Song of Joy

January 6 - January 29, 2023

Song of Joy is an autobiographical play written and performed by Carol Mazhuvancheril explores how perpetually immigrating as a child shapes an individual's family and definition of "home."'

Throughout the play, Carol embodies colorful characters from his family to share his experience navigating a life that is constantly in motion. From learning Carnatic music in a boarding school in India, to auditioning to be a ballerina in Texas, Carol seeks acceptance from those he loves while coming into his new found "American" identity. While Carol tells his story, the audience might see snippets of a young female stagehand offering a supporting hand on stage. Over the course of the play as Carol explores the idea of "home", it is revealed that the stagehand is in fact Carishma, Carol’s sister, and “home” is within the relationship Carol cherishes the most. This discovery and a commitment to live life to the fullest with hope leads Carol and Carishma to perform a celebratory, semi classical, South Indian dance that brings the play to a close.

Laugh-out-loud funny, painfully honest, and sometimes heartbreaking, SONG OF JOY is a love letter to all immigrant parents who make immeasurable sacrifices in order to better the lives of their children. And how the children of those immigrants often have to balance what they owe their parents, with what they owe to themselves.

Creative Team

Carol Mazhuvancheril: Writer / Producer / Actor
Nick J. Browne: Director / Co-Producer
Amanda Kettell: Stage Manager
Xindi Xu: Costume Designer
Sara Vandenheuvel: Sound Designer
Alisha Desai: Choreographer
Matthew Deinhart: Set / Lighting Designer

*All attendees and artists will be required to display proof of at least 2 doses of a covid vaccination before being admitted to the space. Patrons will also be required to wear masks while indoors at all times.