A Path Forward

This is our final episode. But every ending is the beginning of something new. In this case, it’s the beginning of a new school year. We’re calling it “The Drop-off.” It was written and directed by Jesse Rhodes. CREDITS: A Path Forward was created by Daniel Pierce and produced by Jesse Rhodes through Centerville Theatre Productions. Our team of talented writers and directors includes Kavya Jolly, Chintalapudi Sarayu, Tamanna Gandhi, Daniel Peirce, Aneeqa Bano, and Francisco Flamenco. Our sound engineers included Joshua Hollister, Sachin Toor, and myself. Our tech crew included Olivia Mou, Akshaya Jayaprakash, Charu Srinath, Kushagra Paliwal, Arshia Sharma, and Isaac Wise. Our theme song was written and performed by Joshua Hollister. Our cover was by Sharada Kittur. Riya Parlikar played the parts of Chandra and Aisha. Asvin Aravindan played the parts of Ashu and David. Ahyan Zaman played the parts of Narendra, Adult Francisco, Bully 1, and Tamanna’s Father. Eba Shaikh played the parts of Guddu, Lady 1, Deepa, and Tia Blanca. Arshia Sharma played the parts of Ginny, Ella, Edith, and Prima. Summer Leon played the parts of neighbor and stranger. Divya Mohanty played the parts of Simran, Border Patrol, and La Migra. Carlos Sarceno Alay played the part of Amar and David’s Dad. Francisco Flamenco Jr. played the part of Young Francisco. Ronit Kapoor played the part of Robber, Villager, and Jorge. Tamanna Gandhi played herself as well as Lady 2. Hailey Vittoria played the part of Juhi. Amanda Behrens played the parts of Aarthi, Tia Juana, and Khadija’s mom. Sharada Kittur played the part of Ammy. Isaac Wise played the part of Sonam. Francisco Flamenco played the part of Uncle Joel. Kushagra Paliwal played the part of Coyote. Angelica Sandoval played the part of Zoila. Kavya Jolly played herself as well as the part of Khadija. Charu Srinath played the part of Teacher. Alena Pierce played the part of Scarlett. Olivia Mou played the part of Principal. Chintalapudi Sarayu played herself. Marisol Flamenco, Maya and Isacc Aguirre played the parts of primos.

Here's part two of “Tres Veces Mojado,” written and directed by Francisco Flamenco. Our sound engineer for this episode was myself. Our cast included: Francisco Flamenco, Jr. as Young Francisco and primo, Ahyan Zaman as Adult Francisco, Arshia Sharma as Edith, Francisco Flamenco as Uncle Joel, Amanda Behrens as Tia Juana,: Arshia Sharma as Prima, Kushagra Paliwal as Coyote, Divya Mohanty as Border Patrol, Divya Mohanty as La Migra, Zoila as Angelica Sandoval, Ronit Kapoor as Jorge, Summer Leon as Stranger, Eba Shaikh as Tia Blanca, Marisol Flamenco, Maya and Isacc Aguirre, as primos. Our theme song was written and performed by Joshua Hollister. Our cover art was by Sharada Kittur.

Around school, he’s known as Senor Flamenco. He teaches Spanish to 7th and 8th graders at Centerville. We were talking one day after class, and Senor Flamenco asked me, “Did I ever tell you about how my mom came into the country?” He told me this incredible story that has stuck in my mind ever since. And then Mr. Pierce came up to me with this idea to do a play focused on immigration, and I thought, “I know just the person.” Today’s episode is “Tres Veces Mojado, Part I,” written and directed by Senor Flamenco. Our sound engineer for this episode was myself. Our cast included: Francisco Flamenco, Jr. as Young Francisco and primo, Ahyan Zaman as Adult Francisco, Arshia Sharma as Edith, Francisco Flamenco as Uncle Joel, Amanda Behrens as Tia Juana,: Arshia Sharma as Prima, Kushagra Paliwal as Coyote, Divya Mohanty as Border Patrol, Divya Mohanty as La Migra, Zoila as Angelica Sandoval, Ronit Kapoor as Jorge, Summer Leon as Stranger, Eba Shaikh as Tia Blanca, Marisol Flamenco, Maya and Isacc Aguirre, as primos. Our theme song was written and performed by Joshua Hollister. Our cover art was by Sharada Kittur.

This is part two of “New Home, Same Problems,” written by Daniel Pierce, adapted from a short story by Aneeqa Bano. Our sound engineer for this episode was Joshua Hollister. Our cast included Riya Parlikar as Aisha, Kavya Jolly as Khadija, Charu Srinath as Teacher, Ahyan Zaman as Bully 1, Elena Pierce as Scarlett, Amanda, Behrens as Mom, Olivia Mou as Principal, Asvin Aravindan as David, and Daniel Pierce as David’s Dad. Our theme song was written and performed by Joshua Hollister. Our cover art is by Sharada Kittur.

You are in middle school and your life is uprooted. You are plopped down on the other side of the world. New school, new country, new language. It’s hard enough as it is. And then the bullies arrive. “New Home, Same Problems” was written by Mr. Pierce, adapted from a short story by Aneeqa Bano. Our sound engineer for this episode was Joshua Hollister. Our cast included Riya Parlikar as Aisha, Kavya Jolly as Khadija, Charu Srinath as Teacher, Ahyan Zaman as Bully 1, Elena Pierce as Scarlett, Amanda, Behrens as Mom, Olivia Mou as Principal, Asvin Aravindan as David, and Daniel Pierce as David’s Dad. Our theme song was written and performed by Joshua Hollister. Our cover art is by Sharada Kittur.

Today’s story takes place in pre-partition India. The year is 1947. Tamanna Gandhi, the playwright, was not yet born, but her grandparents were very much in the middle of it. Today’s episode was written and directed by Tamanna Gandhi. Our sound engineer for this episode was Jesse Rhodes. Our cast included Divya Mohanty as Simran, Carlos Sarceno Alay as Amar, Ronit Kapoor as Robber and Villager, Eba Shaikh as Deepa and Lady 1, Tamanna Gandhi as Lady 2, and Shoshana Walter as Lady 3. Our theme song was written and performed by Joshua Hollister. Our cover art is by Sharada Kittur.

Sometimes you need to cross the border. Sometimes, the border crosses you. Today’s story takes place in pre-partition India. The year is 1947. Tamanna Gandhi, the playwright, was not yet born, but her grandparents were very much in the middle of it. Today’s episode is “The Promise, Part I,” written and directed by Tamanna Gandhi Our sound engineer for this episode was Mr. Rhodes. Our cast included Divya Mohanty as Simran, Carlos Sarceno Alay as Amar,: Ronit Kapoor as Robber and Villager,: Eba Shaikh as Deepa and Lady 1, Tamanna Gandhi as Lady 2, and Shoshana Walter as Lady 3. Our theme song was written and performed by Joshua Hollister. Our cover was by Sharada Kittur.

Sometimes, the worst part about leaving is saying goodbye. If you had to leave without saying goodbye, would you feel relieved? Or would it break your heart. Today we have a new episode for you that explores that question, “The Bad Goodbye, Part I,” written by Chintalapudi Sarayu, Mr. Pierce, and myself, adapted from a short story by Chintalapudi Sarayu. Our sound engineer for this episode was Sachin Toor. Our cast includes Hailey Vittoria as Juhi, Amanda Behrens as Aarthi, Sharada Kittur as Ammy, Isaac Wise as Sonam, and Arshia Sharma as Ella. Our theme song was written and performed by Joshua Hollister. Our cover was by Sharada Kittur.

Sometimes, the worst part about leaving is saying goodbye. If you had to leave without saying goodbye, would you feel relieved? Or would it break your heart. Today we have a new episode for you that explores that question, “The Bad Goodbye, Part I,” written by Chintalapudi Sarayu, Mr. Pierce, and myself, adapted from a short story by Chintalapudi Sarayu. Our sound engineer for this episode was Sachin Toor. Our cast includes Hailey Vittoria as Juhi, Amanda Behrens as Aarthi, Sharada Kittur as Ammy, Isaac Wise as Sonam, and Arshia Sharma as Ella. Our theme song was written and performed by Joshua Hollister. Our cover was by Sharada Kittur.

Sometimes, you have to leave because home is no longer safe. And when I say home, I don’t mean your country or city. I mean your home. What if you had to leave your husband? That’s what today’s episode is about. It’s called “A Mother’s Journey, Part II.” It was written and directed by Kavya Jolly. Our sound engineer for this episode was Joshua Hollister. Our cast included Riya Parlikar as Chandra Asvin Aravindan as Ashu, Ahyan Zaman as Narendra, Eba Shaikh as Guddu, Arshia Sharma as Ginny, and Summer Leon as Neighbor. Our theme song was written and performed by Joshua Hollister. Our cover was by Sharada Kittur.

Sometimes, you have to leave because home is no longer safe. And when I say home, I don’t mean your country or city. I mean your home. What if you had to leave your husband? That’s what today’s episode is about. It’s called “A Mother’s Journey, Part I.” It was written and directed by Kavya Jolly. Our sound engineer for this episode was Joshua Hollister. Our cast included Riya Parlikar as Chandra Asvin Aravindan as Ashu, Ahyan Zaman as Narendra, Eba Shaikh as Guddu, Arshia Sharma as Ginny, and Summer Leon as Neighbor. Our theme song was written and performed by Joshua Hollister. Our cover was by Sharada Kittur.

Introducing "A Path Forward," a series of original audio dramas written by students and teachers at Centerville Junior High. Each episode is based on a real life story of immigration. Theme song by Joshua Hollister. Cover art by Sharada Kittur.