Zain Sheikh
Zain Sheikh is a Pakistani, queer producer and writer shaping bold, necessary stories in theater and film. Under the leadership and guidance of Ron Simons, the Tony Award winning and Sundance selected producer, Sheikh began his journey to create Mustardfield.
Sheikh is an Executive Producer on the Oscar-nominated documentary VIVA VERDI! (Best Original Song, “Sweet Dreams of Joy”), celebrating the legacy of Casa Verdi, a historic home for retired opera singers and musicians founded by Giuseppe Verdi. He is also an Executive Producer of the short documentary MURMURATIONS by filmmaker and visual artist Xavier Marrades, produced in association with Mustardfield Productions.
His producing work spans Broadway and independent film, with contributions to for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf and Thoughts of a Colored Man. He is also a Co-Producer on the Broadway-bound Hippest Trip: The Soul Train Musical. His original work I Am Yusuf was a finalist in the 2019 Sundance Development Track.
Across Broadway and beyond, Sheikh’s work is rooted in both new creation and legacy stewardship. In that spirit, he currently collaborates with the Ntozake Shange Trust to help steward Shange’s artistic legacy and develop a full calendar of 50th Anniversary programming marking the Broadway premiere of for colored girls... — including performance-centered events, public conversations, and community activations that honor Shange’s enduring influence. He also supports the Trust’s licensing and business administration, coordinating rights requests and partner communications to ensure each opportunity is handled with consistency, care, and intention.
Before making New York his home, Sheikh spent nearly a decade with Dubai Drama Group (DDG), acting, producing, and helping build a vibrant theater scene. He has served as a jury member for the Queens World Film Festival and, in 2025, directed and produced a tribute to the late Tony-winning producer Ron Simons at Joe’s Pub.
His work is fueled by a passion for storytelling that uplifts marginalized voices — centering immigrant experiences, queer narratives, and the lives of Brown, Black and Indigenous communities. Whether on stage or screen, Sheikh is committed to bringing these stories to the forefront with impact and heart.