Deepak Kumar

Ep. 2 is AVAILABLE NOW wherever you get podcasts! Watch: READY WHEN YOU ARE with Timothy Huang On this episode of READY WHEN YOU ARE, host Timothy Huang continues the conversation between two generations of musical theatre writers for an honest conversation about craft, mentorship, and building a life in the theatre. Kait Kerrigan and Bree Lowdermilk return alongside Deepak Kumar and Jord Liu for a candid, craft-focused conversation about collaboration, creative process, and what it really takes to build a life in musical theatre. The group dives into the evolving dynamics of writing partnerships, the tension between speed and depth in an unpredictable industry, and the very real challenges of burnout, balance, and sustaining creativity over time. Along the way, they reflect on the habits and philosophies that shape their work, from rewriting and letting go, to trusting instinct, embracing structure, and finding inspiration both in the room and far beyond it. The episode also features an intimate live performance of “More” from Lovedeep Singh and the Deep Love Singers, performed by Deepak Kumar and accompanied by Jord Liu, recorded live in the NAMT office. READY WHEN YOU ARE is a video podcast series from the National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) bringing together Festival alumni across generations for candid conversations about mentorship, legacy, innovation, and the evolving landscape of new musicals. Visit namt.org/podcast

Ep. 2 is AVAILABLE NOW wherever you get podcasts! Watch: READY WHEN YOU ARE with Timothy Huang On this episode of READY WHEN YOU ARE, host Timothy Huang continues the conversation between two generations of musical theatre writers for an honest conversation about craft, mentorship, and building a life in the theatre. Kait Kerrigan and Bree Lowdermilk return alongside Deepak Kumar and Jord Liu for a candid, craft-focused conversation about collaboration, creative process, and what it really takes to build a life in musical theatre. The group dives into the evolving dynamics of writing partnerships, the tension between speed and depth in an unpredictable industry, and the very real challenges of burnout, balance, and sustaining creativity over time. Along the way, they reflect on the habits and philosophies that shape their work, from rewriting and letting go, to trusting instinct, embracing structure, and finding inspiration both in the room and far beyond it. The episode also features an intimate live performance of “More” from Lovedeep Singh and the Deep Love Singers, performed by Deepak Kumar and accompanied by Jord Liu, recorded live in the NAMT office. READY WHEN YOU ARE is a video podcast series from the National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) bringing together Festival alumni across generations for candid conversations about mentorship, legacy, innovation, and the evolving landscape of new musicals. Visit namt.org/podcast

Get to know the plays and playwrights of the Pacific Playwrights Festival! In the final episode of our playwright interviews we chat with Deepak Kumar about his play “Advanced Persistent Teenagers.” See the staged reading of “Advanced Persistent Teenagers,” directed by Morgan Green, May 1-3.

Meet the writers and performers of South Asian Songbook at @prospectmusicals IGNITE Concert Festival at the Baruch Performing Arts Center in NYC on 3/23 at 7:00pm! Shyama Iyer is an emerging Indian-American theater writer, composer, and choreographer. A recent graduate of the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale, her original musical theater work includes "The Sound of an Anklet" (Book, Music, & Lyrics), "A Game of Dice" (Book, Music, & Lyrics), and "The Rasa Jar" (Music & Lyrics). Deepak Kumar is a playwright, lyricist, composer, and professor of Computer Science & Engineering at UC San Diego. His shows have been developed and produced all over, with some highlights including The Old Globe, Ojai Playwrights Conference, and the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center. He is a MacDowell Colony fellow and is currently on commission from Arena Stage and The Old Globe. Tickets are available at or the link in our bio.

Ep. 1 is AVAILABLE NOW wherever you get podcasts! Watch: READY WHEN YOU ARE with Timothy Huang In the premiere episode of READY WHEN YOU ARE, host Timothy Huang brings together two generations of musical theatre writers for an honest conversation about craft, mentorship, and building a life in the theatre. Kait Kerrigan and Bree Lowdermilk join Deepak Kumar and Jord Liu for a wide-ranging discussion about heroes, education, technology, and how social media is shaping the way writers find their pathway into the field. The group also shares the songs they wish they’d written, the “magic songs” that capture lightning in a bottle, and the moments of struggle that ultimately led to creative breakthroughs. The episode also features an intimate live performance of “Out Here” from ERNXST, or the Importance of Being, with Zachary Noah Piser, recorded live in the NAMT office. READY WHEN YOU ARE is a video podcast series from the National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) bringing together Festival alumni across generations for candid conversations about mentorship, legacy, innovation, and the evolving landscape of new musicals. Visit namt.org/podcast

Ep. 1 is AVAILABLE NOW wherever you get podcasts! Watch: READY WHEN YOU ARE with Timothy Huang In the premiere episode of READY WHEN YOU ARE, host Timothy Huang brings together two generations of musical theatre writers for an honest conversation about craft, mentorship, and building a life in the theatre. Kait Kerrigan and Bree Lowdermilk join Deepak Kumar and Jord Liu for a wide-ranging discussion about heroes, education, technology, and how social media is shaping the way writers find their pathway into the field. The group also shares the songs they wish they’d written, the “magic songs” that capture lightning in a bottle, and the moments of struggle that ultimately led to creative breakthroughs. The episode also features an intimate live performance of “Out Here” from ERNXST, or the Importance of Being, with Zachary Noah Piser, recorded live in the NAMT office. READY WHEN YOU ARE is a video podcast series from the National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) bringing together Festival alumni across generations for candid conversations about mentorship, legacy, innovation, and the evolving landscape of new musicals. Visit namt.org/podcast

Pacific Playwrights Festival Highlight: "Advanced Persistent Teenagers" by Deepak Kumar Two teenagers with a tragic bond spend their days hacking children’s video games for fun, profit and glory. But when their hacker collective, dark w0rld, abruptly disbands, the boys find themselves adrift. Searching for purpose—and still craving the rush—the two launch a plan that may just change the hacker world forever. See the staged reading, directed by Morgan Green, on May 1-3.

Watch: READY WHEN YOU ARE with Timothy Huang First Episode - Tuesday, 3/10 Featuring Kait Kerrigan & Bree Lowdermilk with Jord Liu & Deepak Kumar Performance by Zachary Noah Piser READY WHEN YOU ARE is a video series from the National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT), hosted by NAMT Festival alum Timothy Huang, bringing together musical theatre writers from different generations for candid conversations about mentorship, legacy, innovation and the evolving path of building a career in the field. In a roundtable discussion, guests reflect on pivotal moments, lessons learned and the realities of sustaining a creative life in theatre. Episodes also feature live performances recorded right here in the NAMT office, giving you a first look a new work by our writers. Blending music, storytelling and industry insight, READY WHEN YOU ARE with Timothy Huang offers inspiration and practical perspective for writers, producers and anyone passionate about the future of new musicals. Visit namt.org/podcast

Happy closing to this beautiful company of Kannas and Appas. Here’s to @theoldglobe (especially Danielle, @becksredman , Kim, Barry, and the countless artisans who brought this show to life) for making all the other stuff easy so we could focus on the hard stuff. Here’s to this amazing cast, who breathe such precision and love into every word on the page. @mahirakakkar , @prettydumbboys , @devenkolluri , @supriyaganesh_ — thanks bringing the heat (and the sambhar) every single show. I’m forever in your debt. Here’s to the killer folks behind the stage — @evelyn_myers11 , @jamdiboyd , @emily.m.3 , Richard, and Prosper — for running a tight ship from day 1 to today. You kept us steady when we needed to rock. Here’s to my now dear friends and directing team, @zi.alikhan and @ambika.raina — for pushing when I needed the push and pulling when I asked you to pull. This process has been so good that I’m annoyed it was my first one. And Zi? You’re stuck with me! Sorry not sorry!!!!! Love you here’s to more arguments about character vs. event!!!!! Here’s to these unbelievable designers, @chikashimizu , Cha “Kanna” See @seethruuu , @fanzhangry , and @rodrigomu.mo , for bringing such BEAUTIFUL intricacies to every part of the production. Here’s to everyone who came to SD to celebrate the play and me…. I have been filled with so much joy every day getting to see you and share this with you, especially to my PARENTS who saw it first preview (smh) and my beautiful WIFE (that’s new!) who allowed this play to consume me in the weeks leading up to our wedding. And here’s to you, the audience, for your laughter and your tears. I collected them and have saved them for a rainy day when I don’t think I have anything worthwhile to say. Okay! Bye! Gaahhhhhhhhhhhhh wow wheeeeee wat!

On this episode, Seema has a conversation with a truly remarkable guest: Dr. Deepak Kumar, a computer science professor at UC San Diego who also happens to be a playwright, composer, and lyricist. From cybersecurity research to staged readings at the Old Globe, Deepak’s journey is anything but conventional. They have a vulnerable and inspiring conversation that explores creativity, failure, and the emotional depth behind his newest play, House of India, a story set in a small-town Indian restaurant wrestling with legacy, identity, and change. If you’ve ever felt stuck between practicality and passion, or wondered if it’s too late to start something new, this episode will leave you both challenged and refreshed. Deepak’s reflections on beginner’s mind, detachment, and the joy of rediscovering play are layered with wit and humility, making this a must-listen for anyone seeking to balance ambition with authenticity. Deepak Kumar is a professor of Computer Science & Engineering at UC San Diego and a playwright, lyricist, and composer. His computing work focuses on how to make Internet systems safer and more secure. His plays tackle the questions that keep him up at night, whether they be about Asianness, technology, youth, board games, or soul-eating demons. His shows have been developed and produced all over, with some highlights including The Old Globe and The Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center. He is a MacDowell Colony fellow and is currently on commission from Audible and Arena Stage. . . . . . #bossmindset #thinkbigger #successhabits #mindsetreset #beginnermindset #powerthoughts #mindsetcreator #mentaltoughness #grit #successaddict #recoveringperfectionist #peoplepleasing #peoplepleasingrecovery #successclub #lovewhatyoudo #perfectionistproblems #ambitionquotes #southasianprofessionals #southasianmentalhealth #successfulpeople

Ananya runs House of India, a once-successful restaurant in a strip mall outside of Cleveland. Her cook Jacob has an idea to bring in more customers: ditch the traditional dishes and embrace a trendy, fusion-forward menu (think “Indian Chipotle”). Her two grown children have their own views too. As the bills and worries pile up, Ananya must choose: hold on to her late husband’s vision, or compromise in the name of progress. Directed by Zi Alikhan, this heartwarming world premiere comedy from San Diego playwright Deepak Kumar features a vibrant cast of characters who work to build a restaurant, a legacy, and a new kind of American Dream.

Come see the world premiere of my play, HOUSE OF INDIA, at The Old Globe (@theoldglobe ) in San Diego!!!! Tickets are now on sale! The art dropped so you know it's real! This is not an April Fools joke! The play is crafted with a lot of love by my own two hands and this production is a literal dream come true. It's my first world premiere (and my first play I wrote entirely by myself!) so this one is extra special to me. I'm so grateful to be working with an amazing team of actors, designers, producers, and theatre makers, all stewarded by the inimitable @zi.alikhan , a director whose work I have admired from afar for forever. All of this is too much and I have too many feelings to meaningfully write anything down at the moment – so I'll just say: WTF? Pinch me. Link to tickets is in my bio :)