Pooja Reddy
...is a Brooklyn-based comedy writer and stand-up comedian, raised in rural Kentucky with roots in Hyderabad, India. Her work sits at the intersection of southern identity, South Asian heritage, and satire.
She began her career in Washington, DC, working for First Lady Michelle Obama and then the UN system before turning to comedy writing and performance.
She's a correspondent for PBS' ALL ARTS Network and Disney's Localish, and has collaborated with Yellow Dot Studios and Doc Society. Pooja’s writing and performances have been featured in New York Magazine and in the 2025 Emmy-nominated PBS special Voices Rising.
Pooja is also the co-host of Kutti Gang, a comedy show recommended by the New York Times and Time Out New York. The show has headlined Carolines on Broadway, been featured in the New York Comedy Festival, and released a special on PBS' ALL ARTS Network.
She is a member of the Joe’s Pub Working Group as well as The Public Theatre’s New Work Development Artist Residency developing her one-woman country cabaret, Pooja Reddy is White Trash, premiering at Joe's Pub at The Public Theater this September.
Off stage, Pooja can usually be found catching up on shifts at her food co-op, playing rummy, or riding horses - still chasing the glory of her peak equestrian achievement: hobby horse champion of the 1999 Etoile Community Fair.
She began her career in Washington, DC, working for First Lady Michelle Obama and then the UN system before turning to comedy writing and performance.
She's a correspondent for PBS' ALL ARTS Network and Disney's Localish, and has collaborated with Yellow Dot Studios and Doc Society. Pooja’s writing and performances have been featured in New York Magazine and in the 2025 Emmy-nominated PBS special Voices Rising.
Pooja is also the co-host of Kutti Gang, a comedy show recommended by the New York Times and Time Out New York. The show has headlined Carolines on Broadway, been featured in the New York Comedy Festival, and released a special on PBS' ALL ARTS Network.
She is a member of the Joe’s Pub Working Group as well as The Public Theatre’s New Work Development Artist Residency developing her one-woman country cabaret, Pooja Reddy is White Trash, premiering at Joe's Pub at The Public Theater this September.
Off stage, Pooja can usually be found catching up on shifts at her food co-op, playing rummy, or riding horses - still chasing the glory of her peak equestrian achievement: hobby horse champion of the 1999 Etoile Community Fair.
photo credits: Alaric Campbell
Pooja Reddy is White Trash
Written and Performed
by Pooja Reddy
"Country music comedy is back...Reddy's work is the ultimate example of an approach to country comedy that's thoroughly relatable and that has the potential to help open minds." — NPR
When Pooja Reddy's parents immigrated to America, they were not prepared for how the American South would rub off on her. The result: hunting, fishing, boating, and firearm licenses, and a childhood spent playing pretend as a country singer and youth pastor.
Told through stand-up comedy and original country music, Pooja Reddy is White Trash, is a wildly funny and heartfelt cabaret show about what happens when the American South gets its hands on a South Indian girl. At its heart, it is a love letter to the complex identities Southerners have, many of whom are immigrants and people of color.
Directed by and Developed with Neal Gupta
Neal Gupta is a New York–based director of new work. He has developed work with The Public Theater, Ars Nova, St. Ann’s Warehouse, Manhattan Theatre Club, Geffen Playhouse, and Berkeley Repertory Theatre. Selected Associate Director credits include the Broadway productions of Good Night, and Good Luck starring George Clooney, The Fear of 13 starring Adrien Brody and Tessa Thompson. He is an alum of Interlochen Arts Academy and Rutgers University, Mason Gross.
Music Direction by Emma Jayne
Emma Jayne is an Emmy-nominated composer and award-winning songwriter based in Brooklyn. With 3M+ streams across 15 releases, Emma's music has garnered placements on Spotify editorial playlists like Fresh Finds Pop and has been recognized by American Songwriter Magazine. Emma's a program director for Future Perfect Records, a year-long virtual residency for queer artists and producers facilitating the next generation of LGBTQ+ artists.
TICKETS NOW ON SALE
Early Press
︎︎︎NPR - All Things Considered: “Indian American comic explores her Kentucky roots”(2026)
︎︎︎Nashville Public Radio: “Have you heard the one about the Indian-American New Yorker who jokes about her redneck roots?” (2026)
︎︎︎Broadway World: “Comedian Pooja Reddy Explores Complex Southern Identity at Joe’s Pub” (2026)
︎: @poojareddyiswhitetrash
︎: poojareddycomedy@gmail.com
See me live!
9/18 Pooja Reddy is White Trash @ Joe’s Pub - Manhattan
9/25 Pooja Reddy is White Trash @ Joe’s Pub - Manhattan
10/6 Pooja Reddy is White Trash @ Joe’s Pub - Manhattan
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︎︎︎NPR - All Things Considered: “Indian American comic explores her Kentucky roots” (2026)
︎︎︎Nashville Public Radio: “Have you heard the one about the Indian-American New Yorker who jokes about her redneck roots?” (2026)
︎︎︎Broadway World: “Comedian Pooja Reddy Explores Complex Southern Identity at Joe’s Pub” (2026)
︎︎︎PBS ALL ARTS: “Dolly Parton, We Will Always Love You” (2026)
︎︎︎Nashville Public Radio: “Country Music Comedy is Back” (2026)
︎︎︎KOTN: “Third Culture Kids Campaign” (2025)
︎︎︎PBS All Arts“Edinburgh Fringe Festival” (2025)
︎︎︎WhatsApp: “Wisdom Stories Campaign” (2024)
︎︎︎Louisville Public Media: “Race Unwrapped” (2023)
︎︎︎ Disney ABC’s Localish: “Punjabi Deli” (2020)
︎︎︎Vulture: “Comics to Follow” (2020)
︎︎︎ New York Times: “6 Comedy Shows to Catch in N.Y.C. This Weekend” (2019)
︎︎︎ TimeOut: “Critical Darlings” (2019)
︎︎︎ Broadway World: “ALL ARTS and The Tank Theatre” (2020)
︎︎︎ Brown Girl Magazine: “A Q&A with the Dynamic Comedy Duo Pooja Reddy and Zubi Ahmed of ‘Kutti Gang’” (2019)
︎︎︎ TimeOut: “Kutti Gang” (2018)
︎︎︎Nashville Public Radio: “Have you heard the one about the Indian-American New Yorker who jokes about her redneck roots?” (2026)
︎︎︎Broadway World: “Comedian Pooja Reddy Explores Complex Southern Identity at Joe’s Pub” (2026)
︎︎︎PBS ALL ARTS: “Dolly Parton, We Will Always Love You” (2026)
︎︎︎Nashville Public Radio: “Country Music Comedy is Back” (2026)
︎︎︎KOTN: “Third Culture Kids Campaign” (2025)
︎︎︎PBS All Arts“Edinburgh Fringe Festival” (2025)
︎︎︎WhatsApp: “Wisdom Stories Campaign” (2024)
︎︎︎Louisville Public Media: “Race Unwrapped” (2023)
︎︎︎ Disney ABC’s Localish: “Punjabi Deli” (2020)
︎︎︎Vulture: “Comics to Follow” (2020)
︎︎︎ New York Times: “6 Comedy Shows to Catch in N.Y.C. This Weekend” (2019)
︎︎︎ TimeOut: “Critical Darlings” (2019)
︎︎︎ Broadway World: “ALL ARTS and The Tank Theatre” (2020)
︎︎︎ Brown Girl Magazine: “A Q&A with the Dynamic Comedy Duo Pooja Reddy and Zubi Ahmed of ‘Kutti Gang’” (2019)
︎︎︎ TimeOut: “Kutti Gang” (2018)