What We Grew Up With

Nov. 2-5
Kennedy-McIlwee Studio Theatre

By KIRAN SOMA
Directed by Usha Bajpai

Winner of the 2023 Creative Artist Award in Theatre. Set in the United States post 9/11, What We Grew Up With follows an immigrant family and their experiences navigating racism, xenophobia, and estrangement.

Advit, his friends, and family grow in their understanding of what it is to live in an America that defines people before asking who they are. This dramatic one-act highlights issues that touch aspects of all our lives and the importance of belonging and connection.

A Studio Series production.

PLAYBILL

Tyler Negley (Lucas/Student) and Fayaz Sheikh (Advit) confront one another in the classroom in Kiran Soma's "What We Grew Up With."

WWGUW on WHUP-FM’s Lights Up!

WHUP-FM Lights Up! host Wayne Leonard talks with playwright Kiran Soma, director Usha Bajpai, and UT program director Joshua Reaves about Soma’s upcoming play, What We Grew Up With. Lights Up! airs each Wednesday from 5-6pm on whupfm.org.

The Cast

Actor’s Name	Role
FAYAZ SHAIKH	Advit
OVIYA NAGARAJPREMA	Divya
UNNATI BUKHARIYA	Amina
ANDREW JACKSON	Rajiv
GRETA ESTEFANIA PEREZ COBO	Paz
TYLER NEGLEY	Lucas/Student 1
KATE SCHEER	Student 2
ALYSSA PHILLIPS	Student 3
LINDSAY BOYLE	Teacher

Meet the director

Usha Bajpai leads the Global Security Governance and Control for a Fortune 100 company. In her spare time, she pursues her passion for visual and performing art and dress designing. She’s passionate about spreading awareness of her rich Indian cultural heritage, promoting cultural diversity, respect, and the mutual understanding between different cultures. In her spare time, she pursues her love of painting, traveling, and exploring places and cultures with her family. Usha lives in Cary, with her husband, daughter and two dogs.

Evening Shows

Thur-Sat, Nov. 2-4 at 7:30pm
Doors open at 7:00pm

Matinees

Sunday, Nov. 5 at 2:00pm
Doors open at 1:30pm

Content Rating

PG-13. Adult language, racist slurs, adult content. Themes of racism, xenophobia, and belonging.

Pricing & Seating

All seating for this production is general admission. Tickets range from $8 to $12 (plus NC tax and fees.)

Community Night

Not applicable.

Group Sales/Tickets

No additional discounts available.

Supertitles

Available at the Nov. 3 and 5 performances.

Assistive Listening

The Kennedy-McIlwee Studio Theatre is equipped with an assistive listening system.

Audio Description

Directions & Parking

Click this link for instructions