Toronto - TAJ - June 10, 11, 12th

Sampradaya Dance Creations presents TAJ, an exciting new dance-theatre production chronicling the human drama behind the magnificent architectural wonder, the Taj Mahal. TAJ runs June 10-12 at Harbourfront Centre's Fleck Dance Theatre as part of, and commissioned by, Luminato, Toronto Festival of Arts and Creativity. TAJ explores the saga behind the Taj Mahal through dramatic scenes starring international Bollywood film, television and theatre star Kabir Bedi and Canadian actress Lisa Ray, and through exquisite kathak dance choreographed by South Asian kathak legend Padmabhusan Kumudini Lakhia, performed by an ensemble of dancers from Toronto, the U.K. and India: Tushar Bhatt, Reshmi Chetram, Parul Gupta, Meghranjani Hirani, Atri Nundy, Karan Pangali, Hemant Panwar, Samyuktha Sharath, Chad Walasek and Sashar Zarif.  Performances are Friday at 8PM, Saturday at 2PM & 8PM, Sunday at 2PM.

Tickets: $51.50 - $71.50 Box Office:  416-368-4849 or online at luminato.com. Info: sampradaya.ca

Brampton - Paul & Priya's Wedding - June 17th

Fenulla Jiwani's latest venture is an interactive dinner theatre production where the audience are the members of a wedding party. Taking place at Pearson Convention Centre, 2638 Steeles Ave., Brampton. For more info see their FB page - P&P's wedding

Toronto - The Post Office - May 7th to June 4th

Pleiades Theatre presents Rabindranath Tagore's play The Post Office at Can Stage's Berkley St. Theatre from May 7, 2011 to June 4, 2011. With choreography by Hari Krishnan, the cast includes: Mina James, Sugith Varughese, Patricia Marceau, Sam Moses, Dylan Scott-Smith, Errol Sitahal, Jennifer Villaverde. For more information go to Pleiades Theatre website.

Rasik Arts Roundtable - April 14, 2011 - Tagore

This April 14th we're celebrating Tagore's birthday by reading his play "The Post Office" translated by Krishna Dutta & Andrew Robinson.
A "roundtable" is an open, informal gathering to read a script out loud and discuss it. There is no admission charge. All are welcome to participate. Rasik's reading starts at 6pm in the program room of the Wychwood Public Library, 1431 Bathurst St. (one block south of St. Clair Avenue West, on the east side of Bathurst St. - close to all TTC modes).Admission is Free. Tea/coffee - and birthday cake! provided as well. Check it out on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=133484763390001

Toronto - Brothel #9 - Feb 26 thru March 27

Anusree Roy and Pamela Sinha in the world premiere of Anusree Roy’s Brothel #9 , playing February 26 – March 27, 2011 at Factory Theatre, 125 Bathurst St.. Featuring Ash Knight, Anusree Roy, Pamela Sinha, and Sanjay Talwar, Brothel #9 is the story of Rekha, a young South Asian woman who travels from her village to Calcutta to take a job making light bulbs only to discover she has been sold to a brothel. (Photo by Jeremy Mimnagh) For more details visit: Brothel #9.  For tickets call the Factory Theatre box office, 416-504-9971, Tuesday to Saturday, 1 – 8 p.m., and Sunday at 12 noon – 4 p.m.; online sales are available 24 hours a day at www.factorytheatre.ca. 
Due to its subject matter, Brothel #9 is not recommended for audiences under the age of 14 years.

Rasik Arts Roundtable series - March 3

A "roundtable" is an open, informal gathering to read a script out loud and discuss it. All are welcome to participate. On March 3rd we'll be reading "The Domestic Crusaders" by Wajahat Ali. Its a two-act comedy about three generations of a Muslim family living in America. To quote one reviewer: "Consider `The Domestic Crusaders' an introduction to a new American Muslim cool -- sharp and ironic, funny and deep, running intellectual circles around the idiotic platitudes of bigotry."  American Theatre magazine just had an article about the play in its February edition - read here - American Theatre- 'Short Story Long'
Rasik's reading starts at 6pm in the program room of the Wychwood Public Library, 1431 Bathurst St. (one block south of St. Clair Avenue West, on the east side of Bathurst St. - close to all TTC modes).Admission is Free. Tea/coffee provided as well. Check out the event on Facebook: "Domestic Crusaders" Roundtable

Brampton - one night only - Naseeruddin Shah - February 24

Why Not Theatre & Brampton's Rose Theatre host legendary stage and screen star, Naseeruddin Shah, in 'Ismat Apa Ke Naam' - a play based on three short stories by the famous Urdu writer, Ismat Khanum Chughtai (1915-1991) whose provocative body of work astounded and shocked her contemporaries. The plays are directed by 4 time Filmfare award winner Naseeruddin Shah and performed by him as well as his wife and daughter,  renowned actresses Ratna Pathak Shah and Heeba Shah. 'Mughal Bachcha' told by Ratna Pathak Shah talks about the 'landed gentry' of Uttar Pradesh in the time of the British Raj, interweaving wry and perceptive social commentary with a love story of epic proportions. 'Chhui Muee' told by Heeba Shah, an account of child birth in a train compartment, becomes a hymn of praise to the courage, power and integrity of the rural woman. 'Gharwali' told by Shah himself, a satire on the social mores of the times (1940s), is uncannily accurate in its observations on the nature of the man-woman equation. The performances are in Hindi/Urdu with English subtitles.
For more information on the Rose Theatre & for tickets: Rose Theatre Brampton
Performance is SOLD OUT - but you can be put on a waiting list by calling the theatre at 905 874 2800

Toronto - Divisadero: a Performance - Feb 8-20

Michael Ondaatje collaborates with Necessary Angel's Daniel Brooks to adapt his novel Divisadero – a violent and passionate story exploring themes of memory, identity, love and the grip of the past on the present. It's happening at Theatre Passe Muraille, 16 Ryerson Avenue February 8-20. A Saturday matinee on 2pm on Saturday February 19th has been added. To quote one critic: "Michael Ondaatje's novel has been adapted for the stage -- there it is, or bits of it, up there -- but it hasn't been dramatized. The result is not, in any traditional sense, a play. But it is a performance, quite an impressive one, and it's also a set of performances: some of them excellent and one of them exceptional." For tickets you can call 416-504-7529 or go to http://www.necessaryangel.com/divisadero. 
for a story in the National Post: http://arts.nationalpost.com/2011/02/07/divisadero-adapting-for-the-stage/

Toronto - new Play Reading - "The Washing Machine" - Feb 18

The Washing Machine by Radha S Menon receives a reading as part of Nightwood Theatre's Groundswell Festival of new works by Women from 7:30-10:30 on Friday, February 18 at the Nightwood Studio (Studio 315) in the Distillery District - 55 Mill St., The Cannery. An Anglo-Indian woman returns to the coconut plantation of her childhood and desperately tries to wash away her past and dissolve a shameful secret that stains her existence. In the cast are:  Allegra Fulton, Paulino Nunes, Ronica Sajnani, Aparajit Bhattacharjee, Asha Vijayasingham, Steven Cumyn. Ishwar Mooljee, and Doris Rajan. Directed by: Sasha Kovacs

Roundtables with Rasik Arts - Feb 3, 2011

A "roundtable" is an open, informal meeting to read through a script and discuss it. Anyone may participate The only pre-requisites are curiosity and a thirst for theatre. On Feburary 3rd RASIK ARTS offers a work-in-progress by Toronto screenwriter, actor and director, SUGITH VARUGHESE. “THE FATE OF MEWA SINGH” portrays two hopeful immigrants in their different voyages to Canada, one in 1906 & the other on the Komagata Maru in 1914, and intertwines their story with that of a British immigration officer, creating a compelling, human tapestry of the desire and the price of 'belonging'. Grounded in the historical detail of the Komagata Maru and epic in sweep, there are many parts to be read.

Starts at 6pm in the program room of the Wychwood Public Library, 1431 Bathurst St. (one block south of St. Clair Avenue West, on the east side of Bathurst St. - close to all TTC modes).
Thursday, February 3 - "The Fate of Mewa Singh" by Sugith Varughese
Wychwood Public Library, 6pm-8:15pm, 1431 Bathurst St., Toronto, Ontario
All welcome. Admission is Free.
Upcoming Roundtables: in March "The Domestic Crusaders" by Wajahat Ali; in April "The Post Office" by Rabindranath Tagore

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