KriyaShakti

The Power to Act with Intelligent, Creative Energy

KriyaShakti • The Power to Act with Intelligent, Creative Energy •

November 2023

Current project

About

While preparing dinner, three generations of Indian women clash and comfort one another. Willow, a young academic, is eager to learn all that her Nani can teach her. Aditi, a divorced mom, finds herself stuck between an overbearing mother and a critical daughter. Nani, the family’s matriarch, must face Jersey City once again after having moved back to India. What will happen when loss, love, and longing are shared across the dinner table?

New Play, "ABCD - American Born Confused Desi", by emerging South Asian playwright, Lily Abha Cratsley unravels the relationships between a daughter, a mother, and a Nani as they navigate their dual identities and unburden themselves of deep-seated intergenerational trauma. ABCD is a deep dive into intergenerational trauma and the legacy of the real South Asian hate group, the Dotbusters, that rose to prominence in New Jersey in the '80s. This play gives voice to the female perspective, the grace, the fire, the indignation, the sorrow, and ultimately the comforting joy in on another that is felt by these women as they face each other and themselves.

Production History

ABCD was previously a featured finalist in two competitive new works festivals with virtual readings directed by the inimitable Reena Dutt. The first staged reading was a part of the Occidental College New Works Festival, the cast was comprising of Nikita Chaudhry, Shivani Thakkar, and Shruti Tewari. The second reading was part of the Garry Marshall Theatre New Works Festival, where ABCD was one of the Five plays selected out of a pool of 300 submissions. Anjani Joshi, Sharmila Devar, and Suni M! took on the leading roles for this reading.

Producing Partner

We are thrilled to be partnering with Greenway Arts Alliance and Greenway Court Theater for this first staging of ABCD. Check out more about this lovely company and their huge impact on arts and community!

schedule

Tickets and Donations

CAST & CREW

  • Nikita Chaudhry

    “WILLOW”

  • Sonal Shah

    “ADITI”

  • Suni M!

    “NANI”

  • J. Mehr Kaur

    DIRECTOR

  • Lily Abha Cratsley

    PLAYWRIGHT

    EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

  • Shivani Thakkar

    PRODUCER/CHOREOGRAPHER

    ADITI UNDERSTUDY

  • Arnab Banerji

    DRAMATURG

  • Kai Morfin

    STAGE MANAGER

  • Simi Fulton

    ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER

  • Jane Hamor

    SET DESIGNER

  • Hayden Kirschbaum

    LIGHTING DESIGNER

  • NICK DIAZ

    SOUND DESIGNER

  • Melissa

    EVENT PLANNER

  • KARAN

    VIDEOGRAPHY/MULTI-MEDIA

Follow our journey.