Breakthrough!

Posted by DCA Theater on March 26, 2009 in January-June 2009 Season, INCUBATOR Series: Rasaka Theatre

by Devi Bhaduri, playwright

I had a sort of breakthrough on why Rani’s Emeralds didn’t feel quite right to me.  It happened at about 10 pm on the night my revision was due, after unproductive hours of staring at the script.  Braincrash—that’s always a good time…
Anyway, I turned my ghost character Rani invisible to my living character Avni, so that their interaction wouldn’t be as visually jarring.  Before that point,  Rani seemed to have the same abilities that a living, 3-D perons would have, and that may have kept the audience from suspending their disbelief.  I’m also hoping this change gives the actors more freedom to play with the scene and have fun blocking it. 
I knew Avni needed a character arc that paralleled Rani’s journey, but didn’t know what Avni’s struggle would be.  Rani, despite her gallows humor, is a tragic character and I needed Avni’s personal struggle to put her at the point of no return, with Avni choosing either the same path or a different path from her cousin.  I feel better about my revision, but don’t think I took Avni’s personal struggle far enough.  I feel like going back and finding a way to traumatize Avni, to make her decision seem more critical, to make it life-or-death. 

The process of writing

Posted by DCA Theater on March 26, 2009 in January-June 2009 Season, INCUBATOR Series: Rasaka Theatre

by Mary Anne Mohanraj, playwright pariticipant

The process of writing for the stage has been so strange for me. After fifteen years as a fiction writer, I’m used to having total control over my story. If an editor wants me to change something, and I disagree, I can always decide not to publish with them. And for the most part, they leave my stories alone, aside from perhaps catching a typo or two. (Editors tend to be far less hands-on than they used to be, due primarily to lack of time in these crazy days.)

I’m used to workshopping my stories, of course—I’m one of those writers who ardently seeks feedback, from pretty much anyone willing to take a look at my manuscript. Please, please, tell me what you think. Ideally, tell me you love it, just as it is, but if there’s something you think could be better, tell me that too. I’ll think about it, and maybe I’ll revise along the lines you want. Or maybe not. Because in the end, the story is mine, all mine—at least until it’s published, at which point, it becomes the reader’s story too.

Theatre is so different.

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Rehearsals underway..

Posted by DCA Theater on March 26, 2009 in January-June 2009 Season, INCUBATOR Series: Rasaka Theatre

by Reeta Hoskote, playwright participant

Rehersals are underway. It is strange warm fuzzy feeling that our short plays, are on their way to taking a concrete shape and form. Maybe a little bit of thrashing, a little bit of sifting and a little bit of tender loving care will take them through to the March 30th performance :). 

I wasn’t sure it would happen

Posted by DCA Theater on March 19, 2009 in January-June 2009 Season, INCUBATOR Series: Rasaka Theatre

by Kamal Hans

Anita, brought up the subject of the “Country’s first 1 act play festival” and we nodded and said good idea!  Then, the group got together and created “Page to Stage”.  This workshop where aspiring or already successful playwrights worked with Will Dunne to create a 10 minute play in 1 day went off great.  Nice success!  Then Rasaka needed to get off the ground and put a full production together – it had been 4 years since Masrayana.  So, Yoni Ki Baat was born.  During the process of putting the show on and strengthening the company’s management, we found out the DCA had granted Rasaka the use of its’ rehearsal space and then one night showcase in March of 2009.  Fantastic, we could push forward on the 1 act festival.  So, 2 weeks into the process, the DCA grant (use of space, publicity, etc.) has been a godsend where aspiring South Asian playwrights, actors and directors have the opportunity to work with established ones with both groups benefiting.  When we found out that we were able to go to the next step with the festival, things started happening and people started brainstorming new ideas.  One step at a time…  Anyway, the rehearsal process, as always, has brought its share of challenges – particularly with new scripts, actors, directors, etc…  This is another step in our (my) mission to grow the Arts in the South Asian community Let’s see what the results are - I am excited about the opportunity and hope we can work with the DCA on an even closer basis!

Wearing Many Hats

Posted by DCA Theater on March 19, 2009 in January-June 2009 Season, INCUBATOR Series: Rasaka Theatre

by Angeli Primlani, writer, director, actor

I have been wearing a lot of hats in this production ... writer, director, and, due to a series of accidents, actor as well! It has been an enormous whirlwind, and the work is very exciting so far!

It was exciting to get feedback on my own play “Night Shift” during Will Dunne’s workshop. And then I got to switch gears and work with two other amazing plays. As great as it is to see my own work take shape, it is even more fun to help bring someone else’s work to life.

Still, we’ve got a short rehearsal period and a lot to do in that time. I’ve been happy to leave my play in Sonny Das’ capable hands. I am very hopeful that after all this effort we will see something really special on the 30th of March.