News ...

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Selected for inclusion in The Pan Asian Repertory Theatre’s NuWorks26 Festival,  June 13–21, 2026 at Theatre Row in New York City

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Creation Story ...

 

A Water Play By Katie May started with a jar of water and words. Katie May Porter has collaborated with Jaisey Bates / The Peoplehood in the creation and development of various original works since 'Unquiet American Dreams' (2019) and it was during their journey together with 'When We Breathe' (2020) – a play resonant with themes of unequal access to safe water especially for communities of color – when Katie spoke about her work as a Water Engineer and when she as her character held the last jar of safe water – that the idea for 'A Water Play By Katie May' was born. Katie's play – in solo performance and ensemble variations – has inspired the goal of a collection of work created in community and collaboration: The Water Plays. Reena Dutt has joined Katie and Jaisey, enriching the work as a collaborative creator bringing her own personal connections to water stories.

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Creators' stories ...

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Katie May Porter (Artist/Performer/Writer) is an actor, filmmaker, engineer, and native New Yorker. She has a degree in Chemical Engineering with a minor in Theater Arts from MIT – and has long since been balancing both her left-brain engineering and right-brain creative worlds. Past performances include work with: Ma-Yi Theater Company/2G, National Arts Club, Asian American International Screenplay Competition, Samuel French Off Off Broadway Short Play Festival, Cape May Stage, and the Open Fist Theatre Company. She has performed with the Asian American sketch comedy teams No MSG Added (Los Angeles) and Model Majority (NYC). IG: @ActressEngineer

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Reena Dutt (Director) is dedicated to new and reimagined texts that catapult polarizing conversations through unexpected stories of the underheard. She has worked on productions and new play development across the country at theatres including Theatreworks Silicon Valley (CA), Artists Repertory (OR), Amphibian Stage (TX), Constellation Stage (IN), WAM/Central Square (MA) and The Public (NY) . Her Broadway debut was THE COLLABORATION starring Paul Bettany and Jeremy Pope, working as AD to Kwame Kwei-Armah. Theatre Fellowships: LA Performance Practice Established Artist Fellow, Drama League NY Directing Fellow, LCT Directors Lab. For more information ReenaDutt.com

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Jaisey Bates / The Peoplehood (Writer/Dramaturg) gathers words and stories into plays, seeking new words and ways for shared journeys which remind us that we are a story together, alongside their nomadic company and community of actors, artists and activists committed to working together in the performance of original works celebrating diversity: The Peoplehood the-peoplehood.com