WHAT WE CARRY
A Documentary Theater Project Honoring Lives Touched by War
What We Carry is a groundbreaking documentary theater project that brings together civilians, wartime allies 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.
We honor your story by listening, and by carrying it forward into the wider world through art, connection, and community.
Step One
One-on-One Interviews
Now Inviting Participants
We begin by speaking with civilians, refugees and wartime allies who have been displaced by a conflict that involved American military presence. In the interview, you’ll be warmly invited to share your story—only as much as you feel comfortable sharing.
Step Two
Retreat (Optional)
For those interested in going further, we will invite select groups of civilians, wartime allies and refugees and veterans from the same conflicts for a fully funded retreat in Northern California, March 2026.
This retreat will be a space of deep listening, dialogue, and creativity—a chance to connect across experiences and uncover the human threads that unite us.
Step Three
The Final Production
Your stories will inspire a theater performance weaving together narrative, music, and movement. The production will premiere in spring 2027.
Together, we hope to show the world both 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
Or email polina@crescentmoontheaterproductions.com
DIRECTORIAL TEAM
POLINA MIRZAD - Director
Polina Mirzad is an award-winning artist whose life's work is deeply rooted in her family's refugee experience. Her husband and his family fled Afghanistan during the Soviet invasion and were granted asylum in the United States, and later served in the in the U.S. Army combat forces, a personal connection that has significantly influenced her mission.
In 2019, Polina founded Crescent Moon Theater Productions (CMTP) with a vision to create original, thought-provoking performances that harness the power of art to inspire social and personal change. Since its inception, CMTP has produced a series of captivating works across the Bay Area, including venues like Dance Mission Theater, CounterPulse, PianoFight, and the Tenderloin National Forest.
From 2008 to 2018, Polina gained invaluable experience with The Medea Project: Theater for Incarcerated Women under the mentorship of Rhodessa Jones, where she discovered the transformative power of documentary theater. In 2016, she spearheaded CounterPulse Theater's first annual Blessed Unrest festival, which featured over 30 artists dedicated to art and social justice. Polina also curates art for the annual Bioneers Conference and brings joy and insight to audiences with her clown persona, Dr. Schmidt, who humorously claims to hold 49 PhDs.
Polina's work in the arts and social justice has been recognized with several notable awards, 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. Her work continues to shine a light on important stories, bringing them to the stage with passion and creativity, and she remains deeply grateful for the opportunity to make a meaningful impact through her art.
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.
