Guards at the Taj

Guards at the Taj, the critically acclaimed play by Rajiv Joseph, will run February 6-22, 2026 at El Portal Theatre (Monroe Forum). Set centuries ago, yet piercingly relevant today, Guards at the Taj follows two low-ranking imperial guards stationed outside the Taj Mahal before its grand unveiling. An impossible task will test their lifelong friendship, shake their faith, and shatter their lives forever. This darkly funny and deeply moving play asks us: follow duty or follow beauty? Directed by Behzad Dabu (How to Get Away with Murder, The Chi, Disgraced) , who stars as Babur, the production also features Kausar Mohammed (Jurassic World: Chaos Theory, The Flash. Mo) as Humayun. Both actors are multi-hyphenate artists with deep roots in Los Angeles’ theatre, film, and comedy communities. Beyond performances, we're planning a full month of post-show discussions, collaborations and affiliate nights throughout February.