Setu Play: Friday september 29th to Sunday October 1st

Andha Yug (The Age of Darkness) is an English play (translation) on the carnage and destruction of the Mahabharata war on its final day. This play is part of the ongoing celebration of SETU's 20th anniversary. More info at www.setu.us.

A strong double cast will bring these powerful dynastic characters to life, along with dancers, narrators and chorists. An all-male cast, Purush, portrays 15 Pandava and Kaurava males and their allies with Gandhari being played by the only female actress. This, however, is "flipped" in the second all-female cast (Naaree) in which the sole female character is portrayed by a male actor.

𝗙𝗿𝗶, 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁 𝟮𝟵 𝗮𝘁 𝟳𝗽𝗺 (Naaree)
𝗦𝗮𝘁, 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁 𝟯𝟬 𝗮𝘁 𝟯𝗽𝗺 (Purush) and 𝟳𝗽𝗺 (𝗡𝗮𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲)
𝗦𝘂𝗻, 𝗢𝗰𝘁 𝟭 𝗮𝘁 𝟯𝗽𝗺 (Purush)

𝗧𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀 - https://www.mosesianarts.org/timedevents/1656?

Each show is about 2 hrs and 30 mins, including a short 30 mins intermission.
Complimentary Indian snacks and tea will be provided. Free parking garage is adjacent to the theater.

𝗢𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝘄𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁: Dharamvir Bharati

Based on English Translation of Alok Bhalla

𝗖𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Subrata Das

AUG 19th to 21st 2022

Play: Kultar’s Mime by Sarbpreet Singh, Massachusetts. Language: English

Kultar's Mime is a devised play that tells the stories of Sikh children who survived the 1984 Delhi massacre. The play incorporates text from two poems : Kultar's Mime by Sarbpreet Singh and In The City Of Slaughter by Haim Bialik. The play, an unequivocal condemnation of sectarian violence and genocide, has evoked a powerful reaction from audiences all over the world that has affirmed the power of compassion to break the cycle of hatred that continues to plague humanity to this day.

Play: RangaShwas by Jilebee Arts, Massachusetts. Language: Marathi with English Supertitles

Rangashwas is a unique dramatic presentation of famous Marathi short stories. Those timeless stories from all kinds of genres like humor, social, political, and suspense will be enacted and narrated with the help of audio-visual effects and props in minimum setting. These situations or events from different stories will be connected through a common thread.

Play: Shikhandi by ECTA, New Jersey. Language: Language: English

Gender dysphoria and transgender politics has been carefully avoided in our society for a long time. Mahabharata, however, has dealt with this issue in a skillful way through the story of "Shikhandi". The story not only deals with the gender crisis but also draws our attention to the general issue of gender politics, which since the days of the Mahabharata has struggled to elevate women from a status of commodity to that of an individual with a purpose.

Play: Panchavati by Yaksha-Loka Boston, Massachusetts. Language: Kannada and English with English Supertitles

Panchavati tells the story of Ramayana in the vibrant living art form of Yakshagana. Yakshagana originated as a folk theatre in Karnataka state in India about 800 years ago and has developed into a mainstream theater form in south India since then. It is a unique harmony of musical tradition, eye-catching costumes and make-up, and authentic styles of dance, improvised gestures and acting with its extemporaneous dialogue appealing to a wide range of the community.

Play: Bikhre Bimb by ICS Theater, New Jersey. Language: Hindi with English Supertitles

A Hindi translation of the award-winning Kannada play, Odakalu Bimb by Girish Karnad. Hindi adaptation: Padmavati Rao. The play reveals the story of an unsuccessful Kannada writer who gains international recognition for her

debut novel in English. A gripping plot that reflects uncomfortable relationships and human failings.

Play: Raktabeej by Hindi Manch, Massachusetts. Language: Hindi with English Supertitles

Raktbeej was a mythical demon, who was difficult to kill because every drop of his blood that touched the ground, created another replica of his. In this contemporary take in a modern setting the play explores the continuous cycle of prey and predator in modern materialistic life. How people exploit others and abuse relationships to further their own agenda and climb up the social ladder and in turn get used by others and the cycle repeats itself.

Storytelling

VOICES by Off-Kendrik, Massachusetts. Language: Multiple with English Supertitles

Voices is a Storytelling show produced by the theater group, Off Kendrik. Modeled after the storytelling show "The Moth", it brings to light the first-person, true experiences of South Asian Immigrants. The primary event for Voices is the Voices Mainstage Show. This showcases carefully curated stories and is held every other year as a public, ticketed production. In addition Voices Story Slams open to the public are planned occasionally. Off-Kendrik will present a few curated stories showing various aspects of immigrant life as part of the VOICES production at SAATH Fest.

Solo Act

“Unveiled” by Rohina Maik, Illinois. Language: English

Racism. Hate crimes. Love. Islam. Culture. Language. Life. Five Muslim women in a post-9/11 world serve tea and uncover what lies beneath the veil in this compelling one-woman show. Rohina Malik is a writer and actress who specializes in solo performance. She was born and raised in London, England, and draws upon her Indo-Pakistani heritage for inspiration for her art. She performed at Live Bait Theater’s Fillet of Solo, and workshopped Unveiled with Rivendell Theatre Ensemble and 16th Street Theater where it premiered and was a sold-out hit in May 2009 before coming to Victory Gardens Theatre in a 16th Street and Victory Gardens co-production in 2010.

Monologue and Reading: Generation Z presents:

“Partition” by Uma Paranjape, New York, Language : English

Scenes from a new play on Partition of India and Pakistan, written, directed and acted by Uma Paranjape. Uma is a 2 nd generation, young South Asian actor/playwright, based in New York. She was born and brought up in San Francisco, CA. She graduated from the University of Miami with a BFA in Musical Theatre and performed in multiple off-broadway theater, educational theater in NY and other places, TV commercials and of course Films. Her latest film is King Lahiri, directed by Chris Picone.

An Act/Reading by Pampi Das, Boston, Language : English

Pampi is a LGBTQ+ activist, playwright based in New England. She is the founder of In Divine Company, an activist multimedia contemporary temple dance theater collective. A 20+ year newcomer-settler-resident of Massachuset and Wompanoag land, Pampi is a darker-skinned nonbinary second-genx casteD-Bengali culture worker who flourishes the intersection of healing and education and develops community-centered art that releases creative potential and drives collective change-making.

Seminar

Panel discussion: Possibilities, challenges and future of diasporic South Asian Theater in the US. Panel will involve eminent theater personalities and academics.