The Indian Panorama

Tag: CONVERSATION

  • INDIAN COMEDIAN VIR DAS CONNECTS PEOPLE GLOBALLY

    INDIAN COMEDIAN VIR DAS CONNECTS PEOPLE GLOBALLY

    • By Mabel Pais

    “No artist embodies the globalization of stand-up like Vir Das.” – The New York Times

    “There is a mixture of audacity and humility in Das’s comedy. He seems to have arrived at this stage fully formed.” – Boston Globe

    VIR DAS is taking over the world with his ‘Mind Fool’ Tour. The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) presents comedian Vir Das, India’s biggest comedian. He is on the biggest tour ever attempted by an Indian comic – 33 countries, every continent except Antarctica, and dozens of iconic venues: Carnegie Hall, Dubai Opera, Singapore’s Esplanade, London’s Eventim Apollo, and now at NJPAC in Newark. Das’ fourth Netflix comedy special, ‘Landing,’ recently earned an International Emmy® nomination for its witty cross-cultural insights and personal stories. The Daily Beast called it his “strongest hour of stand-up yet.” This is a performance not to be missed on Sunday, November 24, 2024 @ 7 PM.

    Comedian and actor Vir Das has not just hit the comedy mega-leagues, he’s conquered them, thanks to his boundless comedic talent, wildly successful world tours, and four incredible Netflix specials. His global success is a testament to the power of comedy to connect people from all corners of the world.

    Vir Das has hit the global comedy mega-leagues thanks to his boundless comedic talent, wildly successful world tours, and four incredible Netflix specials. Decider praised his “refreshingly different take on our current obsession with “punching up” and “cancel culture,” and Paste Magazine gushed, “Even if he’s sending barbs someone’s way, his criticisms are packaged up so beautifully that you’re simply in awe until they hit their mark.”

    Das taped the special in New York City after a hit run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where the New York Times declared, “No artist embodies the globalization of stand-up like Vir Das.” Vir’s third Netflix unique, ‘Vir Das: For India,’ garnered an International Emmy nomination for Best Comedy in 2021.

    As one of India’s most prominent stand-up comedians and a Bollywood star, Vir was the second-best-selling live actor in the country in 2022. He has increasingly gained worldwide appeal through his international tours and beloved appearances in multiple fan-favorite comedy films and TV series. He starred in Judd Apatow’s feature ‘The Bubble’ on Netflix and the ABC spy dramedy ‘Whiskey Cavalier’ in the role of Jai Datta opposite Scott Foley and Lauren Cohen. Vir has created, produced, and starred in multiple series, including the scripted thriller Hasmokh for Netflix and the unscripted travel show ‘Jestination Unknown’ for Amazon’s Prime Video. He is also the lead singer for India’s premiere comedy-rock band ‘Alien Chutney.’

    TICKETS

    To see Vir Das’ ‘Mind Fool’ performance at NJPAC, visit NJPAC.org or the NJPAC Box Office or call 888.GO.NJPAC (888.466.5722).

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    PSYCHOLOGIST-AUTHOR PETERSON OFFERS RULES FOR LIVING

    • By Mabel Pais

    “When you have something to say, silence is a lie” – Jordan Peterson

    Vir Das, banner (Credit: virdas.in)

    Dr. Jordan B. Peterson—author, psychologist, educator, and Professor Emeritus at the University of Toronto—combines insights from ancient traditions with findings from modern research to offer valuable rules for living. He will share his knowledge on his ‘We Who Wrestle With God’ tour at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) on Tuesday, November 19th, at 7:30 PM.

    Drawing from mythology, the Bible, and psychological studies, Dr. Peterson provides practical advice that he has shared with patients, CEOs, entrepreneurs, and millions of everyday people striving to lead better lives. Join him as he explains how to merge contemporary and ancient wisdom to gain a deeper understanding of yourself and develop a vision for your future.

    With his students and colleagues, Dr. Peterson has published more than a hundred scientific papers advancing the modern understanding of alcoholism, antisocial behavior, play, emotion, creativity, competence and personality. He was nominated for five consecutive years as one of Ontario’s Best University Lecturers, and was one of only three professors rated as “life changing” in the UT’s underground student handbook of course ratings.

    In 2016, shortly before the publication of ‘12 Rules,’ several of Dr. Peterson’s online lectures, videos and interviews went viral, launching him into unprecedented international prominence as a public intellectual and educator.

    TICKETS

    Tickets for Dr. Jordan D. Peterson can be purchased by visiting NJPAC.org or NJPAC Box Office or calling 888.GO.NJPAC (888.466.5722). 

    The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC)

    NJPAC located in downtown Newark, N.J., is America’s most diverse performing arts center, and the artistic, cultural, educational and civic center of New Jersey – where great performances and events enhance and transform lives every day. NJPAC brings diverse communities together, providing access to all and showcasing the state’s and the world’s best artists while acting as a leading catalyst in the revitalization of its home city. Through its extensive Arts Education programs, which have reached almost 2 million children, NJPAC is shaping the next generation of artists and arts enthusiasts. NJPAC has attracted more than 10 million visitors since opening its doors in 1997, and nurtures meaningful and lasting relationships with each of its constituents.

    Follow NJPAC Online:

    Website:      njpac.org

    Twitter:       @NJPAC

    Instagram:   @NJPAC

    Hashtag:      #NJPAC

    Facebook:    facebook.com/NJPAC

    YouTube:     NJPACtv

    Follow NJPAC’s Standing in Solidarity Series Online: 

    Website:     njpac.org/takeastand

    Hashtag:     #NJPACTakeAStand

    Youtube:     Standing in Solidarity playlist

    (Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Spirituality, Cuisine, Health & Wellness, Business, and Education)

  • WHAT DOES THE FORMER FIRST LADY & US SENATOR SHARE WITH US?

    WHAT DOES THE FORMER FIRST LADY & US SENATOR SHARE WITH US?

    By Mabel Pais

    “Let’s keep fighting and let’s keep the faith. And let’s lift each other as we move forward on this journey.” – Hillary Rodham Clinton
    HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON: First Lady, U.S. Senator, U.S. Secretary of State, presidential candidate, advocate, attorney – has spent five decades in public service. She now makes a stop on her Fall tour of the United States at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) on Tuesday, September 17, 2024.

    HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON

    As First Lady of the United States, from 1993 to 2001, Hillary Clinton championed health care for all Americans and led successful bipartisan efforts to improve the adoption and foster care systems, reduce teen pregnancy, and create the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

    Hillary Clinton. (Credit: Annie Leibovitz (hillaryclintonlive.com)

    In 2000, Clinton made history as the first First Lady elected to the United States Senate, and the first woman elected to statewide office in New York.

    In 2007, she began her first historic campaign for president, winning 18 million votes and becoming the first woman to ever win a presidential primary or caucus state. In the 2008 general election, she campaigned for Barack Obama and Joe Biden, and in December, she was nominated by President-elect Obama to be Secretary of State.

    In 2016, Clinton made history again by becoming the first woman nominated for president by a major U.S. political party. As the Democratic candidate for president, she campaigned on a vision of America that is “stronger together” and an agenda to make our economy work for everyone, not just those at the top. She won the national popular vote, earning the support of nearly 66 million Americans.

    Since leaving civil service and electoral politics, Clinton has remained an active force for progress and human rights. In recent years, she has leant her decades of experience to nurturing the next generation of leaders.

    In 2023, Clinton went back to the classroom when she joined Columbia University as a co-founder of the Institute of Global Politics and Professor of Practice at the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA). She teaches a course with Dean Keren Yarhi-Milo called Inside the Situation Room, which engages young scholars with insights from diverse academic fields and the direct experience of high level diplomats, journalists, and other experts.

    Her commitment to the stories we tell ourselves about who we are as Americans and what kind of future we want for our children and our grandchildren extends to her work as an author, podcast host, and television and Broadway producer.

    Clinton is the author of ten best-selling books, including her groundbreaking book on children, ‘It Takes A Village’ (1996); ‘Dear Socks, Dear Buddy’ (1998); ‘An Invitation to the White House’ (2000); her memoirs, ‘Living History’ (2003), ‘Hard Choices’ (2014), and ‘What Happened’ (2017); a picture book edition of ‘It Takes a Village’ (2017); ‘The Book of Gutsy Women’ (2019) and ‘Grandma’s Gardens’ (2020), in collaboration with Chelsea Clinton; and her political thriller, ‘State of Terror’ (2021), with Louise Penny. Her podcast, ‘You and Me Both’, features candid, in-depth, and sometimes hilarious conversations with actors, activists, and other people who have unique perspectives on the challenges and joys of modern life. Clinton is the founder of HiddenLight Productions, a global studio dedicated to bringing the stories of inspiring individuals and movements to TV, film, and streaming. The studio’s projects include ‘Gutsy’, a television adaptation of ‘The Book of Gutsy Women’, in which Hillary and Chelsea Clinton interview remarkable women in all walks of life.

    In 2024, Clinton produced her first Broadway show, ‘SUFFS’, a love letter to the complicated women who fought for the right to vote and for a future they would never see but knew was possible. The musical was nominated for six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and won two Tony Awards for Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score.

    Learn more about Hillary Clinton at hillaryclinton.com.

    “I’m so excited to add 10 more cities to my Fall tour. I hope you can join me for wide-ranging conversations that go behind the scenes and include never-before told stories,” says Secretary Clinton. “We’ll discuss the state of our politics and creating the future we want for our children and grandchildren and, most of all, have some fun while we’re at it!”

    PROGRAM

    At each event, Secretary Clinton and a moderator will take the audience on a journey of unvarnished exchanges on politics, democracy, the threats we face, as well as friendship, aging, marriage, and how we can all work together to shape a future to be proud of.

    The ‘New York Times’ best-selling author and GRAMMY-award winner’s new book, ‘Something Lost, Something Gained: Reflections on Life, Love, and Liberty’ will be released by Simon & Schuster on September 17th, 2024.

    TICKETS & MORE INFORMATION

    To see Hillary Clinton, visit NJPAC.org or the NJPAC Box Office or call 888.GO.NJPAC (888.466.5722).

    For more information about presales, tour dates and to purchase VIP packages and tickets, visit hillaryclintonlive.com.

    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    SETTLE IN WITH WORLD-RENOWNED RATIONALIST DAWKINS

    Richard Dawkins. (Credit: Courtesy, NJPAC.)
    • By Mabel Pais

    Experience an unforgettable evening by familiarizing yourself with PROFESSOR RICHARD DAWKINS, one of the world’s world-renowned truth-teller, respected evolutionary biologist, best-selling author, and secularist intellectual, as he brings his highly anticipated tour to the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) on Friday, September 13, 2024 at 7 pm.

    He is celebrated globally for his honest critique of religion and tradition and his push for critical thinking, renowned for his unapologetic advocacy of science and reason, and the separation of church and state (religion and science).

    From 1995 to 2008 Richard Dawkins was the Charles Simonyi Professor of the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford University. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society and of the Royal Society of Literature. In 2013, his around-the-world speaking tour was the focus of the documentary ‘The Unbelievers’ which also features appearances by Woody Allen, Stephen Colbert, Cameron Diaz, Ian McEwan, Ricky Gervais, Stephen Hawking, Eddie Izzard, Bill Pullman, and Sarah Silverman.

    He is an internationally best-selling author. Among his books are ‘The Ancestor’s Tale’, ‘The Selfish Gene’, ‘The Blind Watchmaker, ‘Climbing Mount Improbable’, ‘Unweaving the Rainbow’, ‘A Devil’s Chaplain’, ‘The God Delusion’, ‘The Greatest Show on Earth’ and ‘The Magic of Reality’.

    Dawkins is celebrated for his groundbreaking work as ‘Unweaving The Rainbow’, ‘The Selfish Gene’ and ‘The God Delusion’, captivating millions with his passion for scientific inquiry. His two-part autobiography: Part 1 ‘An Appetite for Wonder,’ and ‘A Brief Candle in the Dark’ were released in 2013 and 2015, respectively. Learn more at richarddawkins.net.

    Praise for the upcoming ‘The Genetic Book of the Dead’:

    “Overflowing with the beauty of nature, the beauty of language, and the beauty of ideas.” – Steven Pinker, author of Rationality and Enlightenment Now

    “Dazzling in originality and scope, with beautiful illustrations, this is a wonderful celebration of the power of natural selection. Richard Dawkins reveals with brilliant clarity the imprint on organisms of their evolutionary past.”

    – Nick Davies, author of ‘Cuckoo: Cheating By Nature’

    “Once again, Richard Dawkins asks us to look at the living world in a totally novel way: Every organism carries, in its genes, a record of the past environments in which its ancestors survived. This brilliant new way of interpreting nature opens our eyes to both the past and the future.”

    – John R. Krebs, author of ‘Food: A Very Short Introduction’ and coauthor, ‘An Introduction to Behavioral Ecology’

    “Written with typical verve and panache, Richard Dawkins’s ‘The Genetic Book of the Dead’ makes a brilliant contribution to the public understanding of evolution using our most up-to-date understanding of genetics. It will enthrall, surprise, and challenge you. Read it!”

    – Jerry A. Coyne, author of ‘Why Evolution is True’ and ‘Faith Versus Fact’

    “This book is a summation of the ideas of the author who brought us ‘memes’ and ‘selfish genes.’ Richard Dawkins’s lucid prose will change the way you think about your evolutionary past.”

    – David Haig, author of ‘From Darwin to Derrida: Selfish Genes, Social Selves, and the Meanings of Life’

    “The ingenuity of evolution is infinite, a fact that fascinates Richard Dawkins as much as it fascinated Charles Darwin. Inside each organism he finds rich palimpsests chronicling the history of life itself.”

    – Matt Ridley, author of The Evolution of Everything and How Innovation Works

    “The deployment of the conceit of genes looking backward in time is clever and well done. A piece of vivid popular science.”

    – Stephen Stearns, coauthor of ‘Evolution: An Introduction’

    PROGRAM

    Dawkins aims to connect with audiences in unscripted conversations touching on topics from science to religion, life on earth and beyond. With his trademark honesty and wit, Dawkins promises an evening filled with wisdom and insight.

    Don’t miss the opportunity to be part of this enlightening experience and hear firsthand about Dawkins’ upcoming book promoted on tour: ‘The Genetic Book of the Dead’ delves into the transformative potential of DNA in our understanding of evolution to be released on September 17, 2024.

    TICKETS

    Tickets for Richard Dawkins may be purchased by visiting NJPAC.org or the NJPAC Box Office or

    calling 888.GO.NJPAC (888.466.5722).

    The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC)

    NJPAC located in downtown Newark, New Jersey, is the most diverse performing arts center in the country, and the anchor cultural institution for both the city of Newark and the state of New Jersey. It is an artistic, cultural, educational and civic center where great performances and events enhance and transform lives every day. NJPAC brings communities together, providing access to all and showcasing the state’s and the world’s best artists, while acting as a leading catalyst in the revitalization of its home city. Through its extensive Arts Education programs, NJPAC is shaping the next generation of artists and arts enthusiasts. NJPAC has attracted more than 11 million visitors (including more than two million children) since opening its doors in 1997, and nurtures meaningful and lasting relationships with each of its constituents. Visit njpac.org or call 888.GO.NJPAC (888.466.5722) for more information.

    Follow NJPAC Online:

    Website: njpac.org

    Twitter: @NJPAC

    Instagram: @NJPAC

    Hashtag: #NJPAC

    Facebook: facebook.com/NJPAC

    YouTube: NJPACtv

    Follow NJPAC’s Standing in Solidarity Series Online:

    Website: njpac.org/takeastand

    Hashtag: #NJPACTakeAStand

    Youtube: Standing in Solidarity playlist

    Mabel Pais writes on Social Issues, The Arts and Entertainment, Spirituality, Cuisine, Health & Wellness, Business, and Education.

  • COMEDY SUPER STAR STEPHEN COLBERT SITS DOWN WITH VERSATILE ACTOR PAUL GIAMATTI

    COMEDY SUPER STAR STEPHEN COLBERT SITS DOWN WITH VERSATILE ACTOR PAUL GIAMATTI

    • By Mabel Pais

    Comedy superstar Stephen Colbert, once again, brings his incisive intellect and whip-smart humor to observations and conversations about current events. He sits down with Paul Giamatti celebrating his award-winning career as one of our most beloved on-screen performers. This unforgettable evening of conversation takes place on stage at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) in downtown Newark, NJ on Friday, July 26, 2024 at 8:00 PM.

    This is part of the second annual ‘North To Shore’ Festival that took place in June and is presented by ‘Montclair Film’, New Jersey’s leading film non-profit.

    PAUL GIAMATTI

    Paul Giamatti is fresh off his last Golden Globe win and Oscar nomination for ‘The Holdovers’. One of the most versatile and beloved actors of his generation, Paul Giamatti currently stars in Focus Features’ heartwarming period drama, ‘The Holdovers’, which released in theaters on October 27th, 2023. His moving performance has been met with praise from critics and audiences alike, receiving the Golden Globe® Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical, the Critics Choice Award and the National Board of Review Award for Best Actor, The Palm Springs International Film Festival ‘Icon Award’. Giamatti was recently nominated for the SAG, BAFTA and Academy Award ® for Best Actor.

    Giamatti currently stars in the second season of HBO Europe’s hit Spanish-horror series, ‘30 Coins’, as well as in the final season of the Showtime hit, ‘Billions’, for which he has been nominated for a Broadcast Film Critics Association Award and a Critics Choice Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series over the course of the series.

    Outside of acting, Giamatti co-hosts the podcast ‘Chinwag’ with author and philosopher Stephen Asma from Treefort Media & Touchy Feely Films. Featuring prominent guests from diverse fields, ‘Chinwag’ is a series of conversations that delve deep into the wilderness of the mind, covering topics spanning from science and philosophy to the occult and literature.

    Previous television credits include HBO’s ‘Too Big to Fail’, which earned Giamatti his third SAG Award as well as an Emmy® and a Golden Globe® nomination in 2011. In 2008, Giamatti won Emmy®, SAG, and Golden Globe® awards for Best Actor in a Miniseries for his portrayal of the title character in HBO’s seven-part, Emmy Award ®-winning miniseries, ‘John Adams’.

    Giamatti’s selected film credits include the five-time Oscar®-winner ‘Saving Private Ryan’, Alexander Payne’s Academy Award®-winning dramedy ‘Sideways’, which earned Giamatti Golden Globe® and SAG Award nominations, and the Academy Award®-nominated ‘Barney’s Version’ in 2011, which earned him the Golden Globe® for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical. In 2006, his performance in Ron Howard’s ‘Cinderella Man’ earned him his first SAG Award and a Broadcast Film Critics’ Award for Best Supporting Actor, as well as Oscar® and Golden Globe® nominations in the same category.

    STEPHEN COLBERT

    Stephen Colbert, from Emmy-winning shows to sold-out tours and NY Times bestsellers, it seems like he’s done it all and done it well.

    Colbert hosts the Emmy and Peabody Award winning, #1 show in late night

    ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.’ He is also the Executive Producer and Writer of the show. From 2005 to 2014, he hosted ‘The Colbert Report’ on Comedy Central, following his seven years as a correspondent on ‘The Daily Show.’

    In 2021, Colbert’s Spartina Industries banner set a three-year first-look deal to develop television and streaming content for CBS Studios. Spartina’s most recent project is CBS’s newest late-night show, ‘After Midnight,’ starring Taylor Tomlinson, which premiered in January of 2024. Spartina’s first project was the sports-comedy special ‘Pickled,’ a celebrity pickleball tournament benefiting Comic Relief for CBS Primetime.

    Colbert previously served as Executive Producer on the Comedy Central series, ‘Stephen Colbert Presents Tooning Out The News,’ ‘Hell of a Week with Charlamagne tha God,’ and SHOWTIME’s ‘Our Cartoon President.’ He is also an Executive Producer of ‘Derek DelGaudio’s In & Of Itself,’ streaming on Hulu.

    Colbert has also authored five books, the most recent of which, ‘Whose Boat Is This Boat?’, reached #1 on the New York Times Bestseller List. All proceeds from the book benefited the victims of Hurricane Florence and Michael, and most recently, COVID-19 relief.

    Raised in South Carolina, he currently resides in New Jersey with his wife, Evie. His birthday is May 13. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @StephenAtHome.

    TICKETS

    Tickets for Paul Giamatti with Stephen Colbert are available at njpac.org and ticketmaster.com or at the NJPAC Box Office at One Center Street in downtown Newark or by calling 1-888-GO-NJPAC (1-888-466-5722). 

    More information is available at montclairfilm.org.

    If you have purchased tickets to the June 29th conversation, those tickets are still valid for the new date on July 26, 2024. For questions, call 1-888-MY-NJPAC.

    North to Shore Festival

    This special evening is presented as part of the 2024 ‘North To Shore’ Festival held in June 2024, featuring all the talent, diversity and creativity that New Jersey has to offer, packed into three extraordinary weekends of performances, screenings, parties and conversations in three of the state’s most iconic cities. Hosted by Asbury Park, Atlantic City and Newark, the ‘North to Shore’ Festival brings together events at more than 100 venues for an over-the- top showcase of Jersey excellence, aligned with Governor Phil Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy’s vision of a celebration worthy of the Garden State’s long legacy of innovation in the arts, film and technology.

    Montclair Film

    For more information about Montclair Film, visit MontclairFilm.org. 

    Join Montclair Film Online:

    Websites: montclairfilm.org and theclairidge.org

    Twitter: @MontclairFilm @TheClairidge

    Facebook: facebook.com/MontclairFilm and /TheClairidge

    Instagram: instagram.com /MontclairFilm and /TheClairidge

    YouTube: youtube.com/montclairfilmfest 

    The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC)

    NJPAC, located in downtown Newark, New Jersey, is among the largest performing arts centers in the United States. It is the artistic, cultural, educational and civic center of New Jersey — where great performances and events enhance and transform lives every day. As New Jersey’s Town Square, NJPAC brings diverse communities together, providing access to all and showcasing the State’s and the world’s best artists, while acting as a leading catalyst in the revitalization of its home city. Through its extensive Arts Education programs, NJPAC is shaping the next generation of artists and arts enthusiasts.

    NJPAC has attracted more than 10.5 million visitors since opening its doors in 1997, reached almost two million children and families through its education and community programs, and nurtures meaningful and lasting relationships with each of its constituents. Visit njpac.org for more information.

    (Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Spirituality, Cuisine, Health & Wellness, Business, and Education)