Columbia Artists Bring New Works to Public Theater Series

By
Cristóbal Riego
October 02, 2024

The Public Theater's inaugural Judith Champion New Work Series will feature work by Directing alum Shayok Misha Chowdhury '16 and a play directed by Adjunct Assistant Professor Saheem Ali '06. 

Chowdhury's play Ronnie and Kripa, which he will also direct, follows two unlikely friends on their journey to have a child together through IVF. The play explores themes of family, friendship, and cultural identity as Ronnie, a gay man whose father is dying, and Kripa, a divorcee facing her biological clock, navigate their unconventional path to parenthood. 

Ali will direct Proxy, written by Pulitzer Prize winner James Ijames. The play centers on Janese, a psychotherapist whose new client claims to have committed a horrific crime. As Janese delves deeper into the case, which coincides with the disappearance of two young boys in her community, she uncovers unsettling truths.

The Judith Champion New Work Series, running from October 21–29, 2024, showcases a collection of readings of new plays as they are still in development. Readings for Ronnie and Kripa will take place on Monday, October 28 at 7:30 pm and Tuesday, October 29 at 2:30 pm. Proxy will be presented on Monday, October 21 at 2:30 pm and 7:30 pm. All readings will be held in the LuEsther Hall at The Public Theater.

Chowdhury, a Directing alum, is a multidisciplinary theatre artist based in Brooklyn and a 2022 Princess Grace Honorarium Recipient. He is the writer and director of Public Obscenities, which began performances in February 2022. Chowdhury is also an alum of New York Theatre Workshop's 2050 Fellowship, The Public Theater's Devised Theater Working Group, and Soho Rep's Writer/Director Lab.

Ali, an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Theatre Program, is the Associate Artistic Director/Resident Director at The Public Theater. He received a Tony Award nomination for directing the Pulitzer prize-winning play Fat Ham on Broadway and an Obie Award for Sustained Excellence in Directing. His notable productions include Merry Wives at Shakespeare in the Park and Nollywood Dreams at MCC. Ali is a Usual Suspect at New York Theater Workshop and a Sir John Gielgud SDCF Fellow.