Synopsis:
While studying abroad at Delhi University, two obliviously privileged, proudly queer NYC college kids discover Shaadi.com, a matchmaking app like Tinder, but run by the parents. To "help" their Indian-American bestie find true love—and pay off their loans with the dowry money—they decide to arrange a traditional marriage, taking "chosen family" one step too far. A farce with heart, sending up both Hollywood and Bollywood rom-com tropes, White Bitches in Delhi explores the savior complex, class and identity, internally and externally imposed stereotypes, and when it's time to BeReal.
Details:
The show will be presented over one weekend, April 28 to April 30, at Columbia University’s Lenfest Center for the Performing Arts.
As well as exposing audiences to timely content in live performance, this production will serve as a model for equitable employment in the theater. Through fundraising, the production team will provide additional compensation to all participants who are eligible to receive compensation under Columbia’s guidelines. Paying artists for their work allows them to stay in the city and in the business, and we believe that adequate remuneration needs to be a part of theater’s culture to have a just, equitable and diverse industry.
About the Playwright:
Ellis Abigail Stump (they/she) is a Columbia University Playwriting MFA Candidate ’23 and Screenwriting Professor, mentee to Steve Martin and writing assistant to Bess Wohl. Currently, Ellis is developing a new play with director Leigh Silverman, and an original TV series produced by Eastend Entertainment. Ellis’ work has won the Vaclav Havel Playwriting Award and Yonder Window Ascending Playwright Award; finalized in competitions by The Dramatists Guild, Fulton Theatre, Athena Project, and Emerson Stages (twice); and semi-finalized with American Blues Theater (twice), Austin Film Festival (twice), Bay Street Theater, Lanford Wilson Play Festival, ScreenCraft, and Filmmatic. Off-Broadway, they've run at The Wild Project, Yonder Window Theatre, Westbeth Artists Gallery, Bohemian National Hall, and Chain Theatre, atop international publications, commissioned productions, and fellowship residencies at Wallace Stegner House in Canada and Prague Performing Arts Academy.