In this episode my guest Meena Cuniffe and I talk about how she is often cast as the racially ambiguous mother figure in her high school plays, and how she deals with being put in a stereotype. She talks about how it isn't a good feeling to be put into a stereotypical role, and sometimes it can feel uncomfortable for those involved. She hopes to open more dialogues in her theatre department about diversity, race, and finding ways to tell more worldly stories through musical theatre. 

Meena is an Indian woman and she shares with us how it can often be hard to find her identity when many people around her perceive her as many different backgrounds such as Latinx. While she may not have one strong identity she stresses the importance of learning about other places so we don't fall back on our stereotypes because of lack of knowledge. 

While she is often judged into fitting a certain role Meena does mention that she doesn't always mind being Type Casted. She sees the roles that she plays as a place she can succeed in and tap into her strengths. While she may not always feel the best about it no matter what role she's in she always plays it to the best of her ability with a strong sense of self, and a heart of gold. 

If you enjoyed this episode and want to jump into a similar episode on giving people with special abilities a voice through theatre click the link below

Empowering People With Disabilities Through Theatre and Overcoming Trauma 

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3T8sRpp8ktj20dDs5AobqM?si=IkP4rvy0TJu7TTbxWEGpEQ