kanishk pandey
(he/him/his)
is a writer, director, and exile. He believes that art must be in constant conflict with society to express the love that all beings deserve. He uses the label exile, inspired by the works of James Joyce as well as his own experience as a member of the South Asian diaspora, to describe a relationship with nationalism that is forever nomadic and critical. His work is unified by the belief that consciousness can only exist through dialogue and interaction, and that every living creature shares an unspoken connection. Therefore, he seeks to nurture a sense of community in his work. These are the core philosophies that guide his work, be it theater, film, fiction, or even scholarship. As long as he gets to connect with you.
kanishk is a graduate of NYU Tisch’s Dramatic Writing program and an alumni of Clubbed Thumb’s Early Career Writers Group. He has been recognized by institutions such as Synecdoche Works, O’Neill National Playwrights Conference, Austin Film Festival, and New York Stage and Film. He has had his playwriting supported by companies such as The Brick, SPACE on Ryder Farm, The Lark, Sanguine Theater, and Boomerang Theater, and his screenwriting developed by institutions such as The Layar Project. His play, PRISONCORE!, will debut as part of the Exponential Theater Festival in January 2025, and his other show,The Fate of the Online Cow, will debut in Spring of 2025 with Synecdoche Works. He co-founded the theater festival collective 3POP with Lauren Serafica, Sam Bell, Calla Selicious, and Dylan Meyerhoff, the Submerged Writers Group with Anthony Anello, Claire Greising, Lindsay Carpenter, and Andres Osario, as well as the theater development company, GIFTSHOP, with Katie Walenta. He is excited to be a 2024-2025 Van Lier Fellow at Rattlestick Theater.
View CV ︎︎︎
Press
Broadway World ︎︎︎
The Brick to Present GESTATING BABY Volume 7 in MayApril 3, 2024
LaGuardia Performing Arts College ︎︎︎
LaGuardia Performing Arts Center Presents 11th Annual Rough Draft Festival, March 4-23March 2024
Layar Project ︎︎︎
kanishk pandey Goes Back To His Roots With “On My Way! Home”January 9, 2024
Staff Picks ︎︎︎
“If you’re tired of internet plays, I promise this will restore your faith in them.”August 23, 2023
Boomerang Theatre ︎︎︎
A conversation about kanishk's Baton Project reading of his award-winning play LET ME LET ME ROTJune 11, 2023
Clubbed Thumb ︎︎︎
Announces Summerworks #26Spring 2023
Sanguine Theater ︎︎︎
What’s On: Caretake of Her, At God’s Back & Can’t Ignore the RatApril 22, 2023
SPACE on Ryder Farm ︎︎︎
Alumni Archive: 2022 Greenhouse ResidencyNovember 2022
The North Salem Post ︎︎︎
SPACE on Ryder Farm announces artist residents for 2022 seasonJune 6, 2022
Playbill ︎︎︎
SPACE on Ryder Farm Announces 2022 Residents Sanaz Toossi, Terrie Samundra, Jamila Woods, More by Leah PutnamMay 31, 2022
Workshop Theater ︎︎︎
Announces Workshop Intensive Spring 2022Spring 2022
Synecdoche Works ︎︎︎
Announces Finalists’ Prize2022
Workshop Theater ︎︎︎
Announces Workshop Intensive Spring 2021Spring 2021
NYU Dramatic Writing ︎︎︎
Announces O’Neill Finalist for Summer 2018April 26, 2018
The Sacramento Bee ︎︎︎
Applause: Kanishk Pandey, Dr. Michael Rogawski, Roger Beachy & Pamela Ronald by Bill LindelofJuly 19, 2015
Davis Enterprise ︎︎︎
Davis High student wins first prizein Princeton play writing contest
by Jeff Hudson
July 6, 2015