malini singh mcdonald

Malini Singh McDonald is a native New Yorker who has been involved in the arts for her entire life. She has an MFA from the Actors Studio Drama School; an MPA and BA in Theatre Arts and English Literature at Baruch. Select theatre credits include the revival of Godspell (Producer, Broadway Revival); The Colored Museum; The Year of Living Dangerously (Publicist, 54 Below); Whiskey Pants: The Mayor of Williamsburg (Publicist, HERE Arts Center); From Ship to Shape (Publicist, Winner of Two United Solo Awards); The Eternal Space (Associate Producer & Marketing Director, Theatre Row); The Wiz (Director, Matsiko World Orphan Choir, Liberia); Torch Song Trilogy (Director, ATA). Malini is also the founder of Theatre Beyond Broadway which provides a platform to promote and support independent artists beyond the bright lights of Broadway. TBB represents a broad range of artists through producing, publicity, education, an online community and a podcast. She is the Executive Director of Black Henna Productions, a boutique theatre company producing original and classic works throughout the five boroughs. Productions include Deserters (Altered Stages), Naughty Prep School Stories (2006 New York International Fringe Festival), Much Ado About Nothing, Twelfth Night, and Hamlet: The Viking Prince of Denmark (NYC Parks). Malini is a member of the League of Professional Theatre Women and a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. She has collaborated with The Anthropologists, Broadway Artists Connection, Non-Disposable Productions, New Perspectives Theatre Company and Mind the Art Entertainment. Malini has been recognized for her role in the community with the Woman of Distinction Award for her contribution to Media, Arts and Culture from the City of New York. She is also the Deputy Chief Diversity Officer of a NYS agency where she was recently recognized for her dedication to Diversity and Inclusion.

WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA
Website: https://malinism.com/ and https://theatrebeyondbroadway.com/
FB: Malini S. McDonald
TW: @malinism
IG: @malini_sm

MORE ABOUT ME
Here are two things about me: I believe that everyone has a voice and I advocate for those who have not found theirs yet. Pondering and expressing innovative ways to connect with others has given me the opportunity to advocate for artists through producing and directing. My writing includes my personal narratives on genealogy, epigenetics, a woman’s right to choose, and the intersectionality of being a woman and a woman of color. It also includes the many interviews I have had with artists in the independent, regional, and commercial arenas. This has allowed me to connect with other people on their own journeys. It is also the only reason that I am still doing theatre. When I am not doing theatre or writing, I am of service to my community as needed and wanted.

WHAT I'M WORKING ON
During the summer of 2020, amidst the trifecta of social injustice, economic distress and a global health crisis, four friends and artists came together to connect and create. We were already on a personal journey of ancestry but had either paused or hit the proverbial brick wall. However, together we were able to support each other in the exploration of our history through DNA and genealogical research. The four of us identified at that time as Caucasian, African-American, and Indo-Caribbean. During the process, other identifying markers were presented defying these labels. We learned through using the basic principles of genetics and the social structures that our families encountered based upon their DNA that we were not our labels. We were actually more complex people through epigenetics and generational trauma. The themes of the piece are conflict, identity and culture. The overall storyline is about wanting to know where one comes from and from whom one descends.

KEYWORDS
​New Yorker, Indo-Caribbean, Trini-American, Woman of Color, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Interfaith, Gender Parity, International Women Artist, Biographical