Stage Right

South Asian actors and shows are bringing increased representation on Broadway

In 2017, Shoba Narayan became the first South Asian female in a principal role on Broadway since Bombay Dreams in 2004. Just a few years later, Narayan made Broadway history as the first-ever South Asian actress to play Princess Jasmine in Aladdin. Despite this, representation on Broadway has failed to make significant gains. The Asian American Performers Action Coalitions 2018-2019 visibility report found that 65.9 percent of all roles on Broadway were filled by white actors. But a crop of South Asian actors and new Indian shows are helping make inroads.

Michael Maliakel and Shoba Narayan

In September 2021, Aladdin returned to Broadway after its pandemic hiatus with both Aladdin and Jasmine being played by South Asian actors—Michael Maliakel and Shoba Narayan respectively—for the first time ever. While Maliakel and Narayan are no longer in the roles, the current cast features another actress of Indian descent as Princess Jasmine, Sonya Balsara.

Come Fall in Love - The DDLJ Musical

Aditya Chopra’s Broadway-aimed Come Fall in Love -

The DDLJ Musical is making history in more ways than one. Based on the Bollywood film Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, the musical is set to be the first time an Indian director debuts on Broadway and the first Bollywood musical to be on Broadway. The musical had its world premiere at the Old Globe in San Diego in September 2022. While an official date has not yet been announced, the team is working to move to Broadway soon.

Life of Pi

Based on Yann Martel’s 2001 novel of the same name, Life of Pi premiered on Broadway March 9 at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre. It tells the story of a 16-year-old Indian boy named Pi Patel who is stranded on a lifeboat in the ocean with a Royal Bengal Tiger. The stage adaptation was written by renowned South Asian playwright Lolita Chakrabarti and features many South Asian actors, including Sri Lankan actor Hiran Abeysekera in the title role and Indian-born actor Mahira Kakkar as Pi’s mother.

Curtains Up Monsoon Wedding, The Musical makes its stage debut

On May 6, the musical Monsoon Wedding, The Musical, based on the 2001 motion picture of the same name, will make its debut in Brooklyn at St. Ann’s Warehouse. The musical is Mira Nair’s adaptation of the film, which welcomes audiences inside the chaotic leadup to an arranged marriage, which is plagued by modern tensions. The musical is a celebration of love, Punjabi culture, and her home city of Delhi. Costume designer Arjun Bhasin created 250 vibrant costumes, and Vishal Bhardwaj composed a pulsating score that draws upon on the many genres of Indian music, from classical to pop. For more information, visit stannswarehouse.org/ show/monsoon-wedding-the-musical.