Acclaimed performer Brenda Wong Aoki is collaborating with Gamelan Sekar Jaya and Shadowlight Productions to tell the ancient Hindu epic, The Mahabharata, through the eyes of its key female character, Drupadi. Featuring text by playwright Zara Houshmand, Drupadi explores age-old stories through the perspective of the me-too era.
Along with Aoki’s narration, the performance features ShadowLight shadow master Larry Reed and choreography by Emiko Saraswati Susilo. The story plays out on a massive shadow screen. Gamelan Sekar Jaya’s guest music director, I Dewa Putu Berata, and guest dance director, I Made Suteja, join Gamelan Sekar Jaya’s metallophone gaelan semar pegulingan, a company of dancers, and a complement of ShadowLight artists in this production at San Francisco’s new Presidio Theatre.
An open dress rehearsal is offered on March 13 at 7:30 with subsequent performances on March 14 (2:30 and 7:30) and March 15 (2:30). Tickets are available.