KriyaShakti
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The Power to Act with Intelligent, Creative Energy
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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
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Nikita Chaudhry
“WILLOW”
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Sonal Shah
“ADITI”
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Suni M!
“NANI”
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J. Mehr Kaur
DIRECTOR
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Lily Abha Cratsley
PLAYWRIGHT
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
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Shivani Thakkar
PRODUCER/CHOREOGRAPHER
ADITI UNDERSTUDY
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Arnab Banerji
DRAMATURG
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Kai Morfin
STAGE MANAGER
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Simi Fulton
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER
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Jane Hamor
SET DESIGNER
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Hayden Kirschbaum
LIGHTING DESIGNER
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NICK DIAZ
SOUND DESIGNER
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Melissa
EVENT PLANNER
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KARAN
VIDEOGRAPHY/MULTI-MEDIA