Check Out Sushma Bagga’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sushma Bagga.

Hi Sushma, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I migrated to the U.S. from India in 1983. My background is in fine arts and theatre. There is a sizable Indian community here in Colorado now but back in there were about 500 families spread out from Springs to the Metro Denver area. I started doing small cultural events for the then-Indian Association organization. I did that for a few years, got a lot of support from the community and everyone loved what I was doing.

Later in 2001, I did my first play called “Wholly Red” based on my immigration experience which received a lot of positive feedback. It was written and directed by me. My next venture came a few years later in 2006, I wrote and directed another anti-war play based on the invasion of Iraq. I interviewed numerous army soldiers and gathered a lot of material regarding the Iraq war. The play was called “Edge of Reason” and we performed at Cleo Robinson Dance Theatre. The play was a hit and received lots of admiration from army veterans and the public. It touched upon the issue of PTSD and the aftermath of war. It was a deep dive!

To lighten up the mood, I arranged musical shows around light classical Indian music and poetry, which opened up a whole new section of the Indian community, music and poetry lovers came and gave huge support. I felt very encouraged and enjoyed the whole process immensely! In 2012, I joined the first Asian theatre company here in Denver called Theatre Esprit Asia, short, TEA, as one of their creative directors.

We did several plays together at Aurora Cultural Center. In 2016, I left TEA and started my own company called Collective Conscious. We continued to do plays and music programs ever since bringing arts and entertainment to the Indian communities.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Most of the struggle was financial, how to stay afloat. In the beginning, most of the cast and crew did all the work from building the sets to marketing to finding people/actors who could act.

Everyone was a volunteer who was inspired to be on stage. All of us had day jobs, some were IT professionals, doctors, and engineers with a great love for theatre and music. Getting everyone together for rehearsals was a nightmare because of their heavy work schedules. A lot of juggling had to be done.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am an artist at heart, a painter, playwright, director and overall filled with creative energy. For a living and to pay the mortgage I work full-time for a loan servicing company named State Bridge as a senior REO closing specialist.

This is how I keep my practical and creative life in balance that feeds both my soul and mind. What makes Collective Conscious unique is that we delve deep into stories that have social relevance, song, and emancipated female characters. Stories that force you to think in different ways, present a different outlook! Over the years we have created a substantial following who love our work and perspective.

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
The storytelling and empathy that we present, are the human element we take in our approach.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.collectiveconscious.us/past-productions
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/collectiveconscious.us/

Image Credits
Brian Miller