South Asian Theatre with Universal Appeal

The Forgotten Empress

Houston, April 2018

Produced by: Noorani Dance

Presented by: EnActe Arts and Asia Society

Written and Directed by: Matthew Spangler

Inspired by the novel:  My Name is Gauhar Jaan by Vikram Sampath

A 17th century Moghul Empress who had charge of the Imperial Seal had coins struck in her name was a seasoned war general built Sarais and pleasure gardens across the land ran a fleet of trading ships designed the pre-cursor to the Taj Mahal introduced silver- threaded brocade and lace in fashion trends that we follow even today?

A widow with a daughter, re-married to a besotted King, banished and exiled by his successor?

The Forgotten Empress who broke all glass ceilings could be none other than Noor Jahan, twentieth wife of Emperor Jahangir.

A dynamic dance drama by acclaimed Kathak artist Farah Yasmeen Shaikh, directed Matthew Spangler with music by Salar Nader, delivers history through a spectrum of emotions, relationships and occurrences.

Musical Director: Salar Nader

Narrator:  Radhika Rao

Vocalist: Deepti Warrier

Sarod player: Ben Kunin

Violinist: Raginder Singh Momi

Production Manager, Lighting & Scenic Designer: Andrew Kauffman

Sound & Video Director: Jack Beuttler

Costume Designer: Alka Garg 

Make-up Artist: Natasha Datt

Set Designer: Jim French 

Video & Multi-media Designer: Ian Winters 

Sound Designer: Drew Yerys

Stage Manager: Salim Shaikh

Company Management: Annika Preseley

Creative Consultant: Brooke Duthie 

Video Editor: Greg Gheorghiu

Wardrobe Support: 

Ritu Mathur, Najma Noorani, Zeba Savage, Leah Brown

Performance by Kathak Artist: Farah Yasmeen Shaikh

Sponsors:
Palo Alto Networks

Jupiter Research Foundation

Nutanix

Bahwan Cybertek

Accenture

Sunera Technologies

Xoriant

Multicoreware

Shasta Foods

Lasya Art

Mantra India

Chaat Bhavan

Institute for South Asia Studies UC Berkeley

Radio DeHottie Media Mahima

Season Sponsor: