May 10 – May 11, 2024

Free public readings will take place at Bucks County Playhouse’s Lambertville Hall, 57 Bridge St, Lambertville, NJ.

“Muslim in the Midst” by Anand Rao – May 10 at 7:00pm
Directed by Vinita Sud Belani 
Set in India, during the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, “Muslim in the Midst” is an intense play that unravels the inherent contradictions and universal conflicts of our time. A chance encounter between two couples turns an act of kindness into a dark journey, fueled by media, into each other’s prejudice, guilt, fear and ignorance.

“American Hunger” by Nikhil Mahapatra – May 11 at 2:00pm
Directed by Rajiv Joseph and Kiran Merchant
Two Asian restaurants vie for culinary dominance in their rapidly gentrifying neighborhood of Crown Heights, while their children begin to question the choices that will make – or break – their prospects as a continuation of the ambitions of their immigrant parents.

“Tea for Toofi” by Ravi Kapoor – May 11 at 7:00pm
Directed by Kiran Merchant
Based on Molière’s Tartuffe, “Tea for Toofi” by Ravi Kapoor is a mad-cap farce set in 1980s Orange County, CA and tells the story of a retired computer engineer who invites a Hindu priest into his home to put his godless family to rights.

About the initiative:

The South Asian Artistic Initiative (SAAI) is a multi-disciplinary artistic program dedicated to promoting, showcasing, and building an awareness of the impact of arts and artists of South Asian heritage.