Meena's Dream: 5 shows left and 40% of our Campaign goal met!

[Anu]

Hello everyone!

MEENA'S DREAM opened this weekend to full houses!  Come see the show if you can! ($20 advance tix, pay-what-you-want at the door.) Only 5 shows left! 

We have also reached 40% of our $16,000 Indiegogo Campaign goal. To get the remaining 60% in next 23 days we need your support.  So consider contributing to the Meena's Dream Indiegogo campaign. Whether it's $1 or $100, it counts! 

There has been great great buzz about this show.  It's really remarkable and humbling. Below are some links:

Broadway World

Maryland Gazette

DCist

Washingtonian

Washington Post Going Out Guide

Washington Post Theatre's Best Acts for January

Jacqueline Lawton's Interview with Anu Yadav

The American Bazaar

And below?  A couple epiphanies I've had doing this very project...

Competition:  As an artist I am set up to compete for limited resources against my fellow artists in a society that undervalues artists yet still consumes art.  Before, I was too afraid to do a campaign like this for fear of rejection, and felt too overwhelmed to think I could support my friends who were also raising money too.  But strangely enough, doing this campaign is challenging me to realize that even while asking people to donate, I can still donate too, even at a time of financial hardship.  I am a part of a broader community, and I started making small donations to other campaigns I believe in too.  It is possible, without breaking my budget!  I'm learning more about stretching more into a generosity that feels good and right.

Visibility: I realized that even while seeking attention as an artist, it can also feel scary to get attention.  Sometimes peoples' positive reactions can be just as rocking as negative ones.  Without a regular practice of self-reflection, it can be challenging to remember why I am doing this and for whom.  I'm realizing that the more I stay present with my own focus and intention and self-care, the more I can have room for people to have their own responses to what I do.  Everyone has a right to their response, reaction, feelings.  As a performer I make an offering, but I also set the tone.  My intention before a performance need not be a place of urgent need, but rather a welcoming into my 'home' of the stage.  I get to DJ the music, and make the food, so to speak.  Everyone gets to sample the food how they like, or decide whether or not to dance. Me?  I get the enjoyment of making the offering.

Thank you for supporting work I do, and feel free to give a holler, ask a question, share your thoughts.  

Finally working on a very simple website.  Wow, I've dragged my heels far too long on this one.  I will be posting it this week.

all the best, 

Anu