Hi! My name is Mukta, and Mukta means freedom and liberation. That's the tl;dr!

 

I am a proud graduate of Bucknell University from where I gained a BA in Theatre, concentrations in Creative Writing and Computer Science, and a lifelong commitment to the arts as a holistic experience. These days, I am an actor, playwright, teaching artist, and creative living in NYC. Multi-hyphenate is the word, right?

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A proud daughter of Indian immigrants, my intersectional identities are at the core of my artistry. In my writing, acting and everyday life (even in my Etsy store!) I work to elevate the unheard stories of my ancestors, as well as make space for others to do the same. Through my projects I strive to be a force for justice, learning, and play. 

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As part of my scholarship and in continuation of the work I have been doing post-grad under my mentor and professor Anjalee Deshpande-Hutchinson, I am a seasoned devisor with experience leading devising workshops, developing moments following the trainings and models of the Tectonic Theater Project, and setting up the room for ensemble-generated process.

 

Outside of devising work, I often find myself in rooms where new work is being brainstormed, workshopped, or premiered. My collaborative skills paired with my training as a musician, actor and writer make for really fruitful and generative relationships in new works spaces. 

 

My adaptation of the Newbery Award winning book The Night Diary was commissioned by the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte and premiered in March of 2023. It centers two children during the Partition of 1947 - a violent historic act that split Colonial India into Pakistan and India - displacing around 20 million people and killing several million. I am so proud to be the playwright of this piece, and hope that as a TYA play it will bring awareness of the global community to children who are missing the Partition story in their history textbooks.

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I am also a teaching artist. I teach playwriting and theater to youth writers through my work with TWUSA, Colt Coeur and the Bushwick Starr. Performing and writing for children is one of my greatest joys - I find them to be the most generous, attentive, engaged audiences - even if they are wriggling in their seats! In my work for adult audiences, I still try to find that connection to the inner child of those watching - accessing that well of openness. 

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I am also a Creative Director for Mind Body Music NYC - an early childhood music education company that runs in person music classes in NYC and offers quality social emotional learning content for kids online. 

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In addition to all of this, I am an avid reader, cook, crafter, and poet. My craft creations exist on Etsy under Exits + Entrances and my poetry exists on instagram @poetry_moose. My reading and cooking stay in my home - which all are welcome to visit! 

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I hope this can help you understand who I am - which, at its core, is someone who is open, curious, creative and in constant proximity to wonder. I hope we can meet and make something together!