CASTING REFLECTIONS – Congratulations to all for completing the audition process. You’ve done your part; hopefully you can acknowledge your growth and successes within the process. Now comes the next step- casting of the play. Casting is challenging for both performers and directors. For some, this will not be a big issue, while others may experience disappointment. The key is finding a way to move forward positively. Most have heard the statement before- every role is pivotally important-and while a bit of a clich’, it is proven true.
Staring at the cast list, you see a character title or group (like Demon Choir, Monkey or Demon) by your name. We may quickly categorize our roles as good or bad. Mostly, the criteria concerns line or song load, preconceptions about importance of the part or to reactions within the peer group. Since the Ramayana is such a known tradition at our school, lots of prejudgments float about. Usually our roles are much more than anticipated. No matter how the parts have been portrayed in the past, our current version will be different, mainly because we are different, even if reprising a role. Who these characters are, what they do, what dreams or conflicts they experience directly connects to who you are right now and will discover in the span of rehearsal.
If ever there was a play about community, it is the Ramayana, a rich tradition at our school that spans over thirty years, this year involving over 200 performers, as well as the myriad of designers, producers, and artists. Trust the process, trust the directors; embrace your character and enjoy the creative exploration. A positive attitude not only builds community, but also enables expansion of our own talents because we are willing to invest of ourselves.
Disappointment is a natural reaction when we don’t get what we want. One of the great lessons for all us in life, adults and students alike, is handling disappointment, making the best of a given situation and moving forward in a positive way. Friends and families can help greatly by encouraging acceptance and openness. Please avoid angry emails or phone tirades to the directing team. We have truly tried our best to do what is right for the play.
Congratulations to all for your dedicated efforts and tremendous investment in the audition process. Let’s make Ramayana 2014 a memorable experience for all!
Sincerely,
The Directing Team- Trevor, Erika, Mayana, Brian and Sin’ad
RAMAYANA CAST LIST 2014
12th Grade
Ali JATAYU + DEMON
Ashley INVOCATION DANCER + PRINCE ANGAD
Brianna PRINCESS SITA
Curtis KING JANAKA + FLEA the Monkey
Daniel C. PRINCE RAMA
Jay LORD SHIVA
Jenny GODDESS PARVATI
Luciano HANUMAN
Martin MARICHA + HOBBIT the Monkey
Olorin LORD VIBHISHAN
Preethi INVOCATION DANCER + KING SUGRIVA + STUDENT CHOREOGRAPHER
Roger KING RAVANA
Rosino ASSISTANT FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHER
Ruby N. BANANA NOSE the Monkey
Sally INVOCATION DANCER + TRIJUTA the Oracle
Sophie K. QUEEN MANDODARI
Soul PRINCE LAKSHMAN
Talia SURPANAKA + DEMONINI
11th Grade
Alexis (Lexi) NALA the Monkey
Alyssa F. NILA the Monkey
Caitlin QUEEN KAUSHALYA + MONKEY + DEMON CHOIR
Carlo PRINCE SHATRUGHNA + MONKEY
Cassidy BONEHEAD + STUDENT CHOREOGRAPHER
Chris C. JAMBHAVAN King of the Bears
Cooper PRINCE AKSHA + NIKUMBA
David KING DASHARATH + MONKEY + DEMON CHOIR
Lena QUEEN SUMITRA + MONKEY + DEMONINI
Noah H. GUHA + MONKEY
Pedro HOOKNOSE
Rami QUEEN KAIKEYI + MONKEY + STUDENT CHOREOGRAPHER
Renata INVOCATION DANCER + BHEEL CHIEF + DEMONINI
Sage PRINCE BHARATA + MONKEY + DEMON CHOIR
Tobin PRINCE MEGHNAD
Zoe K. INVOCATION DANCER + SAMPATI + DEMON CHOIR
10th Grade
Alex M. MONKEY
Cameron B. DEMON
CeCe BELLY DANCER + MONKEY
Elise S. GUHANI + DEMONINI
Ethan H. BHUTTA + MONKEY
Holden DEMON + HEADLESS DEMON
Julia BELLY DANCER + MONKEY
Lily BELLY DANCER + DEMONINI
Louis M DEMON
Max M. DEMON + COOK
Miles DEMON + COOK
Nathan B. GLIDER the WHITE MONKEY
Saniya BELLY DANCER + MONKEY
Sophia S. MEDICINE WOMAN + DEMONINI
Sophie O. MAMA BEAR
Teresa GODDESS + DEMON CHOIR
Tyler KUBANDHA + DEMON + DEMON CHOIR
9th Grade
Aki’o SAGE + MONKEY
Amelia GOLDEN DEER + DEMONINI
Devyn SAGE + MONKEY
Isabella BELLY DANCER + MONKEY
Izzy GODDESS + BELLY DANCER+ DEMONINI
Jacob C. SAGE + DEMON
Kate C. MONKEY
Param SAGE + BABY BEAR
Savannah GODDESS + MONKEY
Tara ‘Cat’ GODDESS + BELLY DANCER + MONKEY
8th Grade
Aimee DEMON
Brigg DEMON + LIZARDO
Carl W. DEMON + SKELETON
Cyrus NISHADA ELDER + DEMON
Gracie MANTHARA + DEMON
Indigo SARASWATI + DEMON
Lucas DEMON + SPIDER + SKELETON
Mikhail “Misha” NISHADA ELDER + DEMON
Nicholas W. DEMON + SKELETON
Phoebe DEER TROUPE + DEMON
Ruby B. DEMON + SPY BIRD
Sienna DEMON + SPY BIRD
Will M. NISHADA ELDER + DEMON
Zac C. DEMON + SKELETON
Zach W. DEMON + SKELETON
7th Grade
Alice DEMON + CELEBRATION DANCER
Cam D. DEMON + CELEBRATION DANCER
Dana A. DEER TROUPE + DEMON + CELEBRATION DANCER
Eleanor DEER TROUPE + DEMON + CELEBRATION DANCER
Imogen DEMON + CELEBRATION DANCER
John D. DEMON + CELEBRATION DANCER
Kaili DEMON + CELEBRATION DANCER
Lillian DEMON + CELEBRATION DANCER
Noah K. DEMON + CELEBRATION DANCER
Priyanka DEMON + CELEBRATION DANCER
Sage DEMON + CELEBRATION DANCER
Samantha R. DEMON + CELEBRATION DANCER
Samith DEMON + CELEBRATION DANCER
Sophia S. DEMON + CELEBRATION DANCER
6th Grade
Aaron NISHADA TRIBE
Alessio NISHADA TRIBE
AnMei NISHADA TRIBE
Braeden NISHADA TRIBE
Connor M. NISHADA TRIBE
Haley NISHADA TRIBE
Jeremy NISHADA TRIBE
Ksenia NISHADA TRIBE
Lilia (Lily) NISHADA TRIBE
Nisha (Aliya) NISHADA TRIBE
Noah T. NISHADA TRIBE
Paola NISHADA TRIBE
Robey Given NISHADA TRIBE
Sarah B. NISHADA TRIBE
Senna NISHADA TRIBE
Sophia W. NISHADA TRIBE
Tabitha NISHADA TRIBE
Vianne NISHADA TRIBE
Vicente NISHADA TRIBE
Will P. NISHADA TRIBE
William (Jordan) NISHADA TRIBE”