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PACA presents “Stage to Community” showcase in Atlanta
A six-month-old community theater collective staged a three-hour performance featuring multiple theatrical forms.
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Staff Reporter - Sat, 03, Jan 2026
- 16:08 EST
- 68
PACA team members (standing) with artists (sitting) / PACA
The Performing Arts Community of Atlanta (PACA) presented its “Stage to Community” showcase on Dec. 20, 2025, at Global Mall in Atlanta, marking a milestone for the six-month-old community theater collective.
Founded by Ritambhara Mittal along with Jairaj Kamal and Praful Kumar Panchal, PACA was formed to support community artists who balance creative work with full-time professional commitments.
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A central feature of the evening was PACA’s handmade theater concept, in which all stage elements were designed and created by the artists themselves.
Jairaj Kamal, Ritambhara Mittal, Praful Kumar Panchal. (Left to Right) / PACAThe program opened with the unveiling of a painting representing PACA Theater by artist Geeta Buttan, presented as the group’s inaugural artwork. This was followed by the reveal of a mechanically engineered curtain created by theater artist and engineer Sachin Bapat.
The performances were designed and directed by Mittal using a miniature-theater model that emphasized time discipline and collaborative efficiency. Organizers said rehearsals were conducted through a combination of online sessions and in-person meetings to accommodate the schedules of working professionals involved in the production.
The three-hour program featured a range of formats, including mime, chorus work, voice modulation, science-fiction interpretations, comedy, emotional personification, socially themed short plays, and a children’s play.
Organizers said the event played to a full audience, with community leaders attending in person and messages of support received from national and international artists.
Atlanta cinema figure Sanjay Arora described the program as “an inspirational evening by PACA Theater, Atlanta.”
Community leaders, including Krishan Goyal and Mustafa Ajmeri attended the event, which also received support from Global Mall, Sia Events, and the Dynodine food app.
Beyond the showcase itself, the event reflected a broader trend within Atlanta’s performing arts landscape, where community-driven theater initiatives increasingly use nontraditional venues such as malls and public spaces to reach wider audiences.
The city is home to a mix of professional and grassroots performing arts organizations, and collectives like PACA are part of ongoing efforts to expand access to theater while sustaining participation among working professionals.
As 2026 begins, PACA Theater Atlanta has also introduced a “Yoga and Theater” initiative, positioning it as part of the group’s effort to integrate wellness practices into community-based theater work.
Looking ahead, it plans to expand youth theater training, promote global theater literature, engage with social causes including autism support and women’s health awareness, strengthen artist networks, and collaborate with the National School of Drama for the 2026 silver jubilee celebration of the Bharangam Theater Festival in Atlanta.
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