Thaden School Performing Arts Center 805 S Main St. Bentonville, AR
Thursday September 12, 2024
@6:30 PM
Saturday September 14, 2024
@4:30 PM
Adults $15 | Under 18 (Pay What You Can)
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WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
In the majestic mountains of India, Monkey spends her days playing with her animal friends in a lovely jungle, but she notices that it has become hot and dry and the rain hasn’t fallen in the rainforest for many weeks. Monkey’s mother tells her of an old legend that a dancing peacock can bring the rains. But when Monkey and her friend Baby Elephant try dancing to no avail, she decides she must go on a quest to find the magical Peacock and return water to the jungle. Based on a magnificent myth from India and exploring the rich beauty of Southeastern Asia, A Bucket of Blessings offers our youngest audience members a lovely legend of play and perseverance as an introduction to the theater.
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A Bucket of Blessings
By Madhuri Shekar
Adapted from the book A Bucket of Blessings by Surishtha and Kabir Sehgal
Logo and Video by The Rose Theater Omaha
THE CAST
Karthika Mohan Sheela (Peacock/Elephant)
Karthika Mohan Sheela is a trained Indian classical and Bollywood dancer, known for her passion for dance and acting, as well as her love for children. She has performed extensively across India, gracing stages at youth festivals, TV shows, and numerous other events. Her impressive portfolio includes performances at film award nights like Asianet Film Awards, dancing to the title song for a popular Malayalam-language series, and appearances on reality shows and finale events like Gandharavasangeetham, Vanitharatnam, Soorya Festival,Patturumal. Additionally, she has showcased her talent as an anchor for a film news program on a popular channel in Kerala, Southern India.
Karthika holds an MBA in HR and Marketing, bringing a unique blend of creativity and professionalism to her artistic pursuits. After moving to Bentonville with her husband in 2015, Karthika found solace and inspiration in dance, which has been a constant source of motivation and joy. She is an integral part of the renowned dance team “Daffodils” in Bentonville and currently works for a cultural organization, coordinating and conducting events.
As part of the Daffodils team, she has performed at popular events and venues in Bentonville, such as Crystal Bridges, Art Ventures, Hanwa Temple, High Schools, and Downtown Bentonville, significantly contributing to expanding Indian culture to both Indian and non-Indian audiences. Additionally, she serves as a Viriiya dance instructor for the cultural organization, further promoting the rich heritage of Indian dance.
Karthika views this as a fantastic opportunity to enhance her skills and passion, taking her talents to the next level. She is also a dedicated choreographer for kindergarten children, including her daughter Advika, nurturing a love for dance in the next generation. Karthika’s commitment to her art and her community continues to inspire those around her.
Premkumari Balasubramaniyam (Monkey)
Premkumari Balasubramaniyam, affectionately known as Prema, is an accomplished Ayurvedic practitioner from Chennai, holding a Masters in Psychotherapy and Counseling from India. She is fluent in multiple languages, including English, Sanskrit, Tamil, Hindi, Malayalam, and Telugu. Since relocating to the United States in 2012 with her husband, Ganapathy, Prema has actively pursued her passions for photography, gardening, public speaking, language learning, teaching, and organizing children’s events.
Prema has earned the prestigious title of Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) from Toastmasters International, recognizing her exceptional public speaking skills. She also dedicates her time to volunteering as a teacher in non-profit organizations, where she educates children about basic Indian culture through storytelling and songs.
Her college enthusiasm for acting and mimicry has been rekindled through opportunities with Ovations, allowing her to entertain children once again. Prema is deeply grateful to her husband, Ganapathy, who has been a steadfast source of motivation and support. She also acknowledges the unwavering support from her family in India and her extended family in the United States, who have been her pillars of strength.
Balu Rajagopal (Musician)
Balu Rajagopal is a passionate and confident actor with extensive experience in both on-camera and stage performances. With an unrelenting drive to entertain and the versatility to fit into any role, Balu is eager to be part of this production to showcase his talents and deliver memorable performances.
Balu’s prime areas of interest include acting—both on-camera and stage—dubbing, voice-over work, and writing dialogues in regional languages. With over a decade of experience in acting, he has portrayed various roles in short films produced in India and has been an active participant in stage skits and plays.He has acted in numerous Malayalam (a language from Kerala, Southern India) short films, including “EXPRESSION,” “Poovalan,” “ANGANA ORU RATHRI,” “SEVENS,” and a web series “ECSTASY,” showcasing his versatility and talent across different genres and themes.
He has attended numerous acting workshops in India, such as ‘Abhitharam’ by a group of film directors and casting directors from the Malayalam film industry (southern part of India), where he refined his craft and developed a deep understanding of character portrayal and storytelling. Balu’s dedication to his art has earned him recognition in various independent film circuits.
Driven by a love for storytelling and a commitment to his craft, Balu continues to seek out diverse and challenging roles that allow him to grow as an artist. He looks forward to contributing his talents to this production and leaving a lasting impression on audiences.