Silk Road Cultural Center

Multi Meets Poly: Multiculturalism and Polyculturalism Go on a First Date

Released : 2014

Runtime: 12 minutes, 6 seconds

Overview

Multi Meets Poly: Multiculturalism and Polyculturalism Go on a First Date is a thought-provoking and often-humorous reflection on the theoretical and practical differences between two powerful social ideas: multiculturalism and polyculturalism.

By personifying these ideas as human characters-one male, one female-and by endowing each character with profession rivalry, intellectual one-upmanship, and sexual tension, a would-be romantic evening becomes an intriguing vehicle for exploring American interpretations of pluralism, cultural interchange, and diversity.

Creative Team

Written by
  • Jamil Khoury
Directed by
  • A. George Bajalia
Executive Producers
  • Malik Gillani
  • Jamil Khoury
Director of Photography
  • Drew Pientka
Editor, Script Supervisor and Assistant Director
  • Deann Baker
Set Design
  • Dan Stratton
Costume Designer and Props Master
  • Kelsey C. Melvin
Original Compositions
  • Peter J. Storms
Production Manager
  • Corey Pond
Dramaturg
  • Neal Ryan Shaw
Location Sound Mixer
  • Dustin Barta
Post-Production Sound
  • Nate Green
Assistant Camera and Grip
  • Travis Legge
Gaffer
  • Nicki Beck
Make Up and Hair
  • Neva Stroud
Script Development Support provided by
  • Madrid St. Angelo
  • A. George Bajalia
  • Gordon Chow
  • Nora Fiffer
  • Malik Gillani
  • Virginia Lee Marie Martinez
  • Neal Ryan Shaw

Cast

  • Gordon Chow as MULTICULTURALISM
  • Virginia Lee Marie Martinez as POLYCULTURALISM

Script

Essays & Commentary

Special Thanks

  • About Face Theatre
  • Eric Branholm
  • The Field Foundation of Illinois
  • The First United Methodist Church at the Chicago Temple
  • Elizabeth Gingerich
  • Hannoun Rugs from Morocco
  • Elise Hausken
  • Becky Klein
  • Jeanette Kleymeyer
  • Claire Melvin
  • Allison Schuette
  • The Siragusa Family Foundation
  • Writers Theatre
  • Valparaiso University, Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2014 Planning Committee
  • Elizabeth Wuerffel
  • Roger Wykes

Screening History

  • December 4, 2014 | Columbia College, Chicago, Illinois
  • December 19, 2014 | Silk Road Rising, Chicago, Illinois
  • January 6, 2015 | Harbach Theater, Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois
  • January 17, 2015 | Silk Road Rising, Chicago, Illinois
  • January 18, 2015 | Silk Road Rising, Chicago, Illinois
  • April 24, 2015 | Asian American Studies Conference, Evanston, Illinois
  • May 21, 2015 | The University of Chicago Divinity School, Chicago, Illinois
  • October 29, 2015 | Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Indiana
  • August 18, 2016 | The Living Theatre, hosted at Silk Road Rising, Chicago, Illinois
  • October 28, 2020 | Anti-Racist Book Club, National New Play Network, hosted online, USA
  • July 9, 2021 | Roosevelt University, hosted online, Chicago, Illinois
  • February 9, 2022 | Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas
  • October 3, 2022 | The Saints, hosted online, Chicago, Illinois
  • March 24, 2023 | Ohio Northern University, Ada, Ohio