Ghalib Dhalla (Los Angeles, CA)
"The Ritual"

Ghalib Shiraz Dhalla is the author of the critically-acclaimed novel "Ode to Lata", which was hailed by The Los Angeles Times as "an accomplishment" and was part of an American Book Award-winning anthology. His work has appeared in national magazines including Genre, Details, Angeleno and most recently as the publisher of the upscale IndulgeMagazine.com Currently, Dhalla is working on the completion of his second novel, "The Two Krishnas" and the film adaptation of his first novel. Dhalla will be reading a vignette called "The Ritual."

Rishi Doshi (San Diego, CA)
"Shoe-Shine Boy"

Through the indignation of a laboring Gujarati child upon being offered one rupee by a wealthy foreigner, "Shoe-Shine Boy" seeks to re-examine conceptions of class, begging and social responsibility.

Chee Malabar (New York, NY)
"Oblique Brown"

Chee Malabar's newly finished solo project entitled "Oblique Brown", is a highly charged album that explores the boundaries of post 9-11politics, love, relationships and art. Brimming with socio-political commentary as well as personal narratives that range from satirical to inflammatory, Malabar's lyrics have found themselves in college curriculums and doctorate dissertations that deal with identity and race in America.

SPOKEN WORD CURATOR

D'Lo - Musician, writer, spoken word poet and activist D'Lo is a dynamic, message - oriented artist, who has shared her work throughout the United States, Canada, and the UK, including performances at the American Museum of Natural History, the Bowery Poetry Club, New York's Public Theatre and the Nuyorican Cafe.

Shishir Kurup (Los Angeles, CA)
"Sharif Don't Like It"

"Sharif Don't Like It" is a sardonic salute to the charming fallout from the US Patriot Act. An ode to the voiceless, the detained, it shines the light of consequence on a country caught up in hysteria. A darkly humorous examination of the systematic erosion of the rights that civil societies claim to cherish. Please have government-issue I.D. ready for inspection.

Anuvab Pal (New York, NY)
"Life, Love and E.B.I.T.D.A."

Ruled from London by millionaire twins with workers toiling in India, the sun never sets on Gofuz Inc.-the world's largest manhole-cover company. But two women bankers on Wall Street have devious plans to reshape Gofuz and the future of global waste. A wild mix of love, ambition, global greed, personal need and drainage.

THEATER CURATOR

Ravi Kapoor - Born in Liverpool, England, Kapoor has trained extensively in acting, including three years at the East 15 Drama School in London and 10 years of professional work in England. He relocated to Los Angeles with his wife (actress Meera Simhan) four years ago, and is an NBC series regular on "Crossing Jordan", playing Dr. Mahesh "Bug".
Theatre committee - Shaheen Vaz, Lina Patel