Azar Kazemi is first-generation Persian American and the founding Artistic Director at The Blind Owl, a socially-charged theatre where the political and personal collide. She most recently directed the critically acclaimed world premiere of Motherhouse by Tuckie White at Rivendell Theatre Ensemble. Some of Azar's other Chicago directing credits include: the U.S. premiere of debbie tucker green's dirty butterfly; the Midwest premiere of Jack's Precious Moment by Samuel D. Hunter; and Crave by Sarah Kane. Azar received her MFA from The Theatre School at DePaul University in 2011, where she has also been on faculty since 2015 and the Associate Diversity Advisor from 2020-2021. She has worked at the Goodman Theatre, Victory Gardens, Chicago Shakespeare, Jackalope Theatre, Silk Road Rising, American Theatre Company, Chicago Dramatists, and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. In New York City, Azar worked at The New Group where she assistant directed three Off-Broadway productions, two under the direction of her mentor, Ethan Hawke. Azar received the 2020-21 Excellence in Teaching Award from The Theatre School at DePaul University.