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: