A New Production Online

My latest play “Analyze Zoom” will stream at Mile Square Theater this weekend. Starring Lipica Shah, Rita Wolf, and Sheilagh Weymouth, this short play examines the ways we cope with our new reality and how those coping mechanisms can reveal more about ourselves. I am excited to have this opportunity to explore the new medium of Zoom for theatrical work, and hope that streaming productions will offer artists a bridge to when we can return to live performance.

I’m very happy with how the play turned out. Melissa Firlit was our fearless director who brought movement and humor to the somewhat limited focus of Zoom. We had fun exploring how relationships can develop across screens, and I hope this fun will infect our audience.

Tickets are available here until midnight, Sunday, September 27th. “Analyze Zoom” will begin streaming on Friday, September 25th. Once you have purchased your ticket, you can watch when you wish, though your link will expire 48 hours after you first activate it. My play is 20 minutes long and is paired with another play by EST Youngblood member, Cary Gitter. Run time is 30 minutes.

Buy your ticket now!

Priyanka (Lipica Shah) shares her issues with her therapist, Lorraine (Sheilagh Weymouth)

Starting rehearsals for "House of Joy"

One of the joys of my career has been working on World Premiers of new plays. It is truly gratifying to be part of the process of birthing a new play and bringing it to life for an audience. This year I am lucky enough to work on two such productions as an actor which is a first for me.

I am currently rehearsing the World Premier of my friend and colleague, Madhuri Shekar’s, new play “House of Joy” at Cal Shakes. Directed by Megan Sandberg-Zakian, the play shares life in the harem of a Mughal Emperor sometime in the 17th century and follows the evolution of a young female bodyguard who learns that life inside a sequestered paradise may not offer all that it promises. I play the head bodyguard of the harem, Gulal, who manages her elite force of female fighters with a combination of discipline and compassion. It’s a thrill to play such an unapologetically powerful woman, and I look forward to introducing this play to Bay area audiences.

The cast includes Lipica Shah, Rotimi Agbabiaka, Rinabeth Apostol, Raji Ahsan, Sango Tajima, and Emma Van Lare. Leslie M. Radin stage manages.

“House of Joy” begins performances on August 14th. Tickets can be purchased here.

Baby Camp Reading

I’m thrilled to announce that my new play “Baby Camp” is getting a workshop through Leviathan Lab. Written through the auspices of the Brooklyn Generator last year, “Baby Camp” explores the world of women’s empowerment retreats in the not too distant future. I wrote this play as a response to my increasing concern about the dissolution of women’s rights in our current political landscape, and the play has only become more relevant in the 10 months since I wrote it. I’m so grateful to Leviathan for providing the time and space to return to this play.

“Baby Camp” will have a public reading on Tuesday, July 9th at 7pm at ART/NY’s Bruce Mitchell Room in 520 Eighth Avenue. Directed by Bonnie Gabel, the play will feature Antoinette LaVecchia, Tina Chilip, Rocky Vega, Lipica Shah, and myself. Admission is free, but reservations are encouraged!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/baby-camp-tickets-63647529474

Hope to see you on Tuesday!