'2nd Murderer' by Kanika Asavari Vaish '22 Premieres at The Flea Theater
2nd Murderer, a new play by Theatre alum Kanika Asavari Vaish '22 opened October 9, 2025 at The Flea Theater in Downtown Manhattan and will run until November 1, 2025. The play, a meta adaptation of Richard III, follows the story of two actors who end up in a production of Richard only for the play’s plot to come to life. Set in the cutthroat world of New York’s theater scene, “2nd Murderer is a pulse-pounding dark comedy about fate, purpose, and trusting that little voice in your head.”
In addition to Vaish, the production features the talent of several other Theatre alums. Stage management alum Morgan Grant '25 is the production’s Production Stage Manager, Hannah Yankowitz '25 is stage manager, and two acting alums, TuQuyen Pham '25 and Milton Espinoza Jr. '25 are part of the cast. They play Ann/Lady Ann and Milton/Hastings respectively.
2nd Murderer, directed by Frankie Diciaccio, is a production of SoHo Shakespeare Company where Vaish currently acts as resident playwright. Vaish started to think about Richard III when she associate directed a production with SoHo Shakespeare Company in the summer of 2022. She’d never read the play before but found herself engrossed by the conflict of conscience in the play. Richard is notoriously ruthless, but the two men hired to carry out his deeds are plagued with feelings of remorse. Can one person’s immorality influence another? Vaish became fascinated by these two characters. “I was inspired to write my own story about them. What happens when we get to challenge the social and political landscape controlled by a deadly dictator?” Vaish says.Vaish is a director, performer, and producer who strives to dismantle historical barriers to theater for underrepresented artists. She is also the co-founder of Fresh Lime Soda Productions, a South Asian theater ensemble and new works incubator in New York City. Her work focuses on hope, community, and transformation, and she believes in using theater as a tool for collective healing, social resistance, and self-empowerment. In addition to being an alum of the School of the Arts, Kanika currently acts as Manager of Academic Affairs for the Theater Program at the School of The Arts.
Vaish is a director, performer, and producer who strives to dismantle historical barriers to theater for underrepresented artists. She is also the co-founder of Fresh Lime Soda Productions, a South Asian theater ensemble and new works incubator in New York City. Her work focuses on hope, community, and transformation, and she believes in using theater as a tool for collective healing, social resistance, and self-empowerment. In addition to being an alum of the School of the Arts, Kanika currently acts as Manager of Academic Affairs for the Theater Program at the School of The Arts.
