disclaimer

Rasik Arts is not responsible for the quality of listed productions - Write what you think in the comments!

Anand Rajaram - on stage (until Dec 5) & tv

Anand Rajaram is appearing again in Video Cabaret's The Great War,The History of the Village of the Small Huts (1914-18) - but only until December 5, 2010 -Cameron House, 408 Queen St. West, Toronto Hollingsworth's History Plays are satires combining comedy, tragedy, pathos, farce; a mix that is darkest in the plays about conquest and war. The Great War focuses on mid-ranking officers and infantry-men who are named in no history book -- their stories link the front line with the home front, and intensify the tragedy in this play as far as satire can go. The Great War elicits sorrow and laughter with the graveyard humour of soldiers, the murderous foolishness of leaders, the absurdity of warfare. The play spans two 50-minute acts. CALL AHEAD FOR TICKETS: Box Office 416-703-1725 www.videocab.com

You can See Anand weekly on CBC Mondays at 8:30pm in "Men With Brooms" - curling anyone?

Toronto - Roshni - Nov 24 - Dec 11, 2010

ANUSREE ROY premiers her first two-character play ROSHNI in the Mainspace at Theatre Passe Muraille from November 24th to December 11th. ROSHNI is the story of two fearless youths, played by Roy and Byron Abalos, who work as beggars in a Calcutta train station. As they shine shoes, pick pockets and beg, Chumki dreams of the gift of sight and King Kumar dreams of stardom. Roy has a history of producing profoundly moving and engaging theatre. Roshni is no different: it is a story about hope and friendship in the most dire of circumstances. Tickets can be bought on the TPM website - Price: Tuesday to Thursday - $30+HST; Friday and Saturday - $35+ HST; Saturday Matinees - Pay What You Can, There is a $2.50 service fee per ticke
To find out more information, please call ARTS BOX OFFICE at 416.504.7529.
Theatre Passe Muraille is at 16 Ryerson Ave in Toronto - address & directions on their website
An opening night review can be read at: thestar.com/entertainment/theatre



Toronto - September 24 - Free Staged Reading

On Friday, September 24, 2010, at 7pm in the Palmerston Library Theatre, Rasik Arts is presenting a staged reading of Habib Tanvir's masterpiece, Charandas Chor [Charandas the Thief], in English, and some audience members may have to fill in the parts!  Charandas the thief is a Robin Hood-like figure who is a very successful thief, but has one problem--he cannot tell a lie! Based on a popular folk hero, this rambunctious comedy is a satire on greed on all levels of society. Come hear this legendary piece - and if you're adventurous, come early (6:30pm) to help us fill in the cast. Featured readers are: Amish Patel, Dinesh Sachdev, Nisha Ahuja, Paloma Nunez, Anita Elisha, Lorne Hiro, David Fujino, Ishwar Mooljee, Ali Rizvi Badshad, Ash Knight, and ????
This reading is part of Culture Days so admission is FREE to the public.
7pm-9pm
Palmerston Library Theatre -560 Palmerston Ave, Toronto (2nd street West of Bathurst St., Just north of Bloor) -Parking is available in the green P parking lot across the street. Wheelchair accessible.
For more information call 416-654-9231, or click on- Ontario Culture Days

read review: About Books/Charandas Chor

Mississauga-The Domestic Crusaders by Wajahat Ali, July 31 & Aug 1


Wajahat Ali will be bringing his play The Domestic Crusaders, one of the first major plays about Muslim Americans, to Mississauga's Muslim Fest at the Living Arts Center in Mississauga on July 31 at 6:30pm and August 1 at 8:30pm. Nobel Prize winner Toni Morrison has said: "This play is brilliant. Moving. Shapely. Clever. Funny. And the cast is amazing!" On November 14 the production will be at the Kennedy Center, Millennium Stage. For reviews of the play see: Domestic Crusaders and for more event info see their Facebook page. For ticket information see Muslimfest.
The cast includes: Saqib Mausoof, Adeel Ahmad, Kamran Khan, Imran Javaid, Monisha Shiva, and Nidhi Singh.
The Toronto Star says the play has a universal message...read more

Toronto - Summerworks - August 5-15, 2010

Tanya Pillay appears in her play All of Him, an interactive biography of a jovial father with a dark past…a live, local talk show! Consider and discuss typically taboo subjects without fear of provocation or injury. Directed by Jajube Mandiela - Performances: August 6 @6pm; August 7 @8pm; August 8 @noon; August 10 @10pm; August 13 @4pm; August 14 @4pm; August 15 @6pm. Theatre Passe Muraille Backspace 16 Ryerson Ave (one block Northeast of Bathurst & Queen West) Tickets: $12.50 advance or $10 door

Actress Sarena Parmar is appearing in Iphigenia at Aulis, the Greek tragedy by Euripides at Factory Theatre Mainspace (NE corner of Bathurst & Adelaide) - Performances: August 6 @5pm; August 7 @10pm; August 9 @7:30pm; August 11 @10pm; August 14 @noon; August 15 @5pm. Also in the cast are Neema Bickersteth, Stephen Bogaert, Bronwyn Caudle, Stephen Gartner, David Fox, Eric Goulem, Eryn Muman, Sarah Orenstein.

Nisha Ahuja is part of a special presentation called The Foreign Exchange in which six candid conversationalists bring you a live, unedited, unrehearsed and very direct look at our mutual otherness by bringing ignorance, intelligence and hearts to the table. The Lower Ossington Theatre 100A Ossington Avenue (block North of Queen St.). Refreshments served. - Performances: August 10 @7pm; August 11 @4:30pm; August 12 @7pm; August 15 @2pm. Also featured: Cole J Alvis, Falen Johnson, Michael Rubenfeld, Nawa Nicole Simon, DM St. Bernard.

Navneet Rai is the Assistant Director for Homegrown by Catherine Frid. Check out the details of this and other shows at Summerworks theatre. 
Tickets can be bought online at the Summerworks site.

Toronto - July 24 MMM events at CNE

A busy weekend at the CNE Exhibition grounds, 200 Princes' Boulevard, with the 10th anniversary Masala Mehndi Masti! festival - All events are FREE
On Saturday, July 24 in the Queen Elizabeth Building / Fountain Room you'll find:
1:15pm - Janice Goveas reading from her play Dinner with Akbar
4:15 pm - Fenulla Jiwani reading her book "Balance: Living with Harmony..."
8pm - Sheniz Janmohamed doing a Spoken Word performance "Arise"
9pm - Meri Kahani (as listed below)
Elsewhere in the city - Tanya Pillay is giving a free preview of All of Him (below)
Friday July 23rd is the final performance of Oy Beat It! by Anita Majumdar at CanStage's Berkeley St Theatre ($17 - listed below)

Toronto - Meri Kahani - July 24 showcase at MMM

Saturday, July 24, 2010, 9pm-10pm at the MasalaMehndiMasti Festival at the CNE offers you one last time to see Meri Kahani (My Story). Written and Directed by Umbereen Inayet, Meri Kahani addresses the challenges faced by South Asian survivors of abuse in a North American context. Using theatre, dance and music as a tool for change, each kahani, or story, is told through the varied perspectives of South Asian survivors of abuse and looks at issues of domestic violence, incest, gender, trauma and sexual assault to capture the diversity of experiences among South Asian women. Admission is FREE and held in the Fountain Room in the Queen Elizabeth Theatre on the CNE grounds. One show only.

Anita Majumdar - Best of the Fringe - July 21-23

Anita Majumdar's Oy! Just Beat It! has been chosen as part of The Best of the Fringe held at Canadian Stage Berkley Street Theatre on July 21-23, 2010. Showtimes for Anita's show are July 21@9pm; July 22@7pm; July 23@7pm. For more info: Praxis Theatre, or on Facebook.

2010 Toronto Fringe Festival

Note: Performance times are different everyday, so check links to see when they are happening
for more info: Fringe hotline (416) 966-1062; full festival info at: Toronto Fringe

ASHIMA SURI  is performing with Kinetic Elements in ETERNAL ECLIPSE starting on Friday July 2 @5:30pm through to Sunday July 11 at 1:45pm; also a performance on Monday July 12.  ETERNAL ECLIPSE explores the stories of the gods and goddesses which inspired the names of the planets orbiting our solar system. Venue: Bathurst St. Theatre, 736 Bathurst St., Toronto. Full details at Eternal Eclipse

ANITA MAJUMDAR is performing her new play OY! JUST BEAT IT! on Friday July 2 @5:30pm through to Sunday July 11 @3:30pm. OY! JUST BEAT IT! features the much-loved music of Michael Jackson in a new play dealing with identity, beauty, prejudice and shadism (prejudice based on skin tone). Full details at: Oy Beat It

30 Dates - Toronto - June 2-12, 2010

30 Dates by Fenulla Jiwani celebrates its 2nd anniversary with performances at the Berkeley Street Theatre Upstairs in CanStage. 26 Berkeley St., Toronto. Shows June 2 thru 12 at 8pm, with two 2pm Saturday matinees.
A romantic comedy about the trials and tribulations one goes through to find the perfect match. The audience finds Priti on a quest to find her "one true love." She is hitting 35, her parents want her married and her biological clock is ticking louder than ever. Desperate to avoid an arranged marriage and her fear of being alone, Priti is on a dating race to find the most suitable husband!
Starring: Nate Callens, Gabriel Grey, Fenulla Jiwani, Shafik Kamani, Qasim Khan, Husein Madhavji, Danya Nearon, Patrick Whalen and Richard Young.
Tickets $23-$28. Call Box Office 416-368-3110

Anand Rajaram - Toronto - May 6 to June 6

Anand Rajaram is appearing in Video Cabaret's The Great War,The History of the Village of the Small Huts (1914-18)
Written and Directed by Michael Hollingsworth
Starts May 6 at 8pm; Last performance June 6
Cameron House, 408 Queen St. West, Toronto
Hollingsworth's History Plays are satires combining comedy, tragedy, pathos, farce; a mix that is darkest in the plays about conquest and war. The Great War focuses on mid-ranking officers and infantry-men who are named in no history book -- their stories link the front line with the home front, and intensify the tragedy in this play as far as satire can go. The Great War elicits sorrow and laughter with the graveyard humour of soldiers, the murderous foolishness of leaders, the absurdity of warfare. The play spans two 50-minute acts.
Also in the cast: Greg Campbell, Richard Alan Campbell, Richard Clarkin, Kerry Ann Doherty, Mac Fyfe, Dylan Roberts
Box Office 416-703-1725 www.videocab.com

Anusree Roy - Toronto - May 18-23

Anusree Roy is acting in 9 Parts Desire, by Heather Raffo
Produced by Seventh Stage Productions
Starts May 19 at 8pm, last performance is May 23 at 7pm
The Theatre Centre: 1087 Queen Street West, Toronto
A portrait of the extraordinary (and ordinary) lives of a whole cross-section of Iraqi women: a sexy painter, a radical communist, doctors, exiles, wives and lovers. This work delves into what it means to be a woman in the age-old war zone that is Iraq. Also in the cast: Aviva Armour-Ostroff, Christine Aubin-Khalifah, Deborah Grover, Maryem Hassan Tollar, Brittany Kay, Lili Francks, Melissa-Jane Shaw, Toni Ellwan
Tickets: Evenings $25, Matinees $20
pwyc rush available on Saturday and Sunday matinee
Discounts available for students, seniors, artsworkers and groups
Call 416.538.0988
www.seventhstageproductions.com/theatre

Tanya Pillay -Toronto - Thursday, May 13

$8 in advance http://aangen.com/workshops.asp
or $12 at the door (space is limited).
ALL OF HIM,
Written and Performed by Tanya Pillay
Directed by Jajube Mandiel
8:00-9:30pm at Aangen Community Centre, 868 Dovercourt Rd.

This is a live, mostly funny, biography of a jovial father with a dark past who asked: is that all there is to me? Socially engaged, interactive storytelling...a live, local talk show! Cheer and smear collide in this 90-minute confessional-eulogy that invites you to consider and discuss typically taboo subjects without fear of provocation or injury.