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The Elephant in the Room by Priyanka Shetty


  • 1925 South Michigan Ave Chicago, IL 60616 (map)

South Asia Institute presents the Chicago debut with just two exclusive shows of "The Elephant in the Room", a critically acclaimed one-woman show by Priyanka Shetty.

Event Details:
Dates: Friday, October 11 & Saturday, October 12
Time: Doors open at 7:00 PM | Show starts at 7:30 PM
Location: South Asia Institute, 1925 S. Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60616
Tickets: $50 VIP Seats | $35 General Admission

About the Show

The Elephant in the Room is a witty, dark comedy about just your typical Indian metalhead and software-engineer-turned-actor who must navigate life as an immigrant arriving in Trump’s America. When Priyanka makes the bold move to defy her family by quitting her IT job in India and moving to the U.S. to pursue an acting career, things don’t quite turn out how she imagined. Gear up for a funny, tumultuous ride through immiscible cultures, unforgettable love, irreparable loss, and the desperation of not belonging anywhere.

The Elephant in the Room has been presented at several Performing Arts Centers, Regional Theatres and Universities across the US, including The John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington DC, CATF, and Yale. Its international performances include a month-long run at the 2022 Edinburgh Festival Fringe which was followed by a Scotland tour and a Canadian tour in 2022/2023. Priyanka is thrilled to be included in the 2023/24 season at 5 theatres in the US including Azuka Theatre in Philadelphia, Theatre Horizon in Norristown PA, The Keegan Theatre in Washington DC, Leach Theatre in Missouri and the Reser Center for Performing Arts in Oregon. These performances officially kickoff the rollout of her Triptych of Solos.

About Priyanka Shetty

Priyanka Shetty is an award-winning actor, director, and playwright based in Philadelphia, PA. Her critically acclaimed one-woman show THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM has been performed at numerous venues across the country including The John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts and was recently staged at the 2022 Edinburgh Fringe as part of the Assembly Festival which was followed by a Scotland Tour. Priyanka made her Off-Broadway debut with #CHARLOTTESVILLE at the Drama Desk award-winning 59E59 Theaters’ “East to Edinburgh” Festival in 2021. She was also handpicked for the prestigious Kennedy Center Playwriting Intensive in 2021, and was the semi-finalist for the 2022 Eugene O'Neill National Playwrights Conference. Priyanka earned a Master of Fine Arts in Acting from the University of Virginia and has served on the faculty of the University of Virginia’s Department of Drama.