WHAT WE CARRY
A Documentary Theater Project Honoring Lives Touched by War
EVERY STORY MATTERS.
What We Carry is a groundbreaking documentary theater project that brings together civilians and veterans who have endured the same conflicts. Through personal storytelling, art, and community dialogue, the project reveals the human cost of war—and the possibility of reconciliation.
Supported by the New England Foundation for the Arts, What We Carry breaks open the silences surrounding war, displacement, and the invisible systems that shape our lives.
Born from the belief that stories heal, this work invites audiences to witness the resilience of those who have lived through war and to look beyond the lines it draws—to see the shared humanity on the other side.
If you are a VETERAN CLICK HERE
If you are a CIVILIAN, REFUGEE, OR WARTIME ALLY CLICK HERE
Step 1: One-on-One Interviews
(Now Inviting Veteran and Civilian Participants)
We are beginning by speaking with people from war-affected countries and U.S. veterans who have lived experiences with war or conflict. These are one-hour conversations held over Zoom.
In the interview, you’ll be warmly invited to share your story—only as much as you feel comfortable with. There is no pressure, no expectation—just a space for your story.
From each conversation, we will create a short written profile to share on our project website. Photos are welcome but always optional.
Step 2: Retreat
For those interested in going further, we will bring together small groups of veterans and civilians from Iraq and Afghanistan for a fully funded retreat in mid March, 2026. This weekend will be a space of deep listening, dialogue, and creativity—a chance to connect across experiences and uncover the human threads that unite us. With full consent, parts of this process may be filmed and will serve as the foundation for our final performance. Learn more about the retreat and apply here.
The Final Production
Your stories will inspire a theater performance bringing together narrative, music, and movement. The production will premiere in Spring 2027.
Our goal is not to speak for anyone, but to create space where important stories can be told. Together, we hope to show the true cost of war—and what war can never take away.
WE WOULD LOVE TO
HEAR YOUR STORY!
Schedule a 1:1 interview with Polina HERE
DIRECTORIAL TEAM
POLINA MIRZAD - Director
Polina Mirzad is an award-winning multidisciplinary artist, director, and community organizer whose work is shaped by her family’s refugee history and a lifelong commitment to human rights and dignity. Her mother and sister came to the United States as refugees, and her husband fled Afghanistan during the Soviet invasion, later receiving asylum in the U.S. and serving in the U.S. Army combat forces. These lived connections to displacement, war, and resettlement profoundly inform Polina’s artistic mission.
In 2019, Polina founded Crescent Moon Theater Productions (CMTP) with a vision to create original, community-centered performances that harness the power of art to foster empathy, dialogue, and personal and collective transformation. Since its founding, CMTP has produced a wide range of critically engaged works across the Bay Area, with presentations at venues including Dance Mission Theater, CounterPulse, PianoFight, and the Tenderloin National Forest.
From 2008 to 2018, Polina worked with The Medea Project: Theater for Incarcerated Women under the mentorship of Rhodessa Jones, where she discovered the transformative potential of documentary and story-based theater. In 2016, she spearheaded CounterPulse Theater’s first annual Blessed Unrest Festival, featuring more than 30 artists whose work centered art-making as a tool for community healing and cultural dialogue. Polina also curates art for the annual Bioneers Conference and performs as her clown alter ego, Dr. Schmidt, a mischievous character who joyfully claims to hold 49 PhDs.
Polina’s work has been recognized with numerous honors, including a National Endowment for the Arts Grant, California Arts Council Impact Grants, Zellerbach Family Foundation Community Arts Grants, and the Tanette Goldberg Memorial Scholarship. Through all of her projects, she remains devoted to amplifying underrepresented voices and creating spaces where difficult histories can be held with care, curiosity, and imagination.
NATASHA ADORLEE - Choreographer
Natasha Adorlee is an Emmy Award-winning choreographer, filmmaker, composer, and educator based in San Francisco, CA. A first-generation Asian American woman, she is the daughter of a Taiwanese refugee and a father who served in the U.S. Air Force. Natasha brings her own family history to this work—infusing her creations with a deeply personal understanding of displacement, duty, and the long echoes of war.
She was the final Artistic Fellow with Amy Seiwert’s Imagery and began choreographing in 2014 while sustaining an award-winning performance career with Robert Moses' Kin, ODC/Dance, Kate Weare & Co., and the San Francisco Symphony.
After earning critical acclaim for her short film Take Your Time (2018)—which won over ten international awards—Natasha has become a sought-after choreographer, filmmaker, and composer. She holds degrees from SUNY Purchase and UC Berkeley, and was invited to join ODC/Dance, where she contributed original choreography, sound design, and art direction to more than 20 repertory works.
To date, Natasha has created over 20 original dance-based works across stage, film, and immersive media. Recent commissions include Joffrey Ballet’s Winning Works, Kansas City Ballet, BalletX, Ceprodac (Mexico), Kawaguchi Ballet (Japan), Ballare Carmel, Ballet22, and Imagery. Her commercial collaborations include original work for Pixar Animation Studios, Oculus, National Geographic, and The New Yorker.
As the founder of Concept o4, Natasha is dedicated to creating multimedia, dance-driven experiences that expand access to the arts. She has been recognized with a National Endowment for the Arts Grant, Dresher Ensemble Artist Residency, Jacob’s Pillow Choreographic Fellowship, and multiple new commissions in 2024.
NOOR ALMUSAHWI - Participant, Cultural & Outreach Advisor
Noor Almusahwi’s life has been shaped by exile, resilience, and an unshakeable belief in love over fear.
Born in Iraq, Noor first fled with his family to Syria after Saddam Hussein’s regime threatened their safety. When war erupted in Syria, he was forced to seek refuge once again — this time in the United States. As a teenager arriving alone in San Jose, Noor carried the weight of displacement, uncertainty, and profound loss.
At his high school, he found an unexpected anchor: his wrestling coach, who became his foster parent and offered him not just housing, but belonging. Through wrestling, Noor rebuilt his sense of strength and identity. Against extraordinary odds, he recently earned a place on the Iraqi national wrestling team — a full-circle moment for a young man who once fled his homeland in fear.
Noor has faced discrimination and hate, yet he has made a conscious choice to transform pain into purpose. Inspired by the unwavering support of his foster family and community, he has become a powerful advocate for refugees, even lobbying before Congress to defend refugee rights.
Since 2018, Noor has been sharing his story with Crescent Moon Theater Productions, bringing honesty, courage, and heart to the work. He continues to use his voice — and his strength — in service of refugees around the world.
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS!
No One Left Behind
No One Left Behind is the nation's oldest veteran-founded nonprofit dedicated to ensuring America
keeps its promise to wartime allies from Iraq and Afghanistan. Since 2013, NOLB has provided
advocacy, resettlement assistance, and financial support to thousands of SIV recipients who served
alongside U.S. troops.
Website: Nooneleft.org
Partners in the Promise Advocacy Network: nooneleft.org/partnersinthepromise
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NoOneLeftBehindUS/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-one-left-behind/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nooneleftbehindus/
