The troupe presents Eugene O'Neill's Abortion in what's billed as "the first professional production" of this controversial "lost play," newly adapted by Uzma Rizvi. It's paired with Sarovar Banka's The End of the Apurnas, a new comedy.
The cast includes Azher Ali, Chriselle Almeida, Geeta Bhatnagar, Anna George, Don Nahaku, Meeni Naqvi, Amit Patel, Deepa Purohit and Debargo Sanyal.
Direction and choreography are by Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj. Don Nahaku produces.
Performances play Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 PM, Saturday and Sunday at 2 PM at The Studio Theatre at Theatre Row, 410 W. 42nd Street (between Ninth and Tenth Avenues). For tickets, visit the box office, or contact www.telecharge.com.
* According to the company's website, www.rasatheater.org, "Rasa Theater was born on a train ride from Philadelphia to Manhattan in May of 2002. After seeing the Wilma Theater's production of Indian Ink, Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj rode the train home with that production's Indian consultant, Uzma Rizvi. By the time they reached Manhattan, they had realized the need for a Rasa Theater and wanted to start it with one of the Wilma Indian Ink actors, Manu Narayan" — recently plucked from relative obscurity to be the star of the new upcoming Broadway musical, Bombay Dreams.
Rasa Theater "was started to give professional theatre experiences to actors, writers, directors, and other theatre artists of the South Asian Diaspora. Theatre in this country regularly produces the stories of the majority populations. Because of this it is up to the South Asian theatre professionals to give back to their community. Rasa Theater is a professional theatre run by theatre professionals aiming to produce works by and for South Asians so that our stories can be better told with more artistry and diversity."
How is "South Asian" defined? "'The South Asian Experience' shall be inclusive of all self-identified experiences and connections to the South Asian community and its Diaspora."