How to Fail as a Pop Star - Vivek Shraya, 2022 PuSH Festival

CREATED BY VIVEK SHRAYA, COMMISSIONED AND PRODUCED BY CANADIAN STAGE (CANADA)

What a journey it’s been for Vivek Shraya: from burning aspiration to the edge of fame and many strange places in between. In this eclectic, rousing performance, the singer walks us through her life in showbiz.

The journey starts humbly, with our young hero singing Hindu bhajans and R&B covers. Things escalate with teen competitions, a full-length album, and a move to Toronto on her way to—well, if not quite superstardom, then something more important: a reminder of what really matters in life.

“Shraya may not have reached the top echelon of pop stardom, but sharing her persistence and self-discovery just might be a bigger gift. After all, these are the stories we rarely hear told.”
— NOW Toronto

Mixing anecdotes, movement, and music, Vivek offers a theatrical memoir scaled to precious personal dimensions. Casting a knowing eye backwards, she never ceases to entertain, and her insight into the pull of top-40 dreams is sharp indeed. Bittersweet yet triumphant, this is a wise, cathartic, and ultimately liberating pop odyssey.

Feb 1-2
Performance Works
Tickets here

ARTIST BIO
Vivek Shraya

Singer, actress, author, teacher, visual artist, theatrical performer—the multitalented Vivek Shraya is all these and more. Home runs she has hit include writing bestselling books (I’m Afraid of Men, The Subtweet), founding the publishing imprint VS. Books, serving as Grand Marshal in Toronto’s Pride Parade, and being nominated for the Polaris Music Prize. Vivek is an Assistant Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Calgary. Website →