Life of Pi initiative for South Asian and AAPI community

In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, Life of Pi on Broadway has launched The Power of Pi Project, a first-of-its-kind effort from a Broadway production to connect with the AAPI community in New York and beyond.

The mission of the campaign is to create shared spaces for the South Asian and broader AAPI community to celebrate each other and the transformative power of storytelling embodied by this show, according to a release.

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“This story is about the survival and faith of a South Asian boy, displaced from his loving community to the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It is an absolute thrill that we are representing this rich world on a Broadway stage in the heart of New York City,” says playwright Lolita Chakrabarti.

“We invite the whole South Asian and broader AAPI community, and all friends of the community, to join us on this epic voyage.”

The Power of Pi Project kicks off with Tiger Talks, a monthly event in collaboration with Gold House and The Salon that will feature a pre-show community reception and a post-show talkback centering and celebrating the show’s South Asian and AAPI artists, held every third Thursday of the month.

READ: ‘Life of Pi’ on Broadway is “a dream run” for Mahnaz Damania(December 8, 2022)

The first Tiger Talk presented by American Express will take place on May 18, with a reception at Utsav Indian Restaurant. All May 18 ticket holders who use the code TIGERTALKS at telechargeoffers.com are invited. American Express will also present the Tiger Talks in June, July & August.

“We’ll collaborate with AAPI leaders across industries, with non-profit organizations and community groups, with Asian-owned businesses, and of course, with the wickedly talented South Asian and AAPI artists in our company and beyond,” says Life of Pi Co-Producer and co-architect of this initiative Nik Dodani.

“And since Asians exist year-round, The Power of Pi Project will operate not just in May during Heritage Month, but for the entirety of Life of Pi’s run.”

“This effort is aimed at making Broadway more inclusive and accessible in an authentic way, which means we’re consulting with community members, multicultural media experts, and DEI specialists,” states Rohi Mirza Pandya, co-founder of Box Office Guru, a South Asian media agency working with Life of Pi to help design and run this initiative. “I’m particularly excited about our small business partners for Heritage Month!”

READ: ‘Life of Pi’ Will Come to Broadway (October 24, 2022)

Throughout the month of May, Life of Pi will be partnering with three small South Asian-owned businesses in New York City. They are:

• The Kati Roll Company, an Indian street food brand that was founded in 2000 by female entrepreneur, Payal Saha, originally from Kolkata, India.
• Kola Goodies, an immigrant, woman-of-color-led wellness company created by Sajani Amarasiri and her mom, Sujatha, both born and raised in Sri Lanka.
• Shaz & Kiks, an Ayurvedic-inspired beauty brand founded by two sisters, Shaz Rajashekar and Kiku Chaudhuri, inspired by the beauty rituals that have always been a bonding experience among the women in their family.

“The richness of storytelling and community is at the heart of Life of Pi, and we are honored to be supporting the Power of Pi project, which will do so much to amplify voices of the whole South Asian and broader AAPI community,” say producers Simon Friend, Daryl Roth, Hal Luftig, and Mark Gordon.

Learn more about The Power of Pi Project campaign at fyc.lifeofpibway.com/powerofpi