From Shopowner in “Barbershop” to starring in NBC’s new comedy series Outsourced as Gupta, Parvesh Cheena is one of our own who is doing great things!
Cheena has recurred on “Help Me Help You,” “‘Til Death,” and “Brothers and Sisters.” His film debut was in “Barbershop” as Samir, and he reprised his role in the sequel “Barbershop 2: Back in Business.” Currently, his film “Karma Calling” is making the festival rounds in San Francisco, Chicago, Toronto and Los Angeles.
Rasaka Theatre ensemble members Anita Chandwaney and Fawzia Mirza featured on Chicago Public Radio’s Hello Beautiful Web Exclusives, promoting our upcoming show “Desi Women of the Diaspora”!
Rasaka Theatre Company wins 2 Jeff Citation Awards for 2006 for “The Masrayana”
Congratulations to Nikhil Trivedi for Best Original Incidental Music & William C. Kovasik for Best New Play
In addition, congratulations for the nomination of Alka Nayyar for Best Choreography!
Rasaka Shows
Kabulitis
September 20 – October 30, 2011
Rasaka is producing in association with Polarity Ensemble Theater for the World Premiere Production of:
Winner of Polarity Ensemble Theatre’s 2010 Dionysos Cup Festival of New Plays, Kabulitis gives an intimate look into the life of an American woman married to an Afghan and living in Kabul, Afghanistan. The story was inspired by the lives and stories of the playwright’s parents and family. It gives an insider’s perspective into life, politics and religion in Afghanistan. But most of all it is the story of an elderly American woman in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease who is haunted by her memories of Afghanistan
Ticket Info
Kabulitis performs at 1500 N. Bell Street in Wicker Park.
Previews begin September 20th
Press opening on Thursday, September 22nd
Gala Premiere Night Friday, September 23rd (includes a post-show reception)
Showtimes are Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, and Sundays at 3pm.
Cast
Anu Bhatt – Anahita/Anita
Caron Buinis – Mildred
Catherine Stegman – Andrea/Nabila
Gustavo Obregon – Hamed
Jonas Grey – Rob
Kamal Hans – Da’ud
Nawaf Gasem – Majid
Plamen Pencheff – Mullah
Ticket Prices
$10 for previews,
$19 for regular run
$35 for Gala Premiere Night
Senior discount tickets (age 65 and older) are $15
Vachikam, Chicago South Asian Art Council & Rasaka Theatre Company presented:
Wedding Album – A Play in English
Northshore Center for the performing Arts, Skokie, IL
The Wedding Album, Girish Karnad’s contemporary new comic drama, explores the traditional Indian wedding in a globalized, technologically advanced India.
On the surface it’s a familiar picture: a joyful event when members of the clan come together to celebrate and reaffirm loyalties. But behind the picture perfect smiles simmer long suppressed suspicions, jealousies, frustrations, and aggression.
The play deals with a normal urban middle-class family: a daughter who lives abroad with her professional husband, a brother who is a software designer, a younger daughter happy enough to marry a suitable boy from the US she has never met, and then, of course, there is the doting mother and the loyal cook. A family, which is educated, liberal, and modern. Each snapshot shows its members frozen in a projection of respectability, but each figure has a double image, with the shadow of a hidden life.
by Anita Chandwaney* and M.E.H. Lewis*
directed by Lavina Jadhwani
In an “Untouchable” Indian village crippled by drought, an intrepid young reporter investigates the corrupt water delivery system. But when her sister suddenly disappears, the investigation becomes personal. Thirst is an NYCWAM Honored Finalist and a 2011 O’Neill Conference semi-finalist.
More info...
The beautiful courtesan Vasantasenā
July 2nd, 2011
Rasaka was again part of Premiere Theater and Performance’s International Voices Project 2011
http://www.ptapchicago.org/ivp/index.php
Following-up the 2010 production of Shakuntala, Rasaka Presented:
The Toy Cart
written by Śūdraka
directed by Lavina Jadhwani
was presented July 2nd, 2011 at the
Consulate General of India, Chicago
The classic Indian play, the Toy Cart, ascribed to Śūdraka, is consistently one of the most appealing ancient India’s Sanskrit dramas (2nd to 5th centuries CE). The play has it all – colorful Brahmins, fast-paced action, a political uprising and a “happy ending”.
Rasaka Theater did Bollywood prior to the screening of “Saigon Electric”!
Bombay in my Soul
Directed by Kamal Hans. Written and choreographed by Kareem Khubchandani
Sheila wants to be a Bollywood star, so she leaves her love and the village in search of stardom. During her journey she meets the “madam”, the “casting couch”, and must challenge the current leading lady in a dance/off. With many twists and turns, Rasaka’s tribute to Bollywood keeps you entranced with Songs/Dance and action.
June 26th, 2010 at 3:00pm at the
Consulate General of India, Chicago
Rasaka Theater and Premier Theater & Performance presented the Indian conclusion of the highly successful
International Voices Project
The classic Indian play ŚAKUNTALĀ written by Kālidāsa
Śakuntalā may be the most famous Indian play – Sanskrit play by Kālidāsa.
Kabulitis
