Previews for Bollywood Kitchen begin January 15, the latest virtual and interactive production at Geffen Playhouse as part of its Stayhouse programming. Led by filmmaker Sri Rao, and inspired by his cookbook of the same name, the show invites audiences to partake in a culinary journey from India to America.
“The two questions I get asked most often at cocktail parties are, ‘Can I get one of your mom’s recipes for homemade Indian food?’ and ‘I’ve never seen a Bollywood movie before, can you recommend one to me?,’” says Rao. “Well, the Geffen is giving me the opportunity to answer both questions at once, and this time, the cocktail party is at my place! Bollywood Kitchen is my way of introducing audiences to two of my passions—Indian food and films—while taking them on a personal journey of my family’s immigrant experience.”
Bollywood Kitchen is directed by Arpita Mukherjee and produced in association with Hypokrit Theatre Company. Serving on the creative team are scenic designer Neil Patel, costume designer Arjun Bhasin, lighting designer Amith Chandrashaker, sound designer Sharath Patel, and video designer David Bengali. Opening night is set for January 23.
Multiple tiers of ticketing options allow audiences to choose their own level of participation, including a livestream viewing-only option. For audience members who prefer an interactive experience, a special “Bollywood Box” will be delivered to their doorstep in advance of the performance. Each box includes an assortment of specially curated Indian spices, recipe cards, and other items they’ll need for the show. A shopping list of perishable items that are easy to find in a local grocery store will also be included to complete the dinner menu.
The show joins the currently running Geffen Stayhouse productions of David Kwong’s Inside the Box, Chelsea Marcantel’s Citizen Detective, and Helder Guimarães’ The Future.
For more information, visit GeffenPlayhouse.org.
