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The tradition and beauty of Natya Dance Theatre, the entrancing music of Grammy nominated Jai Uttal, the soaring voices of the Chicago Children's Choir, and Lookingglass Theatre Company's signature storytelling will unite this spring for the world premiere of Sita Ram.
Breathing new life into a key section of the ancient Hindu epic Ramayana, Sita Ram is an exciting action adventure and deeply moving love story, told through the collaborative presentation of 20 original songs, each depicting a different part of the tale. A major multicultural operatic event, Sita Ram will fill the intimate Lookingglass Theater at the Water Tower Water Works, 821 North Michigan Ave., in the heart of Chicago's North Michigan Avenue shopping district, for a limited three-week run, March 16-April 2,
2006.
The Hindu spiritual epic Ramayana was first written by Sage Valmiki in Sanskrit in 300 BCE, and is as popular today in India as it was when it was first told. A key section finds a distraught Prince Rama, a royal figure with supernatural powers, wandering the forest. His love, Sita, has been stolen by the evil ten-headed Demon King Ravana. Without Sita's love, Rama is powerless. So all the world's creatures, led by the Monkey Warrior Hanuman, put their differences aside to help Rama defeat the Demon King and save Sita, bringing harmony and balance back to the world.
Sita Ram was conceived by Lookingglass Ensemble member David Kersner, Josephine Lee, Artistic Director of Chicago Children's Choir, and internationally acclaimed musician Jai Uttal. Kersnar wrote the book and directs. Lyrics are by Kersnar and Jai Uttal. Josephine Lee is Music Director. Krithika Rajagopalan, Assistant Artistic Director of Natya Dance Theatre is Choreographer. Exclusive Foundation Sponsor is The Albert Pick, Jr. Fund. Corporate Sponsors are Boeing and Chase.
The cast features Anish Jethmalani (Ravana), Avilla Martin (Rama), Sharon Munthy (Supranakha), Isaiah Robinson (Hanuman) and Prandidhi Varshney (Sita), who share the stage with the Chicago Children's Choir and Natya Dance Theatre. Designers are Scott C. Neale (set), Mara Blumenfeld (costumes), Lindsay Jones (sound) and Chris Binder (lights). Sara Gmitter is stage manager.
Jai Uttal (Composer/Lyricist), a sacred music composer, recording artist, multi-instrumentalist, and vocalist, combines influences from India, Africa and the Middle East with elements of rock, jazz, and American folk music to create a stimulating and exotic World Spirit Music. He brings to this groundbreaking project 35 years of immersion in the great Hindu epic, The Ramayana, as well as an equal amount of years studying and performing North Indian devotional music. His sixth CD, "Mondo Rama," received a Grammy nomination in 2003. To hear his music, go to jaiuttal.com.
David Kersnar (Director) is a founding ensemble member of Lookingglass Theatre Company. At Lookingglass he conceived and directed La Luna Muda, Through The Looking Glass, and Brundibar. Brunidbar, co-produced with the Chicago Children's Choir and Lively Arts, was hailed by the Chicago Tribune as one of the most memorable shows of 2000. Following Brundibar, the Chicago Children's Choir commissioned Kersnar to write a new musical collaboration. That became Sita Ram, which received a limited presentation at Ravinia in May 2003. Kersnar has performed with the company in The Secret in the Wings, Summertime, Her Name Was Danger, and The Great Fire. Kersnar founded the Lookingglass Education and Community Program, served as its director from 1992-1997, and he maintains a close affiliation as a master teacher.
Josephine Lee (Musical Director) received her Bachelor's Degree in Piano Performance from DePaul University and has studied Choral Conducting at Northwestern University in the Masters program. She is the youngest Artistic Director in the history of the Chicago Children's Choir. Since 1999, she has defined the artistic vision for all of the Choir's programs and is the principal conductor of the Concert Choir.
Krithika Rajagopalan (Choreographer) is assistant artistic director and principal dancer of Chicago-based Natya Dance Theatre. A South Indian classical dance master, she has been studying Bharata Natyam, one of the oldest forms of dance in India, for 20 years, learning from world-renowned practitioners Hema Rajagopalan and Kalanidhi Narayanan. As a dancer, she has presented more than 150 solo performances at venues all over the world.