the show!

Top Image: musicians from the Aswat Ensemble. Center Image: Naiema Din and Will Gutzman. Bottom Image: Will Gutzman, Karen Brelsford, and Basel Al-Naffouri.