Sree Chattopadhyay & Deepak Deb Memorial Panel Discussion
Sree Chattopadhyay: Ophthalmologist, Theater Lover
Deepak Deb: Humanitarian, Philanthropist, Thespian, Community Organizer, Plant-Lover, IT Leader, Friend, Dad, and Husband. Deepak-da, you are forever in our hearts.
TOPIC: Connecting South / Asian/ Minorities communities via contemporary progressive theater
The definition of the term “diaspora” has radically evolved, aside from the factor of geographical separation from a homeland, one key aspect emerges as common to all diasporas: construction of a culture that draws on the country of origin as an authoritative source of value, yet shapes an identity of its own that is equally distinct from the culture of the homeland and the dominant values of the host country. The South Asian diaspora in the United States, on the one hand, carries immense diversity of its own; while on the other hand, it is one of the youngest, albeit rapidly growing diasporas in this nation. This panel poses several questions with the aim of exploring the role of theater as a mode of community engagement in the South-Asian American milieu such as :
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What is the current status of theater/performative arts in contributing to the South Asian diasporic aspirations? What are its challenges?
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How is “community theater” currently defined and understood in the context of South Asian creative endeavors?
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What are the feasible strategies of collaborating with the diverse communities within the South Asian diaspora?
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and many more.
panelist:
Arpita Mukherjee is a NYC based director and writer who recently made her Broadway debut as the resident director of The Kite Runner. Arpita previously directed Bollywood Kitchen by Sri Rao (Geffen Playhouse), House of Joy by Madhuri Shekar (San Diego Rep), and Eh Dah: Questions for my Father by Aya Aziz (Next Door @ New York Theatre Workshop). Arpita is the Co-Book Writer of Monsoon Wedding, The Musical, which recently had its NYC premiere at St. Ann’s Warehouse.
Director/Producer/Writer, Hypokrit, NYC
Festival chair, Tamasha, NYC
Michelle Aguillon is a director/writer/producer at AAPC (Asian American Playwright Collective). She is a theater artist, arts administrator, and theater leader and teaching artist in the Boston area. She has produced, directed, wrote, acted, and designed numerous plays at AAPC and as a part of Creative Arts.
Executive Director at Creative Arts
J Mehr Kaur is a theatre director interested in immersive storytelling. Mehr’s adaptation of Sarbpreet Singh’s “Kultar's Mime” is currently touring to theatres and festivals across the US, Canada, India and UK. Her other production included ORLANDO by Sarah Ruhl, WATER BY THR SPOONFUL by Quiara Alegría Hudes etc. Mehr co-founded Two Paths Productions, a summer theatre and film collective, where she served as Artistic Director for two seasons.
Director / Producer
Creative Content Group
Netflix
Moderated by:
Sunanda Sanyal, is a Fulbright Scholar and a faculty member of Division of Integrated Studies at College of Art and Design, Lesley University, Cambridge, MA. Sunanda is a well-known thespian in New England area and has acted/wrote numerous plays at Off-Kendrik, an experimental theater group in Boston area.
Thespian and Professor of Arts, Lesley University