Letter of Intent for Theatrics Chair - Michael Dwan Singh

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

I, Michael Dwan Singh, would like to be considered as a candidate for the Theatrics Chair of Netsap. 

 

My reasons are very basic- I’ve spent the last 4 years promoting and participating in the spread of South Asian Theater in Boston- largely amongst students and activists.  Given the professional community that Netsap is responsible to, I feel that the skills I've learned will be put to good use in bringing a multitude of communities together while expanding Netsap's repertoire with more quality theater and actors.  To this end, I’d like to present a few proposals that I think might fit the bill:

 

1.        A larger focus on playwriting- encouraging the works of diaspora and second generation South Asians.  This will allow us to engage with the stage while also tackling issues that are closer to home.  As it stands, there are very few desi plays (in English) on the market right now that speak to the diaspora.  A writing workshop in which a well-known author or playwright presents and offers guidance would certainly be an opportunity to inspire and encourage, and something I would spearhead.

 

2.        Reaching out to other communities through staged readings.  In my experience with Netsap, the majority of the theater material has been India-based.  As a South Asian organization, it would do well to reach out to our Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Nepali, Sri Lankan and Afghani brothers and sisters.  To this end, I have contacts and experience with the Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities- and know of a number of works that could be performed as staged readings that would be of interest to them as well.  This would be a great opportunity to expand diversity through a common goal. 

 

3.        The possibility of an in-house production.  Since "Bend It Like Auntie", Netsap hasn't produced and directed any plays on its own, instead choosing to sponsor and fund other institutions.  It may be time to revisit the former way of working.  A full-on stage production - though time-intense and taxing- would yield a meaningful stage experience for a larger number of people.  Be it tech design, set design, managing, directing, acting...the Netsap community would find itself engaged on a number of significant levels.  This sort of experience not only yields a quality product, but also provides an intense bonding experience for otherwise unknown friends.

 

4.        More workshops.  The title says it all.  People love workshops and they love to learn, especially Netsap people.  The past two workshops that I lead for Netsap were an absolute blast, so increasing their number can only benefit us positively.

 

My experience in the theater has spanned over the past 10 years. I've acted in 23 plays and 4 short films.  Eight of those plays (the most recent ones) have been South Asian, based in Boston.  In addition to this, I've lead a number of workshops and have had some training in Boal- the highlights of which have been conflict resolution workshops with refugees from Sub-Saharan Africa, a piece on torture - political and domestic, as well as a bhangra workshop for the Uttarkhand community.  I like to integrate desi arts (tabla and bhangra) into my work- whether it be through theater warm-ups or workshopping taal.

 

Besides this, I have lead workshops for Netsap in the past as well as acted in one of its productions.  As a local resident who’s been here for years, I feel confident that I’d be able to bring together multiple threads of the community while significantly changing the fabric of Netsap’s theater wing- to one dedicated to more quality theater, greater local involvement and more presence in the arts scene.

 

Thank you for your consideration.

 

Sincerely,

 

Michael Dwan Singh