The reading will be helmed by Mira Nair, who also directed the film. Mary-Mitchell Campbell is the reading's musical director. Screenwriter Sabrina Dhawan is writing the book, with music by Vishal Bhardwaj and lyrics by Susan Birkenhead.
MONSOON WEDDING follows "a stressed father, a bride-to-be with a secret, a smitten event planner, and relatives from around the world during preparations for an arranged marriage in India."
Margo Lion, Stephen Hendel and Colin Callender are producing with general manager Roy Gabay and casting directors Cindy Tolan and Adam Caldwell on the hunt for a cast of South Asian actors.
I'm most interested in how the casting will turn out...
Interesting. Vishal Bhardwaj is a terrific composer and also a very solid film director as well (best known for his adaptations of Shakespeare plays, most recently Haider, based on Hamlet, which released in cinemas in October).
Should be very good. I hope they keep numbers from the soundtrack in the stage version, as it was really fantastic. They would probably have to integrate mehndi songs into the narrative (which is how they did Bend it Like Beckham). The film already does that well. Can't wait for this to open and can't wait for Bend It Like Beckham to open in London next year!
twotrey - I looked up a few Vishal Bhardwaj songs on YT and found several from Haider and found them a bit dull, but all cut of the same cloth. I'm assuming that droning sound fit the film's aesthetic, but out of context didn't do much for me. Perhaps you have a few other songs to recommend listening to to get a taste of his talent?
Well I just heard from a friend of mine who went in for the show a few times and is waiting to hear back. He read for the groom apparently and met Mira Nair. This sounds like it will be great!
Hypokrit Theatre Company recently tweeted a mention of a workshop for this show - https://twitter.com/hypokritnyc/status/644542969194893313. I don't know anything else about the workshop though. I don't suppose anybody has additional information on this?
For those interested, there's another lab for this show coming up in late May through June in New York. Auditions are being held in San Francisco on 9 April.