Theaterlab Presents
In the shadows of her past selves
created by Deniz Khateri
In the shadows of her past selves uses shadow puppets to take the audience through a woman’s different possibilities of being- from childhood dreams and secret desires sparked by the question “What do you want to be when you grow up?” to the choices she makes as an adult and how they are shaped by society.
Puppets are manipulated interchangeably by the performer and audience members, sharing control of the imagery and breaking the boundary between observer and performer. Through this collective act, the piece explores how identity is presented not as fixed or singular, but as something shaped by many hands, perspectives, and choices.
Created by Deniz Khateri, In the shadows of her past selves is part of Theaterlab’s inaugural MELTINGPLOT festival.
MELTINGPLOT provides you the opportunity to experience what’s next in participatory live performance.
Join us for this inaugural festival May 18 -31, 2026 as 5 creators present brand new work.
PERFORMANCES
Monday, May 18th @8:30pm | Use code NOFOMO26 for $20 tix!
Thursday, May 21st @7:15pm
Saturday, May 23rd @8:15pm
Thursday, May 28th @8:45pm
Friday, May 29th ARTIST Q&A @6:00pm
Saturday, May 30th @7:45pm
Sunday, May 31st @4:30pm
TICKETS
SINGLE TICKETS
All ticket tiers provide the same level of access and opportunity for participation in performances. This festival is made possible through a ticket split with the artists, please make your purchase according to your needs and level of generosity for the artists.
- Access – $25.00
- Standard – $35.00
- True Cost – $70.00
FESTIVAL PASSES
FLEXIBLE 5-SHOW FESTIVAL PASS - $145.50/$358.50
VIP FESTIVAL PASS - $150/$345
ALL ACCESS FESTIVAL PASS - $500
MEET THE CREATORS
DENIZ KHATERI (Co-writer, puppet designer, performer )
Born and raised in Tehran, Deniz Khateri is a New York–based multidisciplinary artist working in theater, experimental music-theater, contemporary opera, and animation. Her work explores memory, grief, immigration, and home. She is a PEN America Dream Out Loud selected playwright and La MaMa’s Season 64 resident artist, with additional residencies at University Settlement, New Perspectives Theatre, and the Center at West Park.
Deniz has performed extensively in Tehran, and Boston, with some off-off-broadway acting credits in New York. She received the Al-Bustan Award for her solo show A Bach’eh who wanted to become Bach, the UNIMA-USA Nancy Staub Award for excellence in writing for puppetry, and grants supporting her projects from NYFA, NYSCA, and the Jim Henson Foundation. Her writing has been published in American Theatre magazine, Puppetry International, and by Brill. Her Oscar-qualified animated documentary series Diasporan explores immigrant life and has screened internationally. She holds an MA from Hunter College, where she teaches as an adjunct lecturer. denizkhateri.com
SIOBHÁN CARROLL (Co-writer, puppet designer, performer )
Siobhán Carroll is an Irish American actor and writer. Film/TV: Amazon’s MR& MRS SMITH, Black Oak Tv’s MS/MANAGE, The Perfect Party, Cassandra, Evil Lives Here, Mahler’s Titan, Ghost Girl. Theatre: A Christmas Carol (Trinity Rep), MAB by Hayley Spivey (Site Specific), The Thin Place (Gloucester Stage), A Mark On The Wall (Re/Venue @ The Bechdel Project), As You Like It, Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Blue Kettle and Here We Go (Commonwealth Shakespeare Company), Its a Free Country (SheNYC – best supporting actress), Red Velvet (O.W.I.), My Fascination With Creepy Ladies and I, Snowflake (Anthem Theatre Company), The Three Sisters (Apollinaire Theatre Company), Next To Normal (Arts After Hours), Lady Macbeth (The Cutting Room), Which Way To The Ivy Covered Well (Rochester Fringe), and Sing Goddess (HERE Arts Center). Directing: Sunset, Eclipsed by Seagulls (The Tank), Friends & Lovers & Others (The Tank).
BAHAR ROYAEE (Sound designer)
Born and raised in Iran, Bahar Royaee is a music educator and a composer/sound designer who works within the field of concert music and various media arts.The Boston Arts Review praised Bahar’s “haunting sound design” in her work with live theatre.
Bahar’s work has been performed at prominent events such as the Time:Spans 2020 Festival and the 2020 Fromm Foundation Composer Conference, 2022 Tehran Electroacoustic Music Festival, and has won awards such as the Pnea Award, the Roger Session Memorial Composition Award, and the Korourian electroacoustic music award. Bahar, has worked with Claire Chase, Suzzane Farrin, International Contemporary Ensemble, Loadbang, Composer Conference Ensemble, Contemporary Insights of Leipzig, Ensemble der gelbe Klang, Guerrilla Opera, Longleash, Mazumal, Kimia Hesabi, Splice Ensemble, to name a few.
She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in music composition from City University of New York.
MEET THE FESTIVAL TEAM
From checking you in on your arrival, collaborating with the artists, or turning the lights on and off – THEATERLAB would love for you to meet the many faces making YOUR experience at MELTINGPLOT the very best it can be!
MAT BLASIO
NICHOLAS FORTUGNO
REMI HARRIS
GRANT KENNEDY LEWIS
DANY POWERS
MEET THE THEATERLAB TEAM
ORIETTA CRISPINO
BELLA BELIZZI
MOLLY SHAYNA COHEN
ANDY LYNN
GREG WILSON
JOLENE NOELLE
NICOLÒ SBUELZ