COLLECTIVE: The EnActe New York Collective serves as the first platform based in New York City for South Asian theater-makers (actors, musicians, directors, and designers) to find professional community, artistic collaborators, and a range of developmental resources to help them create a sustainable and successful career.
NEW WORKS INCUBATOR: As a part of the larger New York Collective, the New Works Incubator will serve to uplift and develop new theater that centers South Asian stories and artistry. Each year, one play and one musical will be selected to be developed and fostered as part of the incubator.
Emielyn Das
Emielyn Das is a queer Indian-American performer, composer, lyricist, librettist, designer, and producer based in New York City. A recent Cognitive Neuroscience graduate of UC Berkeley and of Writing & Production for Musical Theater from BerkleeNYC, she is primarily interested in how the medium of theater can unpack the human psyche, lift intersectional identities, and inspire change for marginalized communities. Professional performing credits include originating the role of Aliya Chawla in Berkeley Repertory Theater’s production of Monsoon Wedding, Young Maya in the feature film The Valley, and Chandra in the Bengali movie Aparajita Tumi. Production credits include producing Berkeley Rep’s Teen One Acts Festival, vocal directing at UC Berkeley’s BareStage Theater, and designing lighting, costume, and assistant directing at WOW Cafe Theater and Euphoria Theater Company. Currently, she is a Post-Master’s Fellow at BerkleeNYC, where she is working on a concept album of her original, semi autobiographical musical Seven Steps Around the Fire (with Harrison Lewis). She is so excited to be heading this new initiative to foster new South Asian theater at EnActeNYC!
What EnActe means to me: “EnActe has fostered my love for theater ever since I can remember, and now, continues to serve and support my mission in this industry: to create opportunities and resources for South Asian theater makers to find community and develop original, meaningful art. I couldn’t be more excited to head and launch EnActe NYC!”
Suhail Kumar
Suhail Kumar, a BFA Acting graduate from Syracuse University, is an Indian-American actor based in NYC and the Bay Area, performing with various theatre companies. He trained as a child actor at EnActe, and went on to play key roles in many EnActe Professional Productions. Suhail is excited to collaborate with Emielyn Das to bring EnActe’s vision to life in NYC.