iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-
Mount Madonna School of California is gearing up to host the 44th Mount Madonna School (MMS) “Ramayana!” – a musical theater production adapted for modern audiences and replete with lively action, dazzling costumes, humor, and universal life lessons.
Join Hanuman, the monkeys, Prince Rama and Prince Lakshmana, as they journey to Lanka in their quest to rescue Princess Sita as “Ramayana!” returns to the stage to entertain audiences of all ages June 8-11 at the Mexican Heritage Theater in San Jose.
The theatre production features a cast of students ranging from preschool to high school, includes traditional and contemporary music, and features an adult choir and musicians, with more than a dozen original, standout songs.
“The production of ‘Ramayana!’ has been central to Mount Madonna School since its founding,” said Head of School Ann Goewert. “With this show, we carry forward a tradition inspired by Baba Hari Dass (1923-2018) and supported by the Mount Madonna Center. It’s the culmination of months of work during the academic year and is a year-end celebration for our community embracing diversity and creative self-expression. The Ramayana is a timeless classic teaching the universal values of truth, duty, love, and service to the greater good. As students work together to prepare for this ambitious show, they embody the values embedded in the Ramayana.”
The current version of the show features choreographed fight scenes, monkeys and monsters, comedy, deep introspection by many characters, including King Ravana (in his unique ten-headed costume). Within the action are rousing choreographed dances from Bharatanatyam to Hip Hop, as well as plenty of stage combat and spectacle.
The musical theatre production has been designed by Mount Madonna School authorities to enable the development of theatrical skills and the strengthening of confidence to be bold in the presentation. These factors are woven into the team’s time with the students.
The costumes, demon and monkey masks, elaborate sets, props, and monster rigs (such as Kumbhakarna, a 25-foot puppet with a radio-controlled mechanical mouth and eyes) were created by Baba Hari Dass, as well as artisans associated with both the center and the school. Every item in the show is a work of handmade art.
“Ramayana!” in its 44th iteration, is a contribution to the artistic and cultural life of the San Francisco and Monterey Bay areas, the expression of a living tradition with ties to India and the global Indian diaspora, and a unique treasure for generations of students and theatergoers.
Every character in the “Ramayana!” story represents an aspect of one’s personality. There is the devotional service that Hanuman represents, the greed and pride exuded by Ravana, and the sense of duty and righteousness embodied by Rama – these are all aspects of human nature that we each possess, and like all morality tales, the good and the virtuous are what ultimately triumphs.
Mount Madonna Center (MMC) for the Creative Arts and Sciences is a residential community and conference center founded in 1978 atop a mountain in Watsonville. Baba Hari Dass (Babaji), a silent monk, teacher, and practitioner of yoga from India was the inspiration behind the founding of the center, which shares a history and mission with the school, and the annual performance of the “Ramayana!” is part of this mission. The well-known tale with origins in India was adapted into a musical by members of the Mount Madonna community in the 1970s. The original songs are part of the American rock musical theater tradition, with echoes of “Hair” and “Jesus Christ Superstar,” plus a contemporary nod to “Hamilton,” Broadway’s biggest musical in recent decades.
This school production brings together all the MMS students, connecting them in ways they may not otherwise share during the school year. As the process unfolds, the performing arts team guides and provides structure, but more importantly, endeavors to “create space” for young actors to instill their own creativity, imagination, and ownership of their parts and their play.
