DRAUPADI at NuBox Theatre

Silsila Sounds to premiere DRAUPADI in NYC, starring Misty Jones

Silsila Sounds is presenting a multidisciplinary performance of DRAUPADI on May 16, 2026. The play reimagines the mythological figure through a modern, queer and Black trans lens, offering a “sacred reclamation” of the character as a symbol of power, defiance and resilience.

Set in Ahmedabad, 1906, Draupadi reimagines the mythic figure as a Black and Hijra Gujarati woman working in the brutal textile looms. Amidst the clanging of the machines and a 35% wage strike, a scandal unfolds: one that challenges the boundaries of class, race, and gender identity. Inspired by the radical history of Indian labor movements and the 'Strikers in Saris,' Draupadi centers the cultural worker as the engine of both industry and revolution.

In this retelling, Draupadi is not a victim of her society, but a mirror to it. She stands in radical, inseparable union with the Divine, posing one final question to the world: If the Divine accepts her as she is, why can't we?

This presentation of DRAUPADI will feature Misty Jones in the titular role of Draupadi, with Mahima Sagal as the Mother-In-Law, J. Singh as Raja, Lakshay Gosain as Reader. The show features a Bharatanatyam opening by Isis Poulouse, an evocative original score by the end, and a staged reading of DRAPAUDI from playwright and director Khayaalat.

Date: Saturday, May 16, 2026

Showtimes:

• 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM – Welcoming note and Performance Only

• 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM – Performance followed by Conversation with the Leading Lady and Guest Speakers

Location:

• Nu Box Theater / New Box Theater

• 754 9th Ave, New York, NY 10019, USA

Silsila is an LLC cooperative and production house dedicated to building sustainable infrastructure for queer and trans artists. Fueled by mutual aid and collaborative storytelling, we bridge the gap between art and activism to provide direct support for our community—including the silsila mutual aid fund for dolls of color and profit shares from our production sales. We empower artists to dismantle systems of patriarchy and imperialism, building the radical solidarity needed to re-imagine and change our world.

Accessibility: Please note that the venue is a 3 flight walk-up. Masks are not required but encouraged.

Triggers: transphobia, anti-blackness, mild displays of violence against women

DRAUPADI is a production of the silsila sounds collective silsilasounds.org (@silsilasounds). Read more about Silsila here.

If you are interested in our profit sharing incentive, or performing in future shows, or joining or supporting the collective, please fill out this form.

Full Cast & Crew

Misty Jones – Draupadi

Mahima Sagal – Mother-in-Law

J. Singh – Raja

Lakshay Gosain – Reader

Isis Poulouse – Performer

The End – Composer

Khayaalat – Om, Playwright and Director

Iman Rose Louis-Jeune – Production Manager and Lead Technician

Falaknaaz Patni – Producer and Stylist

Ayman Syed – Makeup Artist & Guest Speaker

Simi Kadirgamar – Guest Speaker

Kiran - Creative Support