Sati: Goddess Incarnate, a new musical by Vaibu Mohan and Zachary Catron, will receive two workshop presentations in New York City August 16 and 17.

Set in an Indian village in the 1980s, the piece is inspired by true events. When a low-caste girl named Roop finds herself widowed at just 17, she is forced upon her husband's funeral pyre to die with him, as thousands watch her immolation. When questioned, the whole town had the same explanation: It was her choice, and she was inhabited by the goddess Sati. 

The workshop will star Hashini Amarsinghe, Shurmila Dhar, Nina Jayashankar (The Scarlet Pimpernel), Raveena Khetarpal, Deven Kolluri (House of India), Indira Mahajan (Thumbprint), Anu Mysore (Monsoon Wedding), Isha Narayanan (Ocean in a Teacup), Sanchi Pandey (Much Ado About Nothing), Camryn Rose Pillay, Aathaven Tharmarajah (Waitress, Little Woman), and Swetha Vissapragada (Three Sisters, Jesus Christ Superstar). The dance company features Sahana Balaji, Ashwika Kaza, Sinchana Keshav, Srimathy Mohan, and Vaibu Mohan.

Sati features a book and lyrics by Vaibu Mohan and music and orchestrations by Zachary Catron. Maya Jeyam will direct the workshop, with Mohan also serving as movement director and dramaturg. Srimathy Mohan, artistic director of Silambam Phoenix, will choreograph the workshop, with Jeevika Bhat contributing additional choreography.

The music team is led by Mona Seyed-Bolorforosh (Heathers) as music director and conductor. Greg Paladino (Light In The Piazza, My Fair Lady) serves as score supervisor and associate music director, with Ryan Blihovde as percussion arranger and Kevin Leahy as music assistant.

The band will include Greg Paladino on piano, McKinley Foster on guitar, Dominic LaMorte on bass, Ryan Blihovde on percussion, Karun Salvady on mridangam, and Danielle Sinclair on violin.

Sati: Goddess Incarnate is produced by Silambam Phoenix, the Arizona-based dance company, with Mohan as creative producer and Lauren Pick as stage manager.

Industry members interested in attending should email [email protected]