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