More than five years ago, good friends Rajeev Agarwal and Padma Aking met at a party and were chatting about mutual interests in the performing arts, the chatting became a super animated conversation and the wild idea to stage the play was seeded and soon after NRI (Not-Really-Indian) Productions was established. Since then, life, its happenings and not to mention the pandemic, continually delayed the plans and finally that idea is coming to fruition on August 6th and 7th, 2022! As much effort that has gone into it, it is heartwarming to get a thumping response from the community, as due to the demand for extra seats we have had to add a second show!

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The Dream

Rajeev and Padma were discussing the concept of the play and Padma suggested he write it himself; this was when he was leaving for Delhi to visit his mom, she was stunned that the script was ready when he landed in India. He wrote the entire script for Humerican Dreams in the air!! Together they did what it took to assist in choosing the actors/ various logistics to make it happen. The play is based on relatable characters of the Asian Indian Community. Based on "you can take an Indian out of India, but never India out of an Indian!" 

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About Dr. Rajeev Agarwal

Curator, Playwright and Director

Rajeev has exceptional talent and prowess with words, thoughts and expression. Apparently, a severe introvert in his earlier days (hard to imagine), he used writing/directing plays as an avenue to express his ideas and to communicate freely with people as an audience. His talent for language and writing is beyond astounding, it is now clear that this is an absolute inborn attribute - he only recently delightfully discovered that his mother Smt. Gayatri Gupta was such a talented poet herself that he had the privilege of publishing her book of poems 'Lehren'.  Rajeev is a Pediatrician at his practice Agave Pediatrics in Arizona.

 

About Dr. Padma Aking

'Making it Happen' aka Production Management

Padma is a practicing psychiatrist in Arizona , to whom mental health and the performing arts are both close to her heart. She is also an exponent of the Kuchipudi style of Indian classical dance and has used dance as an expression of mental health issues in some performances. She continues to encourage and propagate conversations on mental health to make it more mainstream by attempting to reduce/negate the unfair stigma and discrimination associated with patients with mental health issues. She is instrumental in all the behind the scenes and theatre logistics and operational support for the Humerican Dreams Play.

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About Prerana Mirchandani

Marketing - Event, Social & Web

We could not have done this event without the able guidance, expertise and dedication of Prerana Mirchandani. Prerana has been instrumental in capturing the media and getting the word out to the audience through multiple channels and platforms on including Facebook, Instagram, Wix, Eventbrite along with its integration. This meant capturing and editing photographs, creating content, engaging posts through videos and reels, website design including ticketing tier options. Teen mental health is close to her heart with teenagers kids in her home. All her dedication and efforts are a volunteering effort to grow a heightened awareness on Teen Mental Health in the local community

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Special Thanks to Dr. Amrita Dhanjal-Reddy for her continued and positive support for Humerican Dreams. She is instrumental in working with from the beginning till the end on many initiatives.

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