The Indian Panorama

Tag: Entertainment

  • From NY’s Broadway : The Parisian Woman (Play)

    From NY’s Broadway : The Parisian Woman (Play)

    By Mabel Pais

    “It was really after the 2016 election, that Beau (Willimon, playwright) went in and changed the political surround. And, what it did because the stakes of the world got higher, it just really raised the stakes… like the personal stakes of every single character.” Pam  McKinnon, director
     “Presidents are assets. They exist to be bought, sold and managed.” Martin Csokas, actor
    Uma Thurman & Josh Lucas in The Parisian Woman
    Photo / Ruven Afanador

    The Parisian Woman has gone through significant rewrites since its first production at South Coast Repertory (Costa Mesa, California). “After the 2016 election I felt the need to completely rework the play,” says playwright Beau Willimon. “The core remains the same, but given its setting and milieu, there was an opportunity to address our current political landscape through Chloe’s (Uma Thurman) lens…. to put a sharper edge on her journey….. It’s a different play than the version Pam MacKinnon and I originally put on stage. One of the things I love about the theater is that you can respond to the present moment in real time. We’re excited to take on that challenge.”

    Willimon’s inspiration for The Parisian Woman came from French dramatist Henri Becque’s controversial play, La Parisienne which debuted in Paris in 1885.

    The Parisian Woman, the electrifying new play by “House of Cards” creator Beau Willimon, directed by Tony Award winner Pam MacKinnon (“Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”, “Clybourne Park”) and starring Academy Award nominee Uma Thurman in her Broadway debut.  The play also marks the Broadway debut of playwright Beau Willimon.

    Beau Willimon, playwright
    Photo / Emilio Madrid-Kuser, Broadway.com

    Willimon sets The Parisian Woman in Washington, D.C., where powerful friends are the only kind worth having, especially after the 2016 election. At the center is Chloe (Uma Thurman), a socialite armed with charm and wit, coming to terms with politics, her past, her marriage and an uncertain future. Dark humor and drama collide at this pivotal moment in Chloe’s life, and in our nation’s, when the truth isn’t obvious and the stakes couldn’t be higher.

    “You need a really charismatic person to step into that role and that is Uma…. that is Uma Thurman. She’s an incredibly smart, incredibly well-read, and incredibly charismatic person. And that translates.”Pam McKinnon, director

     “I feel that this is the greatest challenge of my career.” I think (that) this is the perfect play for me. So, it is my best shot to set my first foot on Broadway.” Uma Thurman, actor

    The play also stars Josh Lucas (“Sweet Home Alabama,” “American Psycho,” “The Mysteries of Laura”), Tony Award winner Blair Brown (“Orange Is The New Black,” “Fringe,” “Copenhagen,” “Nikolai” and the Others), Marton Csokas (Loving, The Lord of the Rings) and Tony Award nominee Phillipa Soo (Hamilton, Amélie).

    The creative team for The Parisian Woman is Tony Award winner Derek McLane (scenic design), Tony Award winner Jane Greenwood (costume design), Tony Award winner Peter Kaczorowski (lighting design), three-time Drama Desk Award nominee Darrel Maloney (projections), and Broken Chord (sound design and original composition). Hair Design is by Tom Watson and Make-up Design is by Tommy Kurzman. Casting is by Telsey + Company, Will Cantler CSA.

    It is produced on Broadway by Marc Routh, Richard Frankel, Tom Viertel, Steven Baruch, and Steve Traxler, along with Grad/Ragy, Jam Theatricals, and Gabrielle Palitz; in association with Marvin Rosen, Andy Okoskyn/Ivanna de Benito, Peter and Susan Crampton Davis, Peggy Hill, Terence and Lori Street, Lucille Werlinich, Cecelia Joyce Johnson/Deep End Productions,

    Thomas Kranz/Robert Shelley, and Joe Watson.

    The Parisian Woman is running at Broadway’s Hudson Theatre (141 West 44th Street). Performances are scheduled to continue until March 11, 2018.

    Tickets are available through www.thehudsonbroadway.com or (855) 801-5876. For more information on the play, visit www.ParisianWomanBroadway.com.

    NJ’s Bollywood Boulevard

     New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) presents Bollywood Boulevard: A Journey Through Hindi Cinema.

    Bollywood Boulevard Poster
    Photo/ MELA Productions.

    Experience all the artistry of India’s movie industry with Bollywood Boulevard, a spectacular fusion of live music, dance and multimedia imagery that leads audiences on a journey through Hindi cinema – from black-and-white classics and the timeless songs of Bollywood’s Golden Era to the colorful, foot-stomping blockbusters of today.

    Inspired by the music of R.D. Burman, Lata Mangeshkar and A.R. Rahman, the dance moves of superstars like Amitabh Bachchan and Priyanka Chopra, and the lush romance personified by big-screen actors like Raj Kapoor and directors like Yash Raj Chopra, this is Bollywood as you’ve never experienced it before.

    The cast of this exuberant stage show comes to NJPAC with all the spirit and romance of India’s grand palaces, mountain vistas, and sweeping mustard fields.

    Bollywood Boulevard invites lifelong fans and novices alike to fall in love with the vibrancy, sweeping emotions, and heart-pounding beats that continue to inspire the world’s largest entertainment industry.

    Bollywood Boulevard is a production of US-based executive producer, creator and dancer Heena Patel’s MELA Productions and India-based executive producer, creator, and music director Rushi Vakil’s Aaditaal Music Project.

    To learn more on the event, check out the link:

     http://www.njpac.org/events/detail/bollywood-boulevard

    Saturday, February 24, 2018….. 3:00 PM & 8:00 PM

     For tickets to see Bollywood Boulevard, visit NJPAC.org or the NJPAC Box Office, or call 888.GO.NJPAC (888.466.5722).

    (The author writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Health and Wellness, and Spirituality)

  • DFW SAFF wows North Texas audiences with 4 days of ground-breaking programming

    DFW SAFF wows North Texas audiences with 4 days of ground-breaking programming

    DALLAS (TIP): The 4th annual Dallas/Fort Worth South Asian Film Festival (DFW SAFF) entertained, engaged and enthralled more than one thousand North Texans who attended sold-out screenings of 19 shorts, documentaries and feature films over the four-day period (February 8 to 11 at Highland Park Village Theatre and AMC Village on the Parkway in Addison). Addison Mayor Joe Chow attended the festival and addressed the cinephiles who packed the opening night screening.

    Festival Coordinator Nisha Bhatt, Festival Director Jitin Hingorani, Artistic Director Ambica Dev
    Actress Priyanka Bose (DEVI) with Director Faraz Ansari (SISAK)
    Q&A with CHUMBAK team – From L to R: co-writer Saurabh Bhave, producer Naren Kumar, director Sandeep Modi and moderator Jim Falk (World Affairs Council)
    From L to R: Jitin Hingorani, Actress Suchitra Pillai (DANCE LIKE A MAN & THE VALLEY), Director Saila Kariat (THE VALLEY), AVS’ Raju Sethi and Actor Alyy Khan (THE VALLEY)
    From L to R: Jitin Hingorani, Director Faraz Ansari (SISAK), Actress Priyanka Bose (DEVI) and Actor/Writer/Producer Shawn Parikh (KHOL)
    Filmmakers and actors who attended the festival included:

    Priyanka Bose (DEVI)

    Suchitra Pillai (DANCE LIKE A MAN & THE VALLEY)

    Alyy Khan (THE VALLEY)

    Arshad Khan (ABU)

    Faraz Ansari (SISAK)

    Saila Kariat (THE VALLEY)

    Nishil Sheth (BHASMASUR)

    Siddartha Jatla (LOVE AND SHUKLA)

    Sandeep Modi (CHUMBAK)

    Naren Kumar (CHUMBAK)

    Saurabh Bhave (CHUMBAK)

    Shawn Parikh (KHOL)

    Sangeeta Agrawal (FIVE O’CLOCK SHADOW)

    Sridhar Mirajkar (FIVE O’CLOCK SHADOW)

    Ash Chandler (Singer/Songwriter, Comedian & Actor)

    Victor Cruz (Actor & Producer)

    Zoe Arora (Singer/Songwriter)

    With one world premiere, six international premieres, two U.S. premieres, nine Texas premieres and one Dallas premiere, festival director and founder Jitin Hingorani says, “We received a lot of positive feedback about our programming this year, as the issues raised in our films ranged from father/son relationships to child slavery and sex education in India to teenage depression in the U.S. to the plight of South Asians living in Europe. At the end of the day, our audiences keep coming back because of the strong content we showcase, and we are already preparing to incorporate audience and jury awards in the 5th iteration of our festival.”

    Clockwise from top left: Opening Night Films WHAT WILL PEOPLE SAY (feature) and MEHRAM (short), Centerpiece Film ABU and Closing Night Film CHUMBAK

    For the complete festival lineup, including trailers & synopses, please go HERE!

    JINGO Media, a Dallas and New York-based PR and events management company, created DFW SAFF four years ago, and in 2017, the festival was recognized by Texas Governor Greg Abbott as one of the “Most Innovative Small Businesses” in the state of Texas.

    Wells Fargo has been the main sponsor of the festival since its inception. “At Wells Fargo, diversity and inclusion are a business imperative that lets us take advantage of the creativity and innovation that comes from multiple perspectives. It helps us understand our customers more fully, see business opportunities in new ways and succeed in serving the needs of all customers,” said Region Bank President for Greater Dallas, Scott Wallace. “For this reason, we value and promote diversity in every aspect of our business and at every level of our organization. It is only fitting for us to be supporting and celebrating the South Asian culture of Dallas-Fort Worth, while embracing the amazing contributions and legacy of the South Asian artistic community through this incredible festival.”

    Other major sponsors included: Skypass Travel Group, Hotstar, Mercedes Benz of Plano, Town of Addison, Parish Episcopal School, UTD – Naveen Jindal School of Management, World Affairs Council, EarthxFilm, Margaret and Trammell Crow Collection of Asian Art & Dallas Film Commission.

    For more information about the festival, please visit www.dfwsaff.com

  • Priya Varrier beats Sunny Leone to become Google’s most searched actress

    Priya Varrier beats Sunny Leone to become Google’s most searched actress

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Viral sensation Priya Prakash Varrier has taken down Sunny Leone to become Google’s most searched actress.

    The first song of Malayalam movie ‘Oru Adaar Love’ became viral on social media within few hours of its release because of Varrier’s cute articulations and wink. Since then, the 18-year-old has become the talk of the town.

    In the past few days, ‘Priya Prakash’ has been searched way more than Sunny Leone, who is known to perpetually trend on the search engine.

    With a follower count of over three million on Instagram, Priya has become a social media sensation overnight.

    Her sultry kohl eyes and a naughty wink have made the nation crazy. The girl whose smiling and winking video spammed almost all the newsfeeds is none other than Priya Prakash Varrier. The Malayalam actress, who is all set to make her debut in the film industry with the movie ‘Oru Adaar Love,’ became the national crush of India when the makers of the film released the movie’s first song.A small clip from the movie’s song started trending on the internet and #PriyaPrakashVarrier became a trend on social media handles.The new Malayalam beauty Priya Prakash Varrier is on a record-breaking spree. After melting every sakht launda of India, Priya has now set a unique record on social media worldwide.

    The Biggest Dream

    It seems like Priya Prakash Varrier is a huge fan of Dulquer Salmaan, the young superstar of Mollywood. The actress has revealed that her biggest dream is to come on screen with none other than Dulquer Salmaan.

  • Move over, Steve Harvey – there’s a new family game show in town: Family Quiz show to premiere on Zee TV this month

    Move over, Steve Harvey – there’s a new family game show in town: Family Quiz show to premiere on Zee TV this month

    NEW YORK (TIP): On Saturday, February 24, media and entertainment mega-giant ZEE Entertainment will debut “America’s Smartest Family” – a brand new television game show where 16 families will compete for a $10,000 cash prize. Airing exclusively on ZEE TV, the highly-anticipated series is the first-ever English-language quiz show of its kind, placing some of the globe’s brightest South Asian families on stage for a chance at the title of “America’s Smartest Family.”

    Hosted by 23-year-old YouTube sensation Zaid Ali, “America’s Smartest Family” is a unique mashup of the American household favorites “Family Feud” and “Jeopardy,” but with that special ZEE TV twist that celebrates its South Asian heritage. Complete with a diverse set of categories and a buzzer, each episode will feature five challenging in-studio question rounds, testing pre-screened contestants on their ability to answer quickly and more importantly – their ability to work as a team. Only the fastest, most well-rounded family will get to take home the crown.

    Round one consists of four questions, with a toss deciding which family goes first. Participants can choose from one of five topics – including science, math, arts, history and geography. Once a category is chosen, it may not be selected for the remainder of the round. During the first round, 100 points will be awarded for every correct answer. There are no deductions for wrong answers until round three and four, when a mistake can cost a team 100 points for every incorrect answer.

    As the game progresses, questions become increasingly difficult. By rounds three and four – each correct answer is worth 200 points. During the fifth and final round, the game takes a turn and host Zaid Ali spices things up by offering clues. If the team answers correctly without a clue, a maximum of 1000 points is awarded. If the family choses to get clues, each clue costs them 200 points. At the end of five rounds, scores may vary from -2400 to 5500. In the event of a tie, an extra tie-breaker round will identify the winner.

    In the first four episodes of the season, four families will compete against one another, accumulating points for every correct answer. The eight winning teams from those early contents will move onto the semi-finals until just two families remain. The winners of the semi-finals will make it to finals, for the ultimate face-off, where one family will be named “America’s Smartest Family.”

    The show is part of the Zee Originals initiative and joins a stellar line up of upcoming shows that have been created for the evolving South Asian audience.

    “In its 20th year of network broadcast in North America, it’s time to produce relevant content for the audience which is locally sourced and features the local community. This is yet another commitment from Zee which prides itself as being the innovative leader for the market,” said Sameer Targe, Head of Americas for Asia TV.

    Tune in and watch the world premiere of “America’s Smartest Family” on ZEE TV at 9:00 p.m. EST; 9:30 p.m. PST; and 9:00 p.m. AST

    To learn more about “America’s Smartest Family,” visit https://www.zeeoriginals.com/americas-smartest-family/

     About Zee Network

    Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited is one of India’s leading television media and entertainment companies. It is amongst the largest producers and aggregators of Hindi programming in the world, with an extensive library housing over 222,000 hours of television content. With rights to more than 3,818 movie titles from foremost studios and of iconic film stars, ZEE houses the world’s largest Hindi film library. Through its strong presence worldwide, ZEE entertains over 1 billion viewers across 172 countries.

    About Zee TV USA

    Zee TV USA was the first ever Hindi General Entertainment channel to be launched in the US way back in 1998. Since the start of the journey more than 2 decades ago, Zee now has 43 networks and full time dedicated work force across 5 different locations all across the North America and Caribbean. Zee TV USA was the first Asian channel to launch in HD. Zee TV was the first Hindi network to be measured by Nielsen in the US, Zee TV is also the most widely available Hindi General Entertainment network on all major DTH, Cable, Telco and IPTV platforms with availability over 86 million US households.

  • Movies 2018

    Movies 2018

    By Mabel Pais

    The Insult

    “Compelling ….Rich with feelings that transcend the sprawling national backdrop.” Eric Kohn, IndieWire
    Adel Karam and Kamel El Basha in The Insult.

    The Insult by Lebanese director Ziad (“The Attack”) Doueiri’s gripping political drama, is short-listed for the 2018 Academy Award® for Best Foreign Language Film.

    The movie is inspired by an incident in the director’s own experience, several years ago in Beirut.  In today’s Beirut, a civilian dispute blown out of proportion finds Tony (Adel Karam), a Lebanese Christian, and Yasser (Venice Film Festival Best Actor winner Kamel El Basha), a Palestinian refugee, facing off in court. As the media circus surrounding the case threatens a social explosion in divided Lebanon, Tony and Yasser reconsider their values and beliefs as revelations of trauma complicate their understanding of one another.

    After leaving Lebanon during its Civil War, Ziad Doueiri moved to the US to study film at San Diego State University.  He went on to work as a camera operator on Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction and Jackie Brown.

    His directorial debut, the critically acclaimed Cannes Film Festival Directors Fortnight selection West Beirut, put him on the map as one of the most promising directors from the Middle East. His third film The Attack, a controversial drama about an Arab Israeli surgeon whose life is shattered after discovering his wife was a suicide bomber, was a critical and box office hit. The Insult is Mr. Doueiri’s fourth film.

    Directed by: Ziad Doueiri.  Written by: Ziad Doueiri & Joëlle Touma. Starring: Adel Karam, Kamel El Basha, Camille Salaamed, Diamand Bou Abboud, Rita Hayek.  Rating: R.  Running time: 1h 52 m.  Genre: Drama.

    The Insult opened in New York on Friday, January 12 (Lincoln Plaza Cinema and The Quad), and Los Angeles on Friday, January 19 followed by a national roll out.  It is running at several theatres in New York City.

     Double Lover

    Marine Vacth and Jérémie Renier in Double Lover.

    Double Lover, Francois Ozon’s twisted erotic thriller loosely based on the Joyce Carol Oates novel Lives of the Twins. Starring Marine Vacth and Jérémie Renier.

    Chloé, (Young and Beautiful’s Marine Vacth) is a fragile young woman who falls in love with her psychoanalyst, Paul (Jérémie Renier,) soon after starting therapy to try and uncover the roots of her mysterious symptoms. Several months later the couple moves in together, but Chloé discovers that her lover is keeping part of his identity a secret. Visually striking, often outrageous, and chock full of mischievous cinematic references, Double Lover is a guilty pleasure that keeps the audience guessing.

    A master at playfully exploring sexual repression and the inner lives of women, François Ozon returns with Double Lover to several of the themes and genres he has delved into throughout his prolific career.

    His films include Water Drops on Burning Rocks, Criminal Lovers, Under the Sand, 8 Women, Swimming Pool, In The House, Young & Beautiful, The New Girlfriend and Frantz.

    Written and directed by Francois Ozon.  Loosely based on the Novel “Lives of the Twins” by Joyce Carol Oates. Produced by Eric & Nicolas Altmeyer.

    Cinematography by Manu Dacosse. Starring Marine Vacth, Jérémie Renier, Jacquline Bisset, Myriam Boyer, Dominique Reymond.  Rating: NR. Running time: 1 h 47 m.  Genre: Drama, Romance, Thriller.

    Double Lover is scheduled to open in New York (AMC Empire, The Quad) Los Angeles, San Francisco and Philadelphia on Wednesday, February 14 followed by a national roll out.

     Animal House 40th Anniversary (The Film) at NJPAC

    New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), located in downtown Newark, N.J., has the most diverse programming and audience of any performing arts center in the country, and is the artistic, cultural, educational and civic center of New Jersey – where great performances and events enhance and transform lives every day. NJPAC brings diverse communities together, providing access to all and showcasing the state’s and the world’s best artists while acting as a leading catalyst in the revitalization of its home city. Through its extensive Arts Education programs, NJPAC is shaping the next generation of artists and arts enthusiasts. NJPAC has attracted more than 8 million visitors (including over 1.6 million children) since opening its doors in 1997, and nurtures meaningful and lasting relationships with each of its constituents.

     “One of the most successful American film comedies of all time”
                                                                                           The Oregon Encyclopedia (OE)

    The New Jersey Performing Arts Center presents Animal House 40th Anniversary. Whether you’re a Delta or an Omega, everyone can share the hilarity of 1978’s groundbreaking campus comedy Animal House, shown on the wide screen with a live appearance by Tim (“Otter”) Matheson. Wear a toga (a loose flowing outer garment worn by the citizens of ancient Rome)!

    An evening that’ll make you wanna shout! Hosted by film critic Peter Travers of Rolling Stone magazine, this movie about the antics of a pack of riotous frat boys features classic performances by some of the best comedians of the Seventies, including (the late) John Belushi and Stephen Furst.

    Tim Matheson – the smooth-talking Eric “Otter” Stratton – will appear on stage following the screening with one of his cast mates, Peter Riegert, as special guest.

    An actor, director and producer over the past 50 years, Tim Matheson received two Emmy nominations for his role in television’s The West Wing and recently starred in Killing Reagan on National Geographic. Some of his other popular feature films include 1941, To Be or Not To Be, Fletch and Van Wilder. He began his career at the age of 13 in Robert Young’s comedy series Window on Main Street and in 1964 provided the voice of the title character in the animated cartoon Jonny Quest.

    Faber College has one frat house so disreputable it will take anyone. It has a second one full of white, Anglo-Saxon, rich young men who are so sanctimonious no one can stand them except Dean Wormer. The dean enlists the help of the second frat to get the boys of Delta House off campus. The dean’s plan comes into play just before the homecoming parade to end all parades for all time.

    The film is directed by John Landis and written by Harold Ramis, Douglas Kenney and Chris Miller. It stars John Belushi, Tim Matheson, John Vernon, Verna Bloom, Thomas Hulce, Stephen Furst, and Donald Sutherland.  It is produced by Matty Simmons of National Lampoon (the original American humor magazine from 1970 to 1998) and Ivan Reitman for Universal Pictures. It was inspired by stories written by Chris Miller and published in National Lampoon. Its genre is Romance/Comedy.  Its running time is 1h 49m.

    For more information and tickets, visit www.NJPAC.org or the NJPAC Box Office, or call 888.GO.NJPAC (888.466.5722).

    (The author writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Health and Wellness, and Spirituality)

  • Indian American Artists to Perform along With Pt Jasraj, Mishra Brothers AT 25th MIT’S Heritage Of Arts of South Asia Festival

    Indian American Artists to Perform along With Pt Jasraj, Mishra Brothers AT 25th MIT’S Heritage Of Arts of South Asia Festival

    New York (TIP): Renowned ‘khayal’ vocalist Pandit Jasraj and Mishra Brothers are among the musicians who are scheduled to perform at the 25th MIT’s Heritage of the Arts of South Asia festival.

    Pt Jasraj’s performance is the highlight of the coming spring season, which begins from March 30. The Classical vocalist will take to the mic on May 19 at MIT’s Kresge Auditorium.

    Delhi-based brother duo Rajan and Sajan Mishra and Kolkata-based Kaushiki Chakraborty are also expected to perform at the music festival, known as MITHAS.

    The line-up of the South Indian artistes is equally promising.

    Senior vocalist and Padmabhushan T V Sankaranarayanan, in collaboration with the Learnquest Festival at Regis College, will give the open the festival, the same evening Chakraborty is scheduled to perform, MITHAS said in a statement.

    Chaired by Anuradha Palakurthi, the festival allows students from elementary school through graduate school to attend all programes for free.

    “We are so far away from our homeland and we have a responsibility to carry this musical tradition forward,” said Palakurthi, a widely acclaimed Boston-based singer who has performed and recorded with Bollywood giants such as Suresh Wadkar, Kumar Sanu, Hariharan and Bappi Lahiri.

    “Growing up in India we benefitted from free entry to classical shows at colleges because of organisations like Spic-MACAY, and I want to do the same for students music-lovers in Boston,” said Palakurthi, who has also recorded an album with Ustad Nishad Khan of Imdadkhani Etawah gharana.

    Artistes such as Ali Akbar Khan, Zakir Hussain, Hariprasad Chaurasia, M Balamuralikrishna, TN Krishnan, T Viswanathan, V V Subrahmanyam, Sanjay Subrahmanyan, TM Krishna and Chitraveena Ravikiran have performed at MITHAS in the past.

    “When I look back at the work of MITHAS, I am amazed at how many people have come together to present so many of South Asia’s finest artists in concerts and lectures,” said George Ruckert, one of the founders of MITHAS, who came to MIT to teach music in 1991.

  • Revisiting the Past: Lahore to Lyallpur or Bombay in under Rupees Two

    Revisiting the Past: Lahore to Lyallpur or Bombay in under Rupees Two

    By Harjap Singh Aujla
    Harjap Singh Aujla

    Winner of President of India’s award for the best score of music in Indian film industry for film “Nanak Naam Jahaz Hai” in the year 1969, music director S. Mohinder (92) is a close friend of mine. He lives in Northern Virginia in suburban Washington D.C. While on a visit to New York – New Jersey area, he stopped over for lunch at my house in New Jersey. He narrated to me an interesting story about his tryst with destiny in 1947.

    He was a radio singer at All India Radio Lahore and was living in Lyallpur in 1947. On a hot and humid August morning, he boarded a train heading to Lahore to sing a few songs at the only radio station in the province of Punjab. After finishing his singing assignment, he was paid rupees twenty, the rupee was worth a lot during those days. Coming out of the radio station, as usual he saw a number of tongas parked outside in a corner. He paid two annas to the Tonga (horse driven carriage) driver to drop him off at the railway station. He could not, for a minute, visualize that this was possibly his last experience with his favorite city of Lahore.

    He purchased a ticket for less than rupees two for Lyallpur and started walking towards the likely platform. Suddenly he heard some tense sounding voices. One person was saying that serious violence has erupted in the Hindu and Sikh dominated areas of Lahore, some incidents of arson, stabbing and gun fire had occurred in parts of the city. He further exclaimed that reports of violence against the Hindus and Sikhs at other places have also been reported.

    One neat and clean train with markings of Bombay was about to steam off at platform one. Without caring for his destination, he hurriedly entered the over-crowded train. No seat was empty in a train packed with humans like sardines. Standing up space could be managed with difficulty. The train stopped briefly at Amritsar Junction, where more than half of the passengers disembarked, and a few got in too. More passengers got off a Jullundur, Ludhiana and Ambala. At Delhi, for a change, more passengers got in than those getting out.

    After a one and a half day’s journey, the train reached the magnificent Victoria Terminus railway station. The building was awe inspiring. Surprisingly throughout the journey no one asked him to show the ticket. A neatly dressed ticket collector was on duty at the platform. S. Mohinder reluctantly handed over the ticket. The ticket collector smiled and told him that the ticket was for a shorter distance and not for Bombay. S. Mohinder explained the entire story to the officer. After looking at S. Mohinder’s tired face and ruffled up clothes, the officer believed his story and let him go without charging a paisa.

    On reaching Bombay, S. Mohinder found out that life was very tough in India’s second largest metropolis. The distances were long, the food and shelter were expensive, but there was no communal tension in the city. He was made to go to other places also, but after a long struggle he did become a music director in what is now called Mumbai.

    (The author can be reached at harjapaujla@gmail.com)

  • Theater in NJ: Paper Mill Playhouse

    Theater in NJ: Paper Mill Playhouse

    By Mabel Pais

    Paper Mill Playhouse, Millburn, NJ is the recipient of the 2016 Regional Theatre Tony Award under the direction of Mark S. Hoebee (Producing Artistic Director), and Todd Schmidt (Managing Director).  The Playhouse is one of the country’s leading regional theatres.

    The Playhouse shares the wonder of creation in its 2017-2018 season with an astonishing 4 premieres: The Honeymooners, the major revival of a cherished holiday classic Annie, A new musical: Half Time, and the current new play The Outsider.

    Paper Mill has been consistently recognized for the high-quality artistry of its re-imagined classic musicals as well its commitment to development of new works and careers of New York Broadway’s best talent and emerging artists both onstage and behind the scenes.

    Along the way, some of today’s best classical singers, dancers, directors, choreographers, actors, playwrights and designers share their talents to transport you with captivating, human and funny American stories.

    It’s all part of what has placed Paper Mill Playhouse center stage in bringing the new American musical theater to life, and it’s why anyone looking for what’s truly next and noteworthy subscribes.

    For additional information, visit www.papermill.org.

    The Outsider (The Play)

    “One of the funniest plays in years”

    “A comedy of political errors”

    – Mark S. Hoebee & Todd Schmidt

    Paper Mill Playhouse

     In politics, the less you know, the higher you’ll go!

    (From L to R): Burke Moses (Arthur Vance) and Lenny Wolpe (Ned Newley
    Photo Credit /Matthew Murphy
    (From L to R): Manoel Felciano (Dave Riley) and Lenny Wolpe (Ned Newley).
    Photo Credit / Jerry Dalia

    At once a razor-sharp satire and an inspirational tribute to democracy, The Outsider by Paul Slade Smith is a timely and hilarious send-up of modern American politics.

    Completely fictional, the story begins in the midst of a political scandal, Ned Newley, the ultimate policy wonk, is unexpectedly thrust into the position of Governor. A complete unknown, with no political instincts and a paralyzing fear of public speaking, to his ever-supportive chief of staff, Ned seems destined to fail. But a political guru, Arthur Vance sees things a little differently: Ned might be the worst candidate to ever run for office. Unless the public is looking for… the worst candidate to ever run for office!

    In March 2016 at a successful reading of the play attended by top Broadway (NY theater) insiders, “declared it one of the funniest – not to mention topical – plays in years” quipped Mark S. Hoebee, Producing Artistic Director and Todd Schmidt, Managing Director of Paper Mill Playhouse.

    Governor Phil Murphy, and 7 former governors of NJ teamed up to promote The Outsider in an unusual video.  The 2-minute video, which went live a few days before the start of the performances, got over 150,000 views on YouTube in its first 3 days.  You can view it at https://youtu.be/JORleE_3jYE

    “We’ve had hundreds of shares, tons of views,” says Hawley Abelow, director of communications, marketing and membership for Paper Mill.  “I think when all is said and done, this is going to be extraordinarily successful for getting attention and selling tickets.”

    Book:                          Paul Slade Smith

    Starring:                      Kelley Curran, Julia Duffy, Manoel Felciano, Erin Noel

    Grennan, Mike Houston, Burke Moses, Lenny Wolpe

    Directed by:                 David Esbjornson

    The production team includes set design by Michael Schweikardt, costume design by Elizabeth Hope Clancy, lighting design by Ben Stanton, hair and wig design by Charles G. LaPointe, and sound design by Randy Hansen.

    The Outsider runs from January 24 to February 18, 2018.

    The following link is a hilarious promotional video for The Outsider

    https://youtu.be/s1YtYGR34ik

    For more information and tickets on The Outsider, visit papermill.org.

    (The author writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Health and Wellness, and Spirituality)

     

     

  • PAD MAN in Theaters in New York on February 9

    PAD MAN in Theaters in New York on February 9

    The film depicts a man’s crusade to make India a 100% pad using country

    Consul General of India in New York is hosting a show on February 12

    NEW YORK CITY (TIP): Pad Man, which hits theaters in North America on February 9, aims to raise the curtain on all myths, taboos and beliefs around periods and menstrual hygiene, which have held women and girls back from empowerment for centuries. The curtain raiser gives us some of the exciting insights into what Pad Man has in store for us. It opens with an awestruck Sonam Kapoor trying to come to terms with the fact that how can a man be so obsessed with ‘chumming,’ as menstruation is commonly called. We are then taken to a festive scene in Akshay Kumar’s village where a celebration takes place in honor of a young girl getting her first period.

    Akshay Kumar and Sonam Kapoor in a still from the film
    SYNOPSIS:

    Pad Man is a fictionalized account of Padmashri Arunachalam Muruganatham, the man who revolutionized the manufacture of the low cost sanitary napkin in India. Lakshmi is a newly married, humble welder from a rural village in the heart of India. Lakshmi’s incredible journey starts when he is shocked to discover that his wife uses an unhygienic cloth during her periods. Unable to afford a branded pad, he decides to make a sanitary pad himself. After several attempts, his irate wife refuses to be a part of his experiments. Lakshmi’s love and concern for his wife, his determination to make the pad, leads him into situations that cause so much shock and embarrassment that it compels his wife to leave him and his village to banish him.

    Lakshmi doesn’t give up. His simplicity of thought, his resilience, his focus and his complete disregard for convention finally leads him to his destiny. A machine that can make a pad! The revolution that follows…from spreading menstrual hygiene, to empowering women, to starting mini cooperatives, to a vision of making India a 100% Pad using country, to accolades, to international glory and to a final resolution of his personal life, makes the rest of the feature “PAD MAN”. His journey to make India a 100% pad using country goes on…even today.

    Produced by Mrs. Funnybones Movies, SPE FIlms India, Kriarj Entertainment, Cape of Good Films and Hope Productions, Pad Man is written and directed by ad-man turned film-man R Balki (Paa). It is billed as the most progressive family entertainer yet, starring international megastar Akshay Kumar (Toilet: Ek Prem Katha) who assumes the titular role of Arunachalam Muruganantham to once again showcase his commitment to social entertainers. He is joined by critically acclaimed actresses Sonam Kapoor (Neerja) and Radhika Apte (Kabali). One for the mad ones, the ones who are crazy enough to change the world, Pad Man is the one-of-a-kind feature film, tackling the taboo and stigmas attached to menstrual hygiene through the art of entertainment.

    Consul General of India, Sandeep Chakravorty is hosting a special show of the film on February 12. Those interested in watching the movie may email request to culture.newyork@mea.gov.in

    Watch the latest video at  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYypWrASUWk

  • Indian American High School Girl Nominated as 2018 US Presidential Scholar in the Arts

    Indian American High School Girl Nominated as 2018 US Presidential Scholar in the Arts

    WASHINGTON DC (TIP): Indian American Shreyah Mohanselvan of Gahanna, Ohio, has been nominated in the Dance discipline amongst the nine artistic disciplines, chosen by YoungArts, the sole nominating agency for 2018 US Presidential Scholar in the Arts.

    Shreyah Mohanselvan, who has lived in New Albany her entire life, is a senior at Columbus Academy, where she has been a student since kindergarten. She has been involved with student government since middle school, was president of her class both her sophomore and junior years, and is focused on communication, spirit and community, and efficiency and organization in 2017 as student council president.

    In addition to student government, Mohanselvan plays the violin in the Columbus Academy Advanced Orchestra, serves as a student orientation leader for new students transitioning into the school and is an editor of the yearbook, a group she has been a part of since her freshman year.

    All of this adds up to Mohanselvan being an exceptional high school student – one that her school community at Columbus Academy and her home community of New Albany can be immensely proud of. But Mohanselvan is actually best known for something else.

    Her dancing.

    “Dance has always been my passion,” she says. “I started learning ballet when I was 4 years old at the New Albany Ballet Company. Shortly thereafter, I started learning the Indian classical dance form of Bharatanatyam.”

    Bharatanatyam and Odissi, a second form of classical Indian dancing that Mohanselvan performs, are, as she explains, ancient art forms that were originally performed in temples. The dance depicts Hindu stories and are dedicated to gods and goddesses.

    “The two dance forms have differences and similarities, and sometimes it is difficult to force the body to be true to both of these two conflicting dance forms,” she says.

    Mohanselvan isn’t simply a dancer, though; she’s an award-winning dancer. She has won first place in the Federation of Indian Associations of Central Ohio’s Indian solo dance competition for three consecutive years. Additionally, Mohanselvan has three first place and two second place finishes since 2013 in the Vindhya Cultural Association in Columbus, a competition that attracts talent from all across the state. In 2017, she was presented with a National Young Arts Winner Honorable Mention Award in Indian/classical dance.

    Mohanselvan’s talent for dance has taken her to perform at venues all across the state, including many times at the Jeanne B. McCoy Community Center for the Arts, a place she says, “always feels like home.”

    And now she is nominated as 2018 US Presidential Scholar in the Arts

    About 2018 U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts and the YoungArts

     2018 U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts is one of the nation’s highest honors for high school students who exemplify academic and artistic excellence. YoungArts is the sole nominating agency for this high honor and the 60 candidates, representing 25 states and nine artistic disciplines, are all YoungArts winners. These students have been nominated to the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program for their artistic achievements.

    The candidate applications will be reviewed by the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars, which will ultimately select 20 high school seniors to be recognized as U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts for their academic and artistic accomplishments, demonstrated leadership, community service and outreach initiatives, and overall creativity. In June, the 20 arts scholars will join the other 141 U.S. Presidential Scholars from across the country in Washington, D.C. for the National Recognition Program. During the program, all scholars receive a Presidential Medallion presented on behalf of the President of the United States and participate in several recognition activities while in Washington, D.C.

    “The National YoungArts Foundation is proud to partner with the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program to acknowledge our nation’s most talented graduating high school seniors,” said Carolina García Jayaram, YoungArts President and CEO. “These young leaders excel in everything that they do, from their artistry and inquisitiveness, to their academics and activism. YoungArts congratulates each of the nominees on their accomplishments, and we look forward to announcing the selected arts scholars this spring.”

     

     

  • Indian American Ben Rekhi’s film to be screened at Cinequest festival

    Indian American Ben Rekhi’s film to be screened at Cinequest festival

    Two Indian films will also feature at the Silicon Valley film festival, which will be held from February 27 to March 11.

    SAN JOSE (TIP): Indian American filmmaker Ben Rekhi’s movie The Ashram will be screened at the upcoming Cinequest film and VR festival to be held in the Silicon Valley from February 27 to March 11.

    The 28th edition of the festival will also screen two Indian films, Love and Shukla and Purdah.

    The Ashram revolves around the life of Jamie, an American skeptic, following the trail of his lost girlfriend to a mystical Himalayan community. His quest to find Sophie leads him to an ashram where an evocative cast of characters, including Nitin (played by Kal Penn), awaits. He has reason to suspect everyone but needs to trust each to help him.

    Besides Penn, the film features several prominent actors, including Sam Keeley, Hera Hilmar, Oscar winner Melissa Leo and Indian actress Radhika Apte. Shot in various locations in India, the screenplay was written by Binky Mendez and Rekhi.

    Rekhi, son of noted venture capitalist Kanwal Rekhi, graduated from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. His Waterborne had won a Special Audience Award at the 2005 SXSW Film Festival. He is a producer of and director of photography of Bomb the System (2002).

    Indian filmmaker Siddartha Jatla’s Love and Shukla portrays the life of a rickshaw driver in Mumbai, the country’s financial capital.

    Shukla, a rickshaw driver, deals with a multitude of passengers on the roads of city. Some of them take advantage of him, but they can’t rob him of his prized possession – his decency. A new marriage and a pretty bride bring up many unanticipated challenges. Before Shukla can get lucky, he has to grab life by the horns.

    Saharsh Kumar Shukla and Taneea Rajawat play the lead roles in the Hindi drama penned by Siddhartha Jatla and Amanda Mooney.

    Purdah, a documentary directed by Jeremy Guy, portrays the struggles of 20-year-old Kaikasha and her two sisters, who are Muslims.

    Their father wants them to wear burkas and to have arranged marriages, but these determined young women have dreams of their own. This beautiful and rousing story follows Kaikasha in her quest to be the first Muslim on the Mumbai women’s cricket team and then follows her into a corridor of uncertainty after a shocking turn of events changes the fate of her family.

    The 13-day festival will screen 258 film and virtual reality works from 45 countries. The invitees and attendees will also get a chance to experience virtual reality as a new medium of story-telling at its curated VR Cinema and VR Experience Lounge.

    This year’s program includes 74 World and 55 US premiering films, starring award winning actors including past Maverick Spirit Award winners William H. Macy, Rosario Dawson and Peter Fonda, as well as Kal Penn, Michelle Pfeiffer, James McAvoy, Hilary Swank and Stanley Tucci.

    “We’ve seen the power of film to not only delight and entertain, but spark awareness, create connections and galvanize communities,” Halfdan Hussey, co-founder of Cinequest said in a statement.

    “Our theme for this year’s festival is ‘Impact’, reflected by the exceptional films, VR, and interactions with the torchbearers in entertainment and technology-programmed to give our audience a venue for engagement and empowerment,” he added.

     

     

  • EXPERIENCED ‘SEXUAL TERRORISM’ AT 13, SAYS NATALIE PORTMAN

    EXPERIENCED ‘SEXUAL TERRORISM’ AT 13, SAYS NATALIE PORTMAN

    The discussion of sexual misconduct in Hollywood is in its prime – more and more actresses are joining the conversation with their stories. Reportedly, the latest entrant in the never ending list of actresses is Natalie Portman, who revealed that she was sexually terrorised as a child after the shooting of her first feature film.

    The Academy-award winning actress, who was present at Women’s March in Los Angeles with fellow actresses Eva Longoria and Constance Wu, spoke about her terrifying experiences growing up as a child star.

    She said, “I turned 12 on the set of my first film ‘Leon: The Professional’, on which I play a young girl who befriends a hitman and hopes to avenge the murder of her family. The character was spontaneously developing and discovering her womanhood, her voice and her desire.

    At that moment of my life, I too was discovering.”

    She described other instances of sexual objectification that she faced soon after the film’s release, including movie reviewers talking about her “budding breasts” and her local radio station starting a countdown to her 18th birthday to keep track of “the date that I would be legal to sleep with.” The actress added, “I understood very quickly, even as a 13-year-old, that if I were to express myself sexually, I would feel unsafe. And that men would feel entitled to discuss and objectify my body to my great discomfort.”

    Source: ANI

  • OSCARS: PRIYANKA CHOPRA TO ANNOUNCE NOMINATIONS

    OSCARS: PRIYANKA CHOPRA TO ANNOUNCE NOMINATIONS

    Indian actor, Priyanka Chopra has been chosen to announce the list of nominations for the 90th Academy Awards. The news was confirmed by the award’s official Instagram page, The Academy.

    Priyanka will do the honours along with some renowned names of Hollywood – Michelle Rodriguez, Rebel Wilson, and Rosaria Dawson.

    Though she is not new to the awards ceremony as this will be her fourth consecutive year on the red carpet, it is going to be her first more active role in the workings.

    The voting process began on January 5 and the nominations had to be submitted by January 12. Now the balloting for Oscar 2018 nominations will come to a close on January 23.

    Nominations for all 24 categories will be announced from the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater. Announcements will be made in a two-part, live presentation by the mentioned stars. Expectations and speculations are running high about who is going to bag the golden statuette.

    In one of the images shared by The Academy, Priyanka is seen lounging in black cigarette trousers and metallic shimmery top. The page also shared images of Rebel Wilson, Michele Rodriguez, and Rosario Dawson.

    Source: ANI

  • SUNNY LEONE’S WAX FIGURE TO BE EXHIBITED AT MADAME TUSSAUDS IN NEW DELHI

    SUNNY LEONE’S WAX FIGURE TO BE EXHIBITED AT MADAME TUSSAUDS IN NEW DELHI

    Actress Sunny Leone’s wax figure will be placed at the Madame Tussauds museum here. It will be displayed alongside statues of other leading celebrities in a yet to be announced theme, read a statement.

    A team of expert artists flew in from London to meet Sunny for the sitting in Mumbai, where they took over 200 specific measurements and images were taken to create an authentic figure.

    “I am thrilled and grateful to Madame Tussauds for creating my figure. Having my own wax figure is completely overwhelming.

    This is the first time I have undergone a sitting and I must thank the entire team for making it a unique and memorable experience. I am equally excited to see ‘me’ at the attraction and can’t wait for the fans reaction (when) it will be finally displayed later this year,” said Sunny.

    Pointing out that the actress has a “massive fan base”, Anshul Jain, General Manager and Director, Merlin Entertainments India Pvt Ltd, said, “Announcing her figure at the attraction is equally enthralling for us, and we are certain that this will give her fans millions of memories to carry home with lots of selfies.”

    Source: IANS

  • Indian American Jazz pianist Vijay Iyer to collaborate with writer Teju Cole for ‘Blind Spot’

    Indian American Jazz pianist Vijay Iyer to collaborate with writer Teju Cole for ‘Blind Spot’

    NEW YORK (TIP):  Indian American jazz pianist Vijay Iyer will collaborate with writer and photographer Teju Cole for a spoken prose with a live score event, titled Blind Spot, on February 9 at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston.

    The 45-year old Iyer, who was named as “one of his generation’s brightest jazz luminaries,” by the Time Out New York magazine, is a Grammy-nominated musician who has fans across the world.

    Blind Spot is the title of Teju Cole’s book, which is a synthesis of words and images that delves deep into the intricacies of humanity’s blindness to tragedy and injustice throughout history.

    His other books include Every Day is for the Thief (2007); a novel, Open City (2012); a collection of more than 40 essays, Known and Strange Things (2016); and a volume of photographs, Punto d’Ombra (2016).

    The new collaboration of Cole’s photography and spoken prose with a live score composed by Iyer is expected to garner newer audiences.

    Iyer’s live score will also feature Patricia Brennan on mallet percussion, Okkyung Lee on cello, and Stephan Crump on bass.

    According to the ICA, the tickets for the event will be open for all, with fare ranging from $45 for ICA members and students, and $50 for non-members.

    Iyer was born in Albany, New York, as the son of Indian parents who immigrated to the United States from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Since the age of 3, he received training in violin with focus on Western classical.

    Iyer is a self-taught pianist, who had a fascination for pianos which helped him in playing the piano by ear.

    (Source: AB Wire)

     

     

  • FELT A RESPONSIBILITY PLAYING DONATELLA VERSACE: PENELOPE CRUZ

    FELT A RESPONSIBILITY PLAYING DONATELLA VERSACE: PENELOPE CRUZ

    Hollywood star Penelope Cruz says she felt a “responsibility” playing Italian fashion designer Donatella Versace in the series ‘The Assassination of Gianni Versace’ .

    The Academy Awards winner’s comment comes just days after the designer expressed her distaste for the new Ryan Murphy series in an interview with Italian press last week, reports dailymail.co.uk.

    During an appearance on a TV show, Cruz said: “You feel much more responsibility (playing a real person).

    When Ryan called me… I said ‘I need to make (a) phone call and talk to Donatella about this before taking the job’.”

    Cruz, 43, only felt comfortable with the role after speaking to Donatella herself.

    “She told me if somebody was going to do it, she was really happy that it was me, because she I think she knows what I feel for her and Gianni.

    “They’re the most kind people. It’s important to me that when she sees what I’ve done she can feel the love and respect that I have put there (and) how I feel for her.”

    Cruz explained how Donatella returned the love by sending her a bouquet of flowers ahead of the Golden Globe Awards ceremony.

    Source: IANS

  • NATALIE PORTMAN MAY PLAY ASTRONAUT IN ‘PALE BLUE DOT’

    NATALIE PORTMAN MAY PLAY ASTRONAUT IN ‘PALE BLUE DOT’

    Actress Natalie Portman is reportedly in negotiations to replace Reese Witherspoon as the lead in ‘Pale Blue Dot’, about a successful female astronaut.

    Reportedly, the makers will now look to find Portman’s male co-star.

    Witherspoon had left the role in last November due to scheduling conflicts with season 2 of ‘Big Little Lies’. However, she will continue to produce the project with Bruna Papandrea.

    It will be directed by ‘Fargo’ and ‘Legion’ creator Noah Hawley.

    ‘Pale Blue Dot’ follows a successful female astronaut who, after coming back home from a mission in space, starts to unravel when confronted by her seemingly perfect American dream life. The film explores the theory that astronauts who spend long periods of time in space begin to lose their sense of reality when they return home.

    Source: IANS

  • ANUSHKA’S ‘PARI’ TO RELEASE ON HOLI

    ANUSHKA’S ‘PARI’ TO RELEASE ON HOLI

    Anushka Sharma’s first film, post her marriage to Indian cricketer Virat Kohli, “Pari” will release on Holi, March 2.

    The film, which is Anushka’s third production under her banner Clean Slate Films, is directed by debutante Prosit Roy.

    It also features Parambrata Chatterjee, Rajat Kapoor and Ritabhari Chakraborty. The makers also released a motion poster of the film while not revealing much about the plot.

    Anushka has previously produced “NH 10″ and “Phillauri”. Both the films featured her in the lead role. “Pari” also has KriArj Entertainment as one of the producers.

    In the first look released on June 13 last year, the actor, who played a friendly ghost in “Phillauri”, gave some serious haunting vibes.

    Pari is Anushka’s third film as producer (Clean Slate Films) after 2015’s critically acclaimed NH10 and this year’s Phillauri, which wasn’t as successful as NH10. Of the sort of films she wants to produce, Anushka told news agency IANS: “At Clean Slate, our endeavour is to tell stories that are not only meaningful and different, but also push the boundaries.”

    Anushka Sharma’s next film, Jab Harry Met Sejal, releases on August 4. The film also stars Shah Rukh Khan and is directed by Imtiaz Ali. In fact, Anushka joined Jab Harry Met Sejal’s promotional exercise a little late as she was busy working on Pari.

    Anushka has also signed up for Aanand L Rai’s next, which again features Shah Rukh and actress Katina Kaif. In the film, SRK plays the role of a dwarf.

    Apart from this, Anushka also has a small role in Rajkumar Hirani’s Sanjay Dutt biopic, starring Ranbir Kapoor – her Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and Bombay Velvet co-star.

  • DEEPIKA PADUKONE IN NEW BADASS COP LOOK

    DEEPIKA PADUKONE IN NEW BADASS COP LOOK

    Deepika Padukone was spotted shooting for an advertisement in Mumbai, in which she was dressed as a cop – a welcome departure from her ethnic outfits and heavy jewellery during outings and promotions.

    We loved that too but a change is always good. And look at how superb Deepika looks in fitted khaki trousers and crisp white shirt with her hair tied in an elegant back bun.

    Also just saying, her rumoured boyfriend Ranveer Singh’s cop look in upcoming film Simmba has got nothing on Deepika’s swag.

    What say? Fan clubs posted pictures of Deepika Padukone dressed as cop relaxing on the bonnet of a jeep.

    Deepika Padukone is currently awaiting the release of Padmaavat, which is directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. The film’s original release date was December 1 last year, but due to the Central Board Of Film Certification’s delay, the film will now release on January 25.

    Padmaavat, which was originally titled Padmavati, was cleared for release with a U/A certificate and five alterations including the title.

    Padmaavat faced massive opposition (and continues to face) from Rajput Karni Sena and other fringe outfits which opposed the film’s release over alleged factual inaccuracies.

    Several states have also banned the film’s release.

  • Bollywood Legend “Pritam” Live North American Tour Dedicated to Opioid Epidemic Awareness

    Bollywood Legend “Pritam” Live North American Tour Dedicated to Opioid Epidemic Awareness

    NEW YORK CITY, NY (TIP): On Sunday Jan 14th, Press conference was hosted at the Indian Consulate in New York announcing the Launch of the much awaited and the historic North American Tour of Bollywood Music Legend Pritam Chakraborty dedicated to the cause of Opioid Epidemic awareness in America. With more than 600 songs in 120 movies to the Music Maestro #Pritam Credit, this tour will be the grandest Bollywood musical journey America has ever seen with eight singers and extraordinary performers in seven cities across North America.

    Dr. Kavita Gupta addresses

    “We are extremely pleased that Legendary Pritam Chakraborty is dedicating this historic tour to the awareness of opioid Epidemic Awareness, which as we all know is America #1 Crisis and a national emergency as declared by our President. With more than 500,000 American deaths, the message need to reach all youth to abstain from drugs. Indian kids are especially susceptible given the high pressure to succeed and we are glad that Pritam Da is so involved in this cause.

    Said Dr Sanjay Gupta, President American Pain Association who along with Dr. Kavita Gupta, President AAPI East Coast, Karl Karla with Live2u and Anand and Sona Dawda from Cinema on stage organized this press conference.

    Dr Sanjay Gupta thanked Ambassador Chakravorty to be part of this initiative from the very beginning last year when Dr Gupta presented the initiative to the now New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and Ambassador Chakravorty at Dr. Gupta home along with Dr. Kavita Gupta.

    Ambassador Sandeep Chakravorty addressing the gathering

    Ambassador Chakravorty speaking at this occasion stated that drugs are killing more people than traffic accidents and guns in America and is a major concern. He felt that unfortunately this issue is not discussed and kept under a rug and has become a silent epidemic. We need more and more awareness and this tour will be a great platform to reach Indian Diaspora. He thanked Dr. Sanjay and Kavita Gupta in taking this initiative and felt that involvement of Bollywood is one of the best way to penetrate young minds and hearts.

    Dr Kavita Gupta stated that we have more than 100,000 Indian Physicians in America and together we can help eradicate this deadly epidemic which is affecting our kids and youth. We all need to take it seriously and put whatever effort we can, as safety and future of our next generation is at stake. We have one 9/11 happening every 3 weeks and it is time to stop this before more youth is killed.

    Music Legend Pritam Da stated “I am extremely happy to be associated with this extremely important cause and will help in whatever way I can with this tour and even otherwise in fighting this epidemic. He felt that wrong messages are being given to young minds about drugs and using drugs is becoming a part of popular and Hip culture. A large part of this epidemic is due to ignorance of harmful effects of drugs.”

    Pritam talk about the 8 singers who will be singing many of his compositions which are the top Bollywood hits. The singers include Harshdeep Kaur, Nakash Aziz, Shilpa Rao, , Sreerama Chandra, Antara Mitra, Shalmali Kholgade,  Amit Mishra and Amanat Ali.

    Some of the movies to Pitam Crdeit  credit include Dhoom, Dhoom 2,Goal Mal 3  Bajrangi Bhaijaan Phantom and Dilwale Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, Jagga Jasoos, Badtameez Dil, Tigers, Raabta, Tubelight Jab Harry Met Sejal,  Dangal,and the list goes on.

    With Pritam Da at the dais

    Dr. Sanjay Gupta thanked Cinema on Stage founders Anand and Sona Dawda for conceptualizing and producing  this amazing and historic show and Karl Karla and the entire National team for bringing the tour across North America. The national team includes Jaweria Khan , Raj Uppal ,Gaurang Patel, Jagmohan Nanda Bobby Bajaj Ajay Mittal Padma Mishra Dr. Bharat Patel Manish K Sood Bikram Jeet Singh  Ray Sharma and Gaurav Sharma.

    PRITAM National Tour  in North America will take place in April 2018 as follows- April 6th Chicago, 7th New Jersey, 8th Toronto, 13th Dallas, 14th Los Angeles, 20th Washington D.C., 21st San Jose.

    Mr Karl Karla thanked the entire national team for worked hard in making the dream to reality and bringing one of a kind mega show to American public.

    Mr Anand and Sona Dowda mentioned that production of the legendary Pritam show was a longtime dream and it is an amazing feeling finally see it as a mega show.

    The press conference was compered by Mamta Narula from Ultimate media and Dr. Kavita Gupta. The Press Conference was also attended by Physicians and community leaders along with media representatives.

    Dr. Sanjay Gupta in his closing remarks felt that wrong messages from Hollywood and Bollywood are part responsible for creating this epidemic and now they can play a major role in reversing it. India is a country with a large young population and this epidemic is growing fast in India, but nobody wants to talk about it . It is sad to see the country of strong characters like swami Vivekananda and Narendra Modi falling prey to wrong messages. We are happy to see the support of Hollywood, Bollywood Artists and Sports Athletes in this initiative  and hopefully together we will be able to turn this deadly tide .

    (Press Release)

     

  • America, Inspiring

    America, Inspiring

    NJSO Celebrates Immigrant Composers at Winter Festival 2018

    “This season, it (NJSO) celebrates the inspiration that is America, showcasing musical works by immigrants and foreign visitors…” Gabriel Van Aalst, President & CEO, NJSO
    “These composers speak to me because their story is my own.  While I had a wonderful musical education at the Conservatory in Beijing, I needed to come to the United States to follow my dream of becoming a conductor”. Xian Zhang, NJSO Music Conductor
    “(Xian Zhang’s) conducting gestures reveal a passion, a precise knowledge of the score and a constant attention to detail.  Her relationship with the musicians is producing great music and the orchestra members respond beautifully” …..The Asbury Park Press

    By Mabel Pais

    At the NJSO, January is always a busy month with the Winter Festival.  “This season, it (NJSO) celebrates the inspiration that is America, showcasing musical works by immigrants and foreign visitors who drew their stimulation from America’s wide-ranging impacts” said Gabriel Van Aalst, President and CEO of the NJSO, who opened the Winter Festival on January 11.

    The 2018 Winter Festival highlights the myriad ways America has inspired not only those who call it home but also those who have visited its welcoming shores. Leveraging the power of art to transcend differences, a series of NJSO Accents and special events further explore the immigrant experience and how foreign artists have illustrated American inspiration in their work.

    Spanning three weekends, January 11–28, the Winter Festival includes orchestral performances at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, State Theatre New Jersey in New Brunswick, Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, Richardson Auditorium in Princeton, Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown and Bergen PAC in Englewood.

    The NJSO Chamber Players perform a special chamber music concert at St. George’s-by-the-River Episcopal Church in Rumson and Calvary Episcopal Church in Summit.

    Week I: America, Inspiring: Respighi & Prokofiev
    Xian Zhang_Music-Conductor
    Photo credit Benjamin Ealovega
    Xian Zhang-conducts-the-NJSO
    Photo credit Fred Stucker
    Xian Zhang-at-NJPAC
    Photo credit Fred Stucker
    Xian Zhang at NJPAC
    Photo credit Fred Stucker

    Music Director Xian Zhang conducted NJSO premiere of Che Yi’s Ge Xu and Respighi’s Fountains of Rome. George Li performed Prokofiev’s Third Piano Concerto.  Zhang, the orchestra’s 14th music director, is the first woman to hold the position.

    In a nod to Zhang’s own journey to America and New Jersey, she led Respighi’s Pines of Rome—a work she conducted in her first-ever performances with the NJSO in 2010. Chinese pianist George Li, the 22-year-old silver medalist of the XV International Tchaikovsky Competition, performed Prokofiev’s Third Piano Concerto.

    Performances took place on Thursday, January 11 at Bergen PAC in Englewood; Saturday, January 13 at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark; and Sunday, January 14, at State Theatre New Jersey in New Brunswick.

    WEEK II: America, Inspiring: Ravel & Rachmaninoff
    George Li, Pianist
    Photo credit Simon Fowler
    Terrence Wilson, Pianist

    Andrew Constantine, conductor

    Terrence Wilson, piano

    MARTINŮ Thunderbolt P-47 (NJSO Premiere)

    RAVEL Piano Concerto in G Major

    RACHMANINOFF Symphonic Dances

    Fri, Jan 19, at 8 pm | Richardson Auditorium in Princeton

    Sat, Jan 20, at 8 pm | State Theatre New Jersey in New Brunswick

    Sun, Jan 21, at 3 pm | NJPAC in Newark

    NJSO ACCENTS:

    Panel Discussion—Fri, Jan 19, at 6:45 pm and Sun, Jan 21, at 1:45 pm

    Host Naomi Lewin and a panel of experts discuss the political climate in Europe that drove so many of the Winter Festival’s composers to come to America.

    Wine Tasting—Sat, Jan 20, before the concert

    Join wine and music expert Ron Merlino in an exclusive tasting of wines made of old-world grapes in new-world soil. For reservation and tickets, visit www.njsymphony.org/grapes

    Performance & Painting—Sun, Jan 21, after the concert

    Watch creative inspiration in action as artist Ken Ahlering (www.ken-ahlering.com) paints in response to a performance by the NJSO Chamber Players.

    Full concert information is available at www.njsymphony.org/events/detail/america-inspiring-ravel-rachmaninoff.

    America, Inspiring: Special Chamber Music Concert
    Violinist Eric Wyrick, Concertmaster of NJSO
    Photo credit Tristan Cook
    Violinist Chloe Hanslip, international artist of distinction

     Tue, Jan 23, at 3 pm | St. George’s-by-the-River Episcopal Church in Rumson

    Thu, Jan 25, at 7:30 pm | Calvary Episcopal Church in Summit

    NJSO CHAMBER PLAYERS

    Eric Wyrick, violin

    Brennan Sweet, violin

    David Blinn, viola

    Na-Young Baek, cello

    TAN DUN Eight Colors for String Quartet

    BARTÓK String Quartet No. 2

    DVOŘÁK String Quartet No. 12 in F Major, Op. 96, “American”

    A free pre-concert reception begins at 2 pm on Jan 23.

    Full concert information is available at www.njsymphony.org/events/detail/america-inspiring-special-chamber-music-concert.

    WEEK III: America, Inspiring: Dvořák’s “New World” Symphony

    Fri, Jan 26, at 8 pm                           NJPAC in Newark

    Sat, Jan 27, at 8 pm                          Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank

    Sun, Jan 28, at 3 pm                         Mayo PAC in Morristown

    Xian Zhang, conductor

    Chloë Hanslip, violin

    New Jersey Symphony Orchestra

    BRITTEN Simple Symphony

    KORNGOLD Violin Concerto

    DVOŘÁK Symphony No. 9, “From the New World”

    NJSO ACCENTS:

    Prelude Performance—Fri, Jan 26, before the concert

    Come early and hear the Anne Lieberson Ensemble from the NJSO’s Youth Orchestras perform a selection inspired by the Winter Festival.

    Poetry Reading—Sun, Jan 28, after the concert

    Poets Maria Gillan and Patrick Rosal reflect on their own immigrant experiences in the closing event of the Winter Festival.

    Full concert information is available at www.njsymphony.org/events/detail/america-inspiring-dvoraks-new-world-symphony.

    (Mabel Pais is a freelance writer.  She writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Health and Wellness, and Spirituality)

  • SC lifts ban imposed by some States on ‘Padmaavat’, citing freedom of speech

    SC lifts ban imposed by some States on ‘Padmaavat’, citing freedom of speech

    NEW DELHI (TIP): The Supreme Court, on January 18, paved the way for the nationwide release of ‘Padmaavat’on January 25, as it stayed orders issued by the Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat governments banning the screening of Deepika Padukone-starrer film.

    Noting that maintenance of law and order was the duty of state governments, a Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra asked states to provide the security needed for the film’s peaceful screening.

    The Supreme Court also restrained other states from similar ban notifications. It sought to emphasize that theatre and cinema were a part of right to freedom of speech and expression. “Let it be released… a movie might not be so successful at the box office and people might not go to watch it, but its exhibition cannot be prohibited like this,” it said.

    Based on the saga of the historic battle of 13th century between Maharaja Ratan Singh and his army of Mewar and Sultan Alauddin Khilji of Delhi, the film has been opposed by Rajputs for alleged character assassination of Padmavati.

    On behalf of producers Viacom 18, Harish Salve and Mukul Rohatgi contended that once the Central Board of Film Certification had cleared a movie, states could not interfere with it. CBFC was “extra cautious” and it issued a certificate after a few cuts suggested by an expert committee were carried out, they said. They cited the top court’s 2011 ruling in the case of Prakash Jha’s film ‘Aarakshan’, which was banned by some states for a certain period.

    “Once the parliamentary legislation confers the responsibility and power on a statutory board and the board grants certificate, non-exhibition of it by states will be contrary to statutory provisions,” the court said.

    On behalf of the BJP-ruled states, Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said there were intelligence reports regarding law and order problem. “If you go by this, 60 per cent of literature, even classical literature of India, cannot be read,” the CJI said.

    The Bench fixed March 26 for further hearing.

    Meanwhile, while there is excitement among moviegoers for watching the much-awaited movie, there is also tension in the air with regard to some taking to streets and try blocking the movie’s screening. The BJP ruled states of Rajasthan, Haryana and Gujarat may have to deal with law and order problem which they seem to have invited themselves. Politicians opposed to BJP are hinting at State sponsored demonstrations and disturbances in these states to block the screening of the movie. Only January 25 will tell what happens.

  • New Jersey Symphony Orchestra presents Handel’s Messiah

    New Jersey Symphony Orchestra presents Handel’s Messiah

                                                              By Mabel Pais

    Members of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra with the Montclair State University Singers and a quartet of vocal soloists performed Handel’s Messiah December 15 and 17 in Princeton and Newark, respectively.

    Music Director Xian Zhang conducts Monclair State University choir. Bass-baritone Michael Sumuel performs his solo piece.
    Photo / Fred Stucker.

    Music Director Xian Zhang conducted Handel’s masterwork—a Christmastime tradition in concert halls across the world.

    Soprano Erin Wall, mezzo-soprano Nancy Moultsby, tenor Miles Mykkanen and bass-baritone Michael Sumuel joined the Orchestra and choir.

    The Star-Ledger has praised the NJSO’s performances of the masterwork with the Montclair State University Singers, writing that the choir “sounded stunningly professional under the direction of Heather J. Buchanan” and praising the Orchestra for “an elegant, heartfelt performance … Together, orchestra, chorus, conductor and soloists brought out the work’s many shades, and delivered that one particular seasonal requirement, a rousing ‘Hallelujah.’”

    The Orchestra invited the audience to participate in the centuries-old tradition of standing at the beginning of the Messiah’s “Hallelujah Chorus.”

    (Mabel Pais is a freelance writer.  She writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Health and Wellness, and Spirituality)

  • Theater : SCI-FI SPECTACULAR

    Theater : SCI-FI SPECTACULAR

                                                                By Mabel Pais

    New Jersey Symphony Orchestra presents Sci-Fi Spectacular: Music from Star Wars, Star Trek and Beyond

    Star Trek: The Next Generation and the 4 feature films that followed, will be presented by The NJ Symphony Orchestra (NJSO), an out-of-this-world night of film music on January 6-7, 2018 in Newark and New Brunswick, New Jersey.

    Marina Sirtis, best known as counselor Deanna Troi on the television series, hosts.

    The audience will be transported and enthralled when the orchestra blasts off to music of memorable themes of Star Wars, Star Trek, The Day The Earth Stood Still, Close Encounters Of The Third Kind, E.T. the Extraterrestrial, 2001: A Space Odyssey and more.

    The music of composers like John Williams, Bernard Herrmann and others who have made great moments in science fiction come alive.

    The program features vocalist Kristen Plumley and the Paper Mill Playhouse Broadway Show Choir; Bob Bernhardt conducts.

    Marina Sirtis: Host
    Host of Sci-Fi Spectacular, Marina Sirtis. Sirtis stars as Deanna Troi in Star Trek
    Photo / NJ Symphony Orchestra

    Known to “Star Trek” fans the world over for her role as counselor Deanna Troi, English-born Marina Sirtis began her acting career as a member of a West Sussex repertory company at the Connaught Theater.

    Counselor Troi was one of the respected and trusted characters in “The Next Generation,” and Sirtis’ portrayal endeared her to fans through seven television seasons and four feature films.

    Beyond her live-action work, animation and gaming fans will recognize Sirtis’ voice from her roles in the fondly remembered Disney series “Gargoyles,” as well as “Adventure Time,” “Family Guy,” “Young Justice” and the hit “Mass Effect” gaming franchise.

    Sirtis can next be seen in the comedy series “Internity” and the feature film 5th Passenger.

    To learn more, visit www.marinasirtis.tv.

    Bob Bernhardt:  Conductor
    Sci-Fi Spectacular: Conducting with Light Saber (Jedi sword).
    Photo / NJ Symphony Orchestra

    With 31 years of experience as a music director, 35 years as a pops conductor and 33 years in the opera pit, Bob Bernhardt brings a unique perspective and ability each time he is on the podium.

    In 2015, Bernhardt was named principal pops conductor of the Grand Rapids Symphony.

    In the world of pops, he has worked with scores of stars from Broadway, rock & roll and the American Songbook, from Brian Stokes Mitchell and Kelli O’Hara to the Beach Boys and Wynonna to Jason Alexander and Megan Hilty.

    Kristen Plumley, vocalist

    Connecticut native Kristen Plumley enjoys singing everything from opera’s light lyric roles to oratorio to pops classics.

    She also greatly enjoys pops concerts, and her favorite is Sci-Fi Spectacular, which she has performed with the Cleveland, Indianapolis, Seattle, Baltimore, Edmonton and Ottawa symphonies. In 2011, Plumley performed in the North American premiere of Handel’s first opera, Almira, with opera mission in New York.

    More information is available at www.kristenplumley.com.

    Paper Mill Playhouse Broadway Show Choir

    The award-winning Paper Mill Playhouse Broadway Show Choir (Shayne Austin Miller, director) consists of 80 young performing artists ages 15–22. Over the past five years, the show choir has delighted more than 500,000 people across the region with their rousing renditions of Broadway, pop and classics.

    More information about the Paper Mill Playhouse Broadway Show Choir and their upcoming tour performance schedule is available at www.PaperMill.org/showchoir.

    NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

    Named “a vital, artistically significant musical organization” by The Wall Street Journal, the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra embodies that vitality through its statewide presence and critically acclaimed performances, education partnerships and unparalleled access to music and the Orchestra’s superb musicians.

    Music Director Xian Zhang – a “dynamic podium presence”…The New York Times has praised for her “technical abilities, musicianship and maturity”—continues her acclaimed leadership of the NJSO. The Orchestra presents classical, pops and family programs, as well as outdoor summer concerts and special events. Embracing its legacy as a statewide orchestra, the NJSO, the resident orchestra of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, regularly performs at Theaters around the State.

    To learn more about NJSO, visit www.njsymphony.org.

    NJSO Accents: Cosplay Contest

    NJSO Accent events include a cosplay contest for audience members who dress up as their favorite sci-fi movie characters, beginning one hour before each performance.

    Cosplay Competition—Sat, Jan 6 and Sun, Jan 7, one hour before the concert.

    Dress up as your favorite sci-fi movie character and beam yourself into our costume parade and contest.

    CONCERT PROGRAM

    Sci-Fi Spectacular: Music from Star Wars, Star Trek and Beyond

    Saturday, January 6, at 8 pm | NJPAC in Newark

    Sunday, January 7, at 3 pm | State Theatre New Jersey in New Brunswick

    Marina Sirtis, host

    Bob Bernhardt, conductor

    Kristen Plumley, vocalist

    Paper Mill Playhouse Broadway Show Choir | Shayne Austin Miller, director

    New Jersey Symphony Orchestra

    Additional information is available at www.njsymphony.org/scifi.

    Single tickets start at $20 and are available from the NJSO online at www.njsymphony.org, by phone at 1. 800.ALLEGRO (255.3476) or in person.

    The NJSO Patron Services office is located at 60 Park Place, 9th floor, in Newark; hours are Monday–Friday, 9 am to 5 pm, and concert Saturdays, 11 am to 5 pm.

    Tickets for the January 7 performance are also available from State Theatre New Jersey online at www.STNJ.org, by phone at 732. 246.SHOW (7469) or in person.

    (Mabel Pais is a freelance writer.  She writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Health and Wellness, and Spirituality)

  • Theater in New York: Broadway & Off-Broadway

    JUNK, the Play

    Ayad Akhtar, the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright of Disgraced, has now returned to Broadway with his play JUNK.

    He had long wanted to write “a very big play about finance” he confesses.  He is not going to be solely defined as an ethnic playwright. Having been a decoder of a strain of Muslim-American life — middle-class, educated, assimilated, though less comfortably so after 2001 — he has, for now, moved on.

    Company of Actors in JUNK.

    His interest in finance is longstanding. When Akhtar set off for New York to become a writer, his Muslim-American father who founded a cardiology practice in Wisconsin, made him promise to read The Wall Street Journal, every day. He helped support himself by trading stocks, using as seed money annual stipends of $12,000 or so sent by his parents.

    JUNK is set in the 1980s, in the high-flying, risk-seeking, teetering financial world and inspired by the real junk bond kings of the day. This fictionalized, riveting story shows us from the inside how money became the only thing that mattered.

    “The play strives, frankly, to implicate us ALL: the culture that seems driven by money, “the financialization of everything.”  “It’s about the forces that are secretly or not-so-secretly running our lives:  it’s the “financialization” of everything! …the fact that it’s happened so quickly…it’s happened in my lifetime.  I think the country has undergone a sea change…about what constitutes wealth” bemoans Tony winning director Doug Hughes (Doubt).

    Although his drama is set a quarter-century ago, JUNK speaks to the present day. Mr. Akhtar believes that all the sound and fury and political chaos of the Trump-era America covers for even greater shifts of money and power to the upper classes — and that we are looking in the wrong direction and have been for quite some time. “The new landed gentry are those who manufacture money, who have access to massive amounts of capital,” says Akhtar. “That’s the strand the play is really following.”

    Identity politics on both sides, he believes, has the nation “consumed and distracted from the real story.”  “Money,” he says, “is what’s happening.”

    In the play, financier Robert Merkin (played by Steven Pasquale as a Michael Milken-like junk bond king), the resident genius of the upstart firm Sackler Lowell, has just landed on the cover of Time Magazine.  Hailed as “America’s Alchemist,” his proclamation that debt is an asset has propelled him to dizzying heights.  Zealously promoting his belief in the near-sacred infallibility of markets, he is trying to re-shape the world. He will stop at nothing to take over an iconic American manufacturing company, changing the rules as he goes. With his brilliance matched only by his swagger, Merkin sets in motion nothing less than a financial civil war, pitting magnates against workers, lawyers against journalists, and everyone against themselves.

    Steven Pasquale (The Bridges of Madison County and TV’s Rescue Me) leads an impeccable cast, in this portrait of the dark side of the American Dream.

    Steven Pasquale, plays the lead in JUNK
    The Stock Ticker.

    “It is not a judgment or an indictment about how we do things on Wall Street, but it is an examination of where we are as a country in terms of how we live economically, and it asks the audience to really think about it” explains Steven Pasquale.  He plays the lead among a cast of 23 actors: Ito Aghayere, Philip James Brannon, Tony Carlin, Demosthenes Chrysan, Jenelle Chu, Caroline Hewitt, Rick Holmes, Tec Koch, Ian Lasiter, Teresa Avia Lim, Adam Ludwig, Sean McIntyre, Nate Miller, Steven Pasquale, Ethan Phillips, Matthew Rauche, Matthew Saldivar, Charlie Semine, Michael Silberry, Miriam Silverman, Joey Slotnick, Henry Stram, and Stephanie Umoh.

    JUNK has sets by John Lee Beatty, costumes by Catherine Zuber, lighting by Ben Stanton, and original music and sound by Mark Bennett.

    Junk had its world premiere season production at La Jolla Playhouse, La Jolla, CA in 2016,

     For tickets or more information, call Telecharge at 212 239 6200, visit lct.org org or the box office at The Vivian Beaumont Theater, 150 West 65th Street, New York.

        Twelfth Night, or What You Will?

        A Shakespeare Comedy

    Classic Stage Company (CSC) is celebrating its 50th Anniversary season.  CSC is committed to re-imagining classic stories for contemporary audiences.

    Emily Young
    Noah Brody

    Classic Stage Company, as part of its 50th anniversary season, presents Fiasco Theater’s Twelfth Night, Or What You Will by William Shakespeare.  “Twelfth Night is a fitting companion piece to As You Like It (that initiated the season earlier in Fall 2017),” both among Shakespeare’s most popular comedies, “in Act I of (the) 50th anniversary season,” explains John Doyle, Artistic Director of Classic Stage Company.

    Shipwrecked on the island of Illyria, Viola and her twin brother Sebastian are separated, each fearing the other lost to the sea.  Viola disguises herself as a boy and wades into a complex romantic triangle with Duke Orsino and the Countess Olivia.  New York’s innovative Fiasco Theater brings their hallmark style and expansive imagination to one of Shakespeare’s most popular comedies.

    “One of the primary realms of interest in Twelfth Night relies equally on prose as well as verse,” say Noah Brody and Ben Steinfeld, directors of Fiasco’s production of Twelfth Night.  Being heavily influenced by the works of Cicely Berry and Andrew Wade, and having developed the tools of purpose, structure, and rhythm of prose since 2010, the directors were excited to put them to use in Twelfth Night.

    “Fiasco was born out of the crucible of (their) shared graduate training at the Brown/Trinity MFA acting program,” they said.

    In spite of presenting work by other playwrights, they have consistently returned to the work of Shakespeare mainly for the language, the stories, the wilderness, the boldness, the honesty, the surprise, the rhythms, the specificity, the depth, the silliness.

    Shakespeare was uniquely capable of breathing the full richness of universal human experience into the language of his characters: love and hate; honor and sin; the mortal thoughts that drive us; humor and wit …are all realized.

    Ben Steinfeld, serving as musical director for Fiasco’s Shakespeare productions considers it “a gift” “to help figure out how to serve the production, while simultaneously giving the ensemble a chance to explore their musical identities and indulging his own musical passions.”  The joy of making “music together, flows into the acting.”  “It’s important,” says Steinfeld, for him and the ensemble “that the actors make that music live on stage.”

    The Full Company
    Photos / Joan Marcus

    Directed by Noah Brody and Ben Steinfeld, the cast of Twelfth Night, Or What You Will features Jessie Austrian (Olivia), Noah Brody (Orsino), Tina Chilip (Maria), Paul L. Coffey (Malvolio), Andy Grotelueschen (Sir Toby Belch), Javier Ignacio (Sebastian), David Samuel (Antonio), Ben Steinfeld (Feste), Paco Tolson (Sir Andrew Aguecheek) and Emily Young (Viola).  Scenic design is by John Doyle, costume design by Emily Rebholz and lighting design by Ben Stanton.

    For tickets or more information, call (212) 352 3101 or (866) 811 4111, visit classicstage.org or the box office at 136 East 13th Street, New York.

    (Mabel Pais is a freelance writer.  She writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Health and Wellness, and Spirituality)