Diwali Party

by Priya Mohanty

Shreya Das is an Indian immigrant, an empty nester, and a celebrated Kathak dancer who has long been the keeper of tradition in her tight-knit Long Island community. Her annual Diwali party is the crown jewel - an intimate, joyous celebration everyone looks forward to. Until she finds her cultural legacy threatened by Brooklyn Dane, an (overly) enthusiastic influencer recently married to an Indian man. Diwali...

Shreya Das is an Indian immigrant, an empty nester, and a celebrated Kathak dancer who has long been the keeper of tradition in her tight-knit Long Island community. Her annual Diwali party is the crown jewel - an intimate, joyous celebration everyone looks forward to. Until she finds her cultural legacy threatened by Brooklyn Dane, an (overly) enthusiastic influencer recently married to an Indian man. Diwali Party explores the blurry line between cultural appreciation and appropriation—and what it really means to preserve heritage thousands of miles from home.

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Diwali Party

Recommended by

  • Playwrights Foundation: Diwali Party by Priya Mohanty
    “

    The Playwrights Foundation literary council readers advanced Diwali Party as a finalist for the 47th Bay Area Playwrights Festival.

    This script is a vibrant exploration of South Asian diaspora life. Readers specifically leaned into the usage of Kathak in this play and Brooklyn’s character arc, which we found to be beautifully, insidiously structured.

    We hope this play is considered for further development and investigation, and finds dedicated collaborators in its journey towards production.

    The Playwrights Foundation literary council readers advanced Diwali Party as a finalist for the 47th Bay Area Playwrights Festival.

    This script is a vibrant exploration of South Asian diaspora life. Readers specifically leaned into the usage of Kathak in this play and Brooklyn’s character arc, which we found to be beautifully, insidiously structured.

    We hope this play is considered for further development and investigation, and finds dedicated collaborators in its journey towards production.

    ”

Character Information

Niyati Madhavan and Soumya Behera can be played by the same actor
  • Shreya Das-Harris
    Indian immigrant. Dance is her language. Accomplished Kathak dancer. Quiet. Perfectionist tendencies. Some Indian classical dance background preferred.
    47
    Indian Immigrant
    Female
  • Tim Harris
    Shreya’s husband of 20 plus years. Generally loving. Often oblivious.
    50
    White Canadian
    Male
  • Brooklyn Dane
    Indophile. Influencer. Jack and Mistress of all trades.
    36
    White
    Female
  • Niyati Madhavan
    Long time friend of Shreya’s. Measured. Thoughtful.
    51
    Indian Immigrant
    Female
  • Ragini Godbole
    Long time friend of Shreya’s. Says what’s on her mind. Even if what’s on her mind is a bad joke.
    45
    Indian Immigrant
    Female
  • Soumya Behera
    Shreya’s apa or big sister. Lives in India. Major big sister energy. Loving. Nurturing.

    49
    Indian
    Female
  • Pritam Madhavkar
    Glib. Self professed coconut (brown outside, white inside). Newly married to Brooklyn.
    39
    Indian
    Male

Awards

  • Bay Area Playwrights Festival
    Finalist