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
Shakuntala captivating King Dushyanta
Rasaka Theater and Premier Theater & Performance present the Indian conclusion of the highly successful
International Voices Project
The classic Indian play ŚAKUNTALĀ written by Kālidāsa
June 26th, 2010 at 3:00pm
Consulate General of India, Chicago
455 North City Front Plaza Drive – NBC Tower Building Suite No. 850
Chicago, Illinois 60611
Śakuntalā may be the most famous Indian play – Sanskrit play by Kālidāsa. Its date is uncertain, but Kalidasa is often placed in the period between the 1st century BC and 4th century AD.
Tells the story of King Dushyanta who, while on a hunting trip, meets Shakuntalā, the adopted daughter of a sage, and marries her. A mishap befalls them when he is summoned back to court: Shakuntala, pregnant with their child, inadvertently offends a visiting sage and incurs a curse, by which Dushyanta will forget her completely until he sees the ring he has left with her. On her trip to Dushyanta’s court in an advanced state of pregnancy, she loses the ring, and has to come away unrecognized. The ring is found by a fisherman who recognizes the royal seal and returns it to Dushyanta, who regains his memory of Shakuntala and sets out to find her. After more travels, they are finally reunited.
Kālidāsa Nothing apart from his works is known with certainty about the life of Kālidāsa, such as his period or where he lived. Little is known about Kālidāsa’s life. According to legend, the poet was known for his beauty which brought him to the attention of a princess who married him. However, as legend has it, Kālidāsa had grown up without much education, and the princess was ashamed of his ignorance and coarseness. A devoted worshipper of Kali (by other accounts Goddess Saraswati), Kālidāsa is said to have called upon his goddess for help when he was going to commit suicide in a pond after he was humiliated by his wife, and was rewarded with a sudden and extraordinary gift of wit. He is then said to have become the most brilliant of the “nine gems” at the court of the king Vikramaditya of Ujjain. Legend also has it that he was murdered by a courtesan in Sri Lanka during the reign of Kumaradasa.
“A worthwhile endeavor…charm, wit and raw emotion.” -Chicago Tribune
“The cast is highly enjoyable…Director Jadhwani keeps the evening brisk and fun to watch.” – TimeOut Chicago
Highly Recommended! – Chicago Reader
“Woven together with great honesty and sensitivity…stirring and illuminating.” – Steadstyle Chicago
“The performances given by the cast are warm, earthy, and accessible and provide an immediate, genuine connection with the audience.” – Chicago Theatre Blog
Produced in association with Premiere Theatre & Performance
Rasaka Theatre Company presents the Chicago premiere of
Rasaka’s 2009 Hit – Yoni Ki Baat
Kerry Reid, The Reader (Recommended):
“Yoni Ki Baat brings together a range of writers, assuring that nearly each piece has a refreshing specificity and distinct tone.”
Venus Zarris, Chicago Stage Review 3 ½ STARS, (Highly Recommended):
“Director/Curator Lavina Jadhwani assembles a remarkably gifted cast to deliver the cleverly collected anecdotes.”
“…intimate evening of cultural insight, candid exposition and exceptional performance.”
“…it is revolutionary to hear the voices of these uncompromising writers delivered by this unapologetic and outstanding ensemble.”
Anne Pulley, Centerstage Show Review – Chicago Sun-Times online city guide (Recommended):
“‘Yoni Ki Baat’ is a spirited and consuming production with some Margaret Cho-esque raunch thrown in for taste.”
“Yoni” pays critical attention to the voices that go painfully unheard and to the quiet abuses that come from familial obligation or bodily embarrassment. “
““Yoni Ki Baat” hits the (G) spot.”
Jack Hafferkamp, The EDGE, (Highly Recommended):
“…this collection of very personal tales from Desi women is by turns funny, a little uncomfortable, touching, sexy and always riveting.”
“My hat is doffed to all involved for creating a transporting experience on no budget.”
Tom Williams, ChicagoCritic.com, (Recommended):
“What impressed me most about this production was the outstanding talent of the four performers. You’d be hard press to find a more articulate cast all of which landed their monologues with a fine mixture of humor, angst, and honest sincerity.”
“This show, while it speaks directly to women, has enough heart and honesty with generous self deprecating humor to be engaging to men.”
“This surely is a fine, well acted ‘girl’s-night-out’ show that has enough humor and heart to appeal to men also. Anyone who witnesses Yon Ki Baat will be entertained and they’ll learn to respect the vigorousness of South Asian women.”
Shakuntala captivating King Dushyanta
