San Jose Mercury News: 40-Year Tradition Continues

San Jose Mercury News, 6/5/2018, “40-Year Tradition Continues,” by Sal Pizarro.

40-YEAR TRADITION CONTINUES: Since it was founded in 1978, Mount Madonna School has annually performed “Ramayana!,” an ancient epic adapted for more modern audiences and set to a mix of traditional and contemporary music. A cast and crew of nearly 200 — involving every student at the school from preschool to 12th grade — will put on this year’s show Thursday through Sunday at the Mexican Heritage Plaza theater in San Jose.

Mount Madonna Center for the Creative Arts and Sciences was founded on Summit Road in Watsonville by Baba Hari Dass, a teacher and yoga practitioner from India, and it was his idea to make the Indian tale with its lessons on truth, duty, love and service part of the school’s mission. “It’s the culmination of months of work during the academic year and is a year-end celebration for our community embracing diversity and creative self-expression,” Head of School Mary Supriya said.

A dress rehearsal performance will take place Thursday at 7 p.m., with regular performances at 7 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Get tickets for the dress rehearsal at ramayana-preview.brownpapertickets.com and for the regular shows at ramayana.brownpapertickets.com. Read online