In the world of Broadway, where dreams are created with the magic of music and lights, there is a story of a University of Miami alumna who took center stage in a role that defies gender and conventional boundaries.
Uma Paranjpe, who earned a B.F.A. in musical theatre with minors in psychology and management in 2018, was never one to shy away from a performance. Growing up in California with her parents who immigrated from India and her younger sister, Paranjpe remembers having music all around her.
“My mom was a classical music singer, and I grew up loving to sing, play the piano and the drums,” said Paranjpe from her apartment in New York City.
There is no denying that Paranjpe was heading into the world of musical theatre. It was at UM where she said the theatre arts program gave her the skills she required to excel as a musical theatre performer.
“When we come out into the industry, we are so brand new, but UM set me up in a way that helped us get started,” said Paranjpe. “We had a showcase event in New York City, which gave us that one step of legitimacy in a competitive field.”
Like many aspiring actors, she managed through countless auditions. However, her unwavering determination and unshakable belief in her talent and love of theatre propelled her forward. After holding a few steady jobs in the city, Paranjpe hit her big break in June of 2022 when she was hired in the cast of “Life of Pi.”
“The show ran in Boston for eight weeks and I was asked to be the alternate for the lead role of Pi, a male role. It was exciting,” said Paranjpe. “During that run, I was part of the ensemble cast.”
Since the lead role in “Life of Pi” is a demanding acting job with leaps and grueling performances, the lead would perform six shows a week and the alternate would perform two. During that time Paranje was in the ensemble cast.
But as it happened, due to unforeseen circumstances, Paranjpe was asked to play the lead role of Pi for a few shows a week in December 2022. Although it wasn’t Broadway, Paranje was thrilled to take on the role.
“After the eight-week performance in Boston, we knew the show was going to Broadway, but with how the industry works, we weren’t sure if the whole cast would be going to New York,” added Paranjpe. “I had so much fun performing in Boston, and I knew it would hurt if I didn’t go to Broadway, but it was an amazing experience either way.”
As it happened, the entire cast did make it to Broadway, and Paranjpe was once again an alternate for the lead role. The show’s casting director and creators challenged the conventions of gender in casting for “Life of Pi” with male and female actors playing different roles in the production.
Paranjpe’s ground-breaking move from ensemble to lead role in “Life of Pi” happened in May 2023. She got the call from the production team that she had only 30 hours to prep for her first lead role on Broadway. Paranjpe said she was less in celebration mode but more in prep mode.
“At this point, I had memorized everything. I’ve done all the stunts and the lifts, so the physical preparation was handled. But it was the emotional preparation for the role and taking over the legacy of these actors who have played it already.”
After talking to her mom, Paranjpe reached out to her classmates at UM. “We’re all so close,” she said. “I texted the group and started getting messages asking when I would perform. On my opening night playing Pi, many UM alumni came to see me. It was truly remarkable, and I felt so blessed. That first night was such an overwhelming experience. It was all just a blur.”
Paranjpe played the lead during the last two weeks of the show’s Broadway run.
“It was more than I ever thought would happen,” recalls Paranjpe. “I did not think I would be going to Boardway before the age of 30.”
What’s next for Paranjpe? “I’m still doing auditions and working,” she said. “Playing the lead on Broadway was an experience I will never forget, and I’m ready for more.”
