‘Life of Pi’ on Broadway launches initiative for AAPI Heritage Month

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‘Life of Pi’ on Broadway is launching an initiative for South Asian and AAPI community in New York.

The “The Power of Pi Project” will kick off in May to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, an April 27, 2023, press release said.

Organizers called it “a first-of-its-kind effort from a Broadway production to nurture genuine connections and partnerships 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, the press release said.

“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. 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.”

Rohi Mirza Pandya, co-founder of Box Office Guru, said the effort is aimed at making Broadway more inclusive and accessible in an authentic way. The producers of Life of Pi are Simon Friend, Daryl Roth, Hal Luftig, and Mark Gordon.

Throughout the month of May, Life of Pi will be partnering with three small South Asian-owned businesses in New York City, including the Kati Roll Company, an Indian street food brand; Kola Goodies, a wellness company; and Shaz & Kiks, an Ayurvedic-inspired beauty brand.

For more information on The Power of Pi Project campaign, visit fyc.lifeofpibway.com/powerofpi

Tickets for Life of Pi on Broadway are available at Telecharge.com (212.239.6200) and at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre box office and range from $49 – $199.

The production began April 4, and the playing schedule is from Tuesday through Saturday at 8pm, with matinees Wednesday and Saturday at 2pm, and Sunday at 3pm.

(Advertorial)