NOTES FROM THE WRITERS
Everyone loves a good party; endless laughter, catching up with friends, dancing on tables. But what if you don’t know anyone and feel self-conscious about your dancing? What if you’re not feeling a box of birds? Do you stay home or fake it till you make it? How do you set yourself free? Onam is such a great celebration because it shows there is more to happiness than just a smile, that to know joy you must also feel sorrow, without death there can be no rebirth. Maybe a party can change your life; you may meet someone who gives you the courage to set yourself free or shows you the resilience required to be truly happy. Thanks for coming out tonight.
– JUSTIN LEWIS
For the uninitiated Krishnan’s Dairy was the name of our very first play. A love story set in a corner shop, the power of which caught everyone by surprise – including us. That shop has kept its doors open for 20 years, touring the length and breadth of New Zealand and throughout the world, becoming as loved and cherished as a child. The story you’re taking part in tonight is somewhat of a sequel, but don’t worry, you don’t have to have seen Krishnan’s Dairy to enjoy the party. All you need is here, in the strangers that surround you and the imagination that abounds within, and the wonder of what’s going to happen next. That moment of not knowing, of being lost and confused, excited and a little scared is really what tonight is about: change. Something has to die in order for something to be renewed. It’s a tough lesson but a constant, existing at every stage of life and extremely present for us in a world that seems to be spinning ever faster. Rather than bemoan how hard it is to get to grips with all this shifting sand we want to celebrate the new castles we will build from it. Party on!
– JACOB RAJAN
Indian Ink is represented by David Lieberman Artists’ Representatives info@dlartists.com
PRODUCED AND CREATED BY Indian Ink Theatre Company
DIRECTOR
Justin Lewis
CO-WRITERS
Justin Lewis and Jacob Rajan
ACTORS
Kalyani Nagarajan
Justin Rogers
CREATIVE TEAM
COSTUME DESIGN
Fiona Nichols
LIGHTING DESIGN
Jane Hakaraia
SCENIC DESIGN
John Verryt
PRODUCTION & TOUR MANAGER
Andrew Portvin
SETTING
SOUND DESIGN
Lia Kelly
Festival of Onam, a harvest festival that celebrates the homecoming of King Mahabali and is as festive as Christmas, Easter, or Rosh Hashannah.
INDIAN INK THEATRE COMPANY
We’re guided by the ‘Serious Laugh,’ a love of mask and of story. We aim to make theatre that is beautiful, funny, sad and true – to leave an indelible imprint on your heart.
Indian Ink began 26 years ago as a partnership between Jacob Rajan and Justin Lewis. Since then we’ve gathered a team of long-term collaborators, made 11 shows together and had the great pleasure of performing around the world.
Our home is Aotearoa New Zealand and it’s a long way from our islands to India. We’ve always had to use our imaginations and be led by our curiosity with the theatre we make so please forgive the artistic licenses we take. We hope to capture something of the essence of what makes us all human while celebrating the flavours that make each of us unique.
BIOGRAPHIES
KALYANI NAGARAJAN
(actor) is a graduate of the New Zealand Drama School. This is Kalyani’s second role with Indian Ink following 2017’s “The Pickle King.” She has worked extensively on stage with Auckland Theatre Company and Auckland Live. Kalyani is a player for New Zealand’s top improv companies, Snort, Heartthrobs and Live Reel. Her screen credits include Raised by Refugees, Brokenwood Mysteries, Give Me Babies and more. Nagarajan is currently in development writing her first television show, The Drama Department, and a feature film, Revenge.
JUSTIN ROGERS
(actor) also features in Indian Ink’s latest production Dirty Work. Other stage credits include The Cherry Orchard and Beauty and the Beast. His screen work includes Meet Me at the Baptistery as well as voicing for Disney in Te Reo for the Lion King, Frozen, Coco and Encanto. Justin is a graduate of Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School. Instagram: @justinrogersnz
S. ANDREW POTVIN
(Production & Tour Manager) has been a resident production manager with Indian Ink productions since 2017. Andrew is also the Director of Andrew Potvin Designs Ltd, specializing in producing and tour/production management for live events. With two decades of experience in the entertainment industry his portfolio of work spans across the globe including contracts in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Singapore and the USA. Andrew holds an MFA (AUT 14’) in International Tourism Management and a BFA (CALARTS 09’) in Theatre Design and Management. @dapotvin
JACOB RAJAN
(Writer) is a founding partner of Indian Ink and co-wrote all of Indian Ink’s plays as well as performing in many of them. He is a graduate of Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama school, Otago University (B.Sc Microbiology) and Wellington Teacher’s College. Jacob is an Arts Foundation Laureate and a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for services to theatre.
JUSTIN LEWIS
(Writer and Director)
Justin is a founding partner of Indian Ink. He has co-written and directed all of Indian Ink’s plays. He was one of the founders of Auckland’s Q Theatre and received a Kaupapa Oranga Award for his services to theatre. Justin is a graduate of the John Bolton Theatre School and the University of Auckland.
MURRAY EDMOND
(Dramaturge) has been dramaturge on all of Indian Ink’s productions. A poet and founder of Town and Country Players (NZ), Murray has recently retired from his role as Professor of Drama at The University of Auckland where he headed the drama programme.
JOHN VERRYT
(Set and Props Designer) has worked on all of Indian Ink’s productions. With over 30 years’ experience
John is a leading New Zealand stage designer with an extensive portfolio of work including NZ Opera, Auckland Theatre Company, The Large Group and many others.
JANE HAKARAIA
(Lighting Designer) is celebrating her third production with Indian Ink following on from Welcome to the Murder House and The Elephant Thief. Jane holds a degree in product design but her passion is lighting for theatre.
FIONA NICHOLS
(Costume Designer) previously worked on Indian Ink’s The Pickle King. She works mainly in film and television with credits including Star Wars: Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith, and Spartacus.
LIA KELLY
(Sound Designer) joins India Ink for the first time. They won an award for ‘Most Innovative Work’ at the 2018 Wellington Fringe Festival and is part of Playshop - a late night improv group. Lia recently completed his Masters in Fine Arts in Creative Practice at Victoria University.
SHOW STAFF
Production & Tour Manager / Sound Operator Andrew Potvin
General Manager Jude Froude
Producer Pene Lister
Administration & Development Manager Naomi Campion
Next Gen Programme Leader Te Huamanuka Luiten-Apirana
Digital Marketer Olivia Brinkmann
Props Lead Liam Rudisill
Lighting Programmer & Board Operator Mary Blake-Booth
Deck Crew Erica Strand
Electricians Joey Foisy, Ariam Zerai Michael, Ismael Armando Ramos
MARIN THEATRE STAFF
Executive Artistic Director Lance Gardner
Director of Production Jessica Marchesi
Education Director Jackie Katz
General Manager Nichole Gantshar
Box Office Manager Jules Simons
Marketing Manager Robbi Casnellie
Artistic Producer Laura Steele
Technical Director Jeff Klein
Costume Shop Manager Daria Perkova
ATD/Props Lead Liam Rudisill
Development & Administrative Coordinator Kelsey Sloan
Lighting Supervisor Marshall
Audio Engineer Fiona Sharkey
Teaching Artist Joe Ayers
Marketing Partner Carla Befera
Patron Services Manager Carolyn Doyle
Front of House Leads Victoria Davis, Bridget Novak, Perry Parsons
Front of House Associates Alex Camerino, Jo Jewell, Arianna Orleans, Sunny Orleans, Zach Padlo, Serena Palmer, Richard Davis, Cynthia Whitman, Interns Ciara Bailitz, Austin Graff, Amanika Rapplin
LOBBY ARTIST
Tapestries Tara Daly
MARIN THEATRE DONORS
Marin Theatre acknowledges the generous support (Jan 2024 - Jan 2025) of the following individuals, foundations and corporations whose contributions make our extraordinary theatre productions and education programs possible in the past year. To join our family of contributors, receive sponsorship information or if you have questions about your gift, please contact development@marintheatre.org
$100,000 plus
Dagmar Dolby • Christopher B. & Jeannie Meg Smith
$50,000 to $99,000
Vickie Soulier
$25,000 to $49,999
Gerald Cahill & Kathleen King • Estate of James Lilienthal
$10,000 to $24,999
Anonymous (2) • Lynne Carmichael • Suzanne Cross & John Simpson • Wendy Feng & Michael Wall • Kimberly Hughes & Steven Moazed • Ken & Vera Meislin • Buffington Miller • Barbara Morrison • Danielle O’Hare & Federico Barbagli • Matthew Purdon
$5,000 to $9,999
Anonymous • Franklin Amster & Andree Jansheski • David Catania & Diana Gay-Catania • John & Shelley Chesley • Gatian Cunningham • Kipp Delbyck • Thomas W. Edwards & Rebecca Parlette-Edwards • Jill & Steven Fugaro • Josh Rafner • Bob & Paula Reynolds • Barbara & Eric Roberts • Kathy Roberts & Aaron Loeb • Betty & Jack Schafer • Stacy Scott • Joel & Susan Sklar • Sharon Straus • Penny Wright
$1,000 to $4 ,999
Anonymous • Drs. Paul & Geraldine Alpert • Laura Scher & Ian Altman & The Barn Road Foundation • Lois Kelly Ashley • Sean & Faith Bricmont • Noel Butler • Nancy & Gary Carlston • Ron Clyman & Francoise Mauray • Benjamin Dewees • Steve Dow & Tom Parrish • David Elliot • Theresa Ellis • Judith & Philip Erdberg •
MARIN THEATRE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Josh Rafner President
Penny Wright Vice President
William Maushardt Secretary/ Treasurer
Mollie Allen
Suzanne Cross
Naima Dean
Kipp Delbyck
Wendy Feng
Daniel Johnson
Danielle O’Hare
Matthew Purdon
Barbara Roberts
Stacy Scott
Danny Field & Gary Robinson • Jeff Freedman & Marie Boylan • Susan Gilardi • Anthony Giles & Carey Perloff • Gerry Goldsholle • Michelle & Normand Groleau • Lauren Gunderson & Nathan Wolfe • Tracy & Brian Houghton • Elisabeth & Howard Jaffe • Sean & Melizza Joerg • Barbara & Jim Kautz • Bill Kissinger • Harriet & Tom Kostic • Scott MacLeod & Linda Kislingbury • Melanie Maier • Terrie McDonald • Connie Oclassen & Bill Helvestine • Kathryn Olson • Bob & Donys Powell • Janice & James Prochaska • Gordon Radley • Richard & Nancy Robbins • Barbara & Eric Roberts • Kurt Schindler • Kate Sears • Diana & Richard Shore • Marsha Silberstein • Tara Sullivan • Joe & Diane Stemach • Will & Leslie Thompson • Bob & Diane Wagner • Irene Yen • Susan York
$500 to $999
Anonymous •Janet Bamberger • J. Peter Bardwick • Joan Beavin • Carl Bielefeldt • Kim Bromley & David Carson • The Leo J. &Celia Carlin Fund • Steven and Karin Chase • John & Shelley Chesley • Stephanie Douglass • Ben and Boriana Fackler • Larry Fahn • David Gast • Steve Gensler • Margot Golding • Karen Gottlieb • Charles Hanes • Rebekah and Larry Helzel • Brian & Jocelyn Herndon • Carolyn Hodge • William Hoehler • Mark Hoffman • Denmo Ibrahim • Deborah Kemper • Fritz Kieckhefer and Karenna Love • Barbara Laraia & Chistopher Pilcher • Paulette Lueke • Barbara Meislin • Steve & Mary Mizroch • Jan O’Brien & Craig Hartman • John Osterweis • Marianne & Steve Porter • Cooney-Rashti Trust • Tobi and Mark Rubin • Carol & Randolph Selig • Sabrina Sinton • Stephanie Splane • Lois Stevens
$100 to $499
Anonymous • Joe Angiulo • Joanne Appel • Susan Aumiller • Susan Baker • Robert and Barbara Baum • Andria Benner • Robert Bergman • Daniel Bikle • Stephen Bischoff • Felix Braendel • Josh Brier & Grace Alexander • Amy & Mark Brokering • Donna Brorby • Deborah Buehler • Margaret Burke • Patrick Cahill • Robert Camm • Sheree Chambers • Stephen Clark • Diane & Bill Clarke • Monifa Clayton • Dayton & Sheri Coles • Naomi Conroy • Christina Crow • Betsey Cutler • Sheila Dalton • Michael Darby • Cara David • Larry Davis • Naima Dean • Larry Eggan • John Eichhorst & Jennifer Blackman • Joseph Faimali • Leland Faust • J Fikes • Paula Fracchia • Connie Goldsmith • Tamara Goldsmith & Randal Zucker • Michelle Griffin • Gillian A Hayward • Jennifer Hochschild • Mim Hodge • Lori Horne • Karen Houston • Kip & Sara Howard • Stanley Hutter • Cheryl Hylton • Auban Jackson • Katherine Jain • Elizabeth Jameson • Sandy and Nick Javaras • Sheila Johnson-Brousseau • Julie Kaufman • Susan Keener • Kenneth King • Heidi Kirsch • Peter and Monica Lange • Amy Lauer • Douglas Lawrence • Gretchen Leavitt • Judy Leet • David Lesnini • Gail Lester • Joan Levison • Jennifer Lindsay • Suz & Michael Lipman • Susan Logan • David Long • Laurence Lyons • Mark Maigatter & Heidi Hofer • Lynn Mason • Will Maushardt • Tina McArthur • Robert McDowell • Kay and Steve McNamara • Kurt Menning • Mill Valley Market • Christian Mills • Margaret Moster • Jessica Newman • Betty Obata • Katy Olds • Vivian Olsen • Kathryn Olson • Marta Osterloh and Tony Curtiss • Outdoor Art Club • Thomas Owen • Rebecca Parlette-Edwards & Tom Edwards • Susan Peck • Lynn Perry • Hal Plimpton • Victoria Podesta • Janet Poelstra • Rod Ponath • Robert Popper • Jack & Jessica Powell • Laurence Pulgram & Kathleen Murray • Mary Lou Ragghianti • Joel Renbaum • Katherine Revoir • Eddie Reynolds • Susan Reynolds • Richard Rose • Ellen Rothman & Edward Koplowitz • Diane Ryken • Angelo Salarpi • Mark Sanders • Laura Scott • David A.
Shapiro, MD & Sharon L. Wheatley • Douglas & Carole Sheft • Alice Shelton • S. Corbett Simons • Joel & Susan Sklar • Shelagh Smith • Steven Sockolov & Susan Snyder • Deborah Spanier • Timothy Standing • Gretchen Stone • Carol Svetcov • Candace Swimmer & Philip Rosenthal • Beverly Tanner & Jerry Herman • Lisa Taylor • Cindy Thomas • Cynthia Thomas • Kathryn Thyret • Beatrice Tocher • Norman & Dr. Carol Traeger • Victor Walker • Paul Werner • William & Janet Whitmer • Delene Wolf • Vitoria Woo • Reynaldo Zertuche • Laura Zimmerman
TRIBUTE GIFTS
Tracy and Brian Haughton Charitable Fund in honor of Lance Gardner
Denmo Ibrahim in honor of Free Palestine
Kenneth King in honor of Sali Lieberman who helped bring theatre to Marin
Drs. Ben & A. Jess Shenson Fund directed by Fred Levin in honor of Carey Perloff
Alan Rubin in honor of Jerry Cahill
MEMORIAL GIFTS
Gerry Goldsholle in memory of Myra Levenson
Noel Butler via Silicon Valley Community Foundation In Memory of Phil Kurjan
Gillian A. Hayward In Memory of Ralph Hayward
Anne D. Kaiser & Robert P. Taylor In Memory of Breton Kaiser-Shinn
Kathy Lavezzo In Memory of Marilyn Angela McCarthy
CORPORATIONS • FOUNDATIONS • GOVERNMENT
MARIN THEATRE PARTNERS | $50,000+
The Shubert Foundation • William & Flora Hewlett Foundation
VIP PRODUCER | $15,000-$49,999
Buck Family Fund • California Arts Council • Kimball Foundation • National Endowment for the Arts • Stacy Scott Fine Cateringº The Bernard Osher Foundation
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER | $10,000-$14,999
Clay Foundation, Koret Foundation • MOJOº • National New Play Network • The John Brockway Hungtington Fund
PREMIERE PRODUCER | $5,000-$9,999
3 Badge Beveragesº • August Sebastiani • Garry & Joanne Brooks •Marin Cultural Association • Tow Foundation
PRODUCER | $1,000–$4,999
Clyman Family Foundation • County of Marin • Marin Charitable Association • Mill Valley Market • Mill Valley Flowers º In-Kind Donation
To join the esteemed list below and make a legacy gift to Marin Theatre please contact Executive Artistic Director, Lance Gardner at lance@marintheatre.org. With gift planning, you can provide long-lasting support for a vibrant theatre community while reducing the taxation burden on your loved ones.
Linden & Carl Berry‡ • Jack Bissinger‡ • Dave & Bobbie Chapman • John & Shelley Chesley • Sheldon Doing & Steve DeHart • Fred Drexler‡ • Thomas W. Edwards & Rebecca Parlette Edwards • Joseph & Antonia Friedman • Brian & Tracy Haughton • Sandra Hess • James Lilienthal‡ • Shirley Loube‡ • Melanie Maier • Gladys Perez-Mendez‡ • Ivan & Lochiel Poutiatine‡ • Leigh & Ivy Robinson‡ • Gage Schubert‡ • Beverly Tanner • Fred & Kathleen Taylor • Nancy Thomson‡ • Phil Woodward & Connie Majoy
