The Sitayana
(or “How to Make an Exit”)

By Lavina Jadhwani
Directed by Sarah Shin
Performed by Kendra Jain

August 13th*, 19th, and 26th at 3:00 PM
August 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, 12th, 16th*, 18th, 20th, 22nd, 25th, and 26th at 7:00 PM

* Talkback to follow this performance. Details below!

A young princess, Sita, prepares for her impending nuptials. A young man, Ram, passes Sita's father's test and wins her hand in marriage. She follows him to his kingdom in Ayodhya, but soon after they arrive, he is banished to the forest for fourteen years. She refuses to abandon her husband, so she follows him into the forest, only to be captured by a demon, Ravan. After she is rescued by her husband, she is forced to undergo a test to prove that she was faithful to him during her capture. And even after she proves her purity, she is yet again banished to the forest - this time pregnant and alone. Eventually, she is reunited with her husband, but she realizes she has no desire for this partnership. She chooses to move on by herself, and plunges into the earth from whence she came.

All 12 characters are performed by one actor. It is an adaptation of the hindu epic, The Ramayana, from Ram's wife, Sita's perspective. The Ramayana is one of the most important literary works in South Asian and Hindu culture, traditionally shared with children on Hindu holidays to teach loyalty and goodness.

While our contemporary gaze can recognize the patriarchal dominance in the ancient source text and in contemporary South Asian culture at large, our production makes a space to open dialogue to unpack these issues in our American context. Our telling of this story gives a voice to, and reasserts the power and humanity of Sita, widely known as a Hindu goddess incarnate and deemed to be The Ideal Woman.

This production is an Equity-approved showcase.

KENDRA JAIN

Sita, Waves of Love Founder & Co-Producer

Kendra has appeared off-broadway in A Room of My Own (Abingdon Theatre Company) and Facebook Me: The Play (DR2). Regionally, Kendra was last seen in Particularly in the Heartland as part of the Berkshire Fringe Festival at The Foundry. Kendra was a series regular on the TV pilots “Downwardly Mobile” (NBC) and “Funny in Farsi” (ABC). She can also be seen in “Over/Under” (USA), "Law and Order: SVU" (NBC), and “Lies in Plain sight" (LMN). On film, Kendra has appeared in On the Wing, Our Boys, and New Year’s Eve. Upcoming: Shopping Towards Bethlehem (short). Biggest thank you to Ellen and Rachel for supporting me for over fifteen years. Training: Boston University School of Theatre- BFA Acting, London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts- Classical Acting Certificate, Kristin Linklater Voice Centre. Kendra is thrilled to be joining the Graduate Acting Class of 2026 at New York University in the fall, and she is also a proud Linklater Teacher Trainee.

SARAH SHIN

Co-Producer & Director

Sarah Shin (she/her/hers) is a Schwenksville-raised, Boston-trained, Brooklyn-based Queer Korean American director and theatre artist who unlocks experiences and truths that have been hidden by written history or mainstream culture, and celebrates life and its infinite and abundant possibilities. Recent Directing Credits: The Chinese Lady (Central Square Theater, Boston Globe Top 10 of 2022 Pick), The Sitayana (or “How to Make an Exit”) (Sanguine Theatre Company/Waves of Love), The Master's Tools (National Queer Theatre), The Cradle Will Rock (Concord Academy), Manuka (Youngbloods @ Ensemble Studio Theatre). Associate/Assistant Credits: The Wanderers (Roundabout Theatre Company), Much Ado About Nothing (Shakespeare & Company), The Gift Project Documentary Series (All For One Theater, Zanni Productions/PBS All Arts), The (Diana) Oh Family Concert (Zanni Productions/PBS All Arts), Endlings (NYTW), Moby Dick (ART), Twelfth Night (Catskill Mountain Shakespeare) and MY H8 Letter 2 The Gr8 American Theatre (Ma-Yi/The Public Theater). Select performing credits include Short Stacks (Ma-Yi/Second Generation Productions), The Gift Project Documentary Series & Concert, Specially Processed American Me (Ping Chong & Co.), Sea Longing (The Parsnip Ship). Co-Founding Producing Director of Asian American Theatre Artists of Boston, Queer Asian Babes Co-Founder, Roundabout Directors Group Cohort 4 Member, and A4 Virtual Resident Artist (2020-2021)! BFA Theatre Arts Boston University, SDC Associate Member www.sarah-shin.com IG: @shinnysarah

LAVINA JADHWANI

Playwright

Lavina Jadhwani is a Chicago-based director, adaptor, and activist. She gravitates towards heightened language texts from Eastern and Western canons. Her adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol premiered at the Guthrie in Minneapolis in 2021 and will remain on the boards for years to come. Other plays include Shakuntala (Goodman Theatre — FutureLabs), The Secret Garden (Cunningham Commission, The Theatre School at DePaul University), and The Sitayana (EastWest Players/EnActe Arts/Hypokrit Productions). She also has translations of four Chekhov plays (Uncle Vanya, The Cherry Orchard, Three Sisters, and The Seagull) available. Her critical writing has been featured on HowlRound and Rescripted and is regularly circulated in classrooms across the country. Learn more at lavinajadhwani.com

ISHITA MILI

Choreographer

Ishita Mili is a Bengali American director and choreographer based in NY/NJ with foundation in bharatanatyam, hip hop, Mayurbhanj chhau, and street styles. She founded IMGE as a way to use her mixed roots to challenge social and cultural narratives with diverse yet like-minded artists. IMGE has performed at New Victory Theater, Lincoln Center, Battery Dance Festival, Seattle International Dance Festival, and more. They sold out 4 nights of their premiere evening length show, “(no)man” at The Tank NYC Spring ’23. Ishita most recently made her Broadway debut as associate choreographer on Broadway Bares: Pleasure Park, and was awarded Artist of Exceptional Merit by the Asian American Arts Alliance.

DANIELLE DELAFUENTE

Scenic Designer

Danielle DeLaFuente (She/Her) is overjoyed to be the scenic designer for this show and a member of this phenomenal team! Her recent design credits include The Boy Who Kissed the Sky (Company One), While We Wait (The New School), and Incognito (Bay Street Theater). Her recent associate design credits include Twelfth Night (The Old Globe), Blues For An Alabama Sky (McCarter Theatre Center), Once Upon A Bridge (American Players Theater), and Mr Parent ( Lyric Stage Company). She would like to thank all involved in bringing this story to life!

SAAWAN TIWARI

Costume Designer

Saawan Tiwari (Costume Designer) is a graduate of the University of Michigan. Beyond designing, they teach through Roundabout Theatre Company. So proud to be a part of this amazing show centering South Asian fem stories! Credits: Off-Broadway- The Gospel According to Heather (Theatre 555). Additional credits - Hip Hop Cinderella (New Victory Theatre),  Footloose (American Stage), Bruise and Thorn (Pipeline Theatre Company), Far From Canterbury (Barnstormers Theatre). Saawan is a proud member of the LGBTQ+ and AAPI communities. Saawandesigns.com

MCKENNA EBERT

Lighting Designer

McKenna Ebert (she/her) is a NYC based lighting designer with a BFA in Lighting Design and BA in English from Boston University. Recent design work includes Pride and Prejudice (Yale Dramat), LIZZIE and Laure (Boston University). Assistant Design credits include The Who’s Tommy (Goodman Theatre), The Wanderers (Roundabout Theatre Company), and Ride the Cyclone (McCarter Theatre Center). 

CARSEN JOENK

Sound Designer

Carsen Joenk is a multi-disciplinary artist interested in work that embraces the weird, wild, and unfamiliar within equitable, ensemble-driven processes. Select sound: Lettie (People's Light) The Mountaintop (Weston Theater Company), Goldenleaf Ragtime Blues (Shakespeare Theatre Co.), Made by God (Irish Rep), Bloom Bloom Pow (ART NY // The New Georges), Fiction (600 Highwaymen), Best Life (JACK), A Poem and a Mistake (Australian Centre for Contemporary Art), and DADDY (asst. The New Group). Additional: Co-Artistic Director of Rat Queen Theatre Company, Website: www.carsen-joenk.com

SEAN DEVARE

Dramaturgical Consultant

SEAN DEVARE [he/him] is a New York-based interdisciplinary theatre maker, designer, and musician.  As an artist-in-residence and guest faculty at Williams College he recently co-directed 'SHAKUNTALA: a remix' which also featured his original puppet designs in an immersive environment. Sean’s performance work explores questions of multicultural inheritance and hybridization through reinterpreting folklore and mythologies using hand-crafted performance instruments and Asian artistic traditions, from mask-carving and shadow puppetry to Carnatic violin and physical theatre techniques. He created his own Ramayan solo show ‘First Violin,’ which premiered at HERE Arts Center and was later re-developed for Mabou Mines’ SUITE/Space fellowship.  Sean has created original collaborative pieces with artists in Singapore, Ecuador, and Sicily, and performed in NYC at BAM, Signature, New Victory, Target Margin, La MaMa ETC and more. Sean also works as a freelance designer, with an emphasis on illustrated posters and puppet/mask fabrication, the latter having been featured in Off Broadway and regional theaters (The Public, Theater Row, Flint Rep). Founding member of Trinacria Theatre Company, Artistic Associate with Fault Line Theatre, and Associate Director with Kinding Sindaw. MFA Theatre, Sarah Lawrence College; BFA Illustration, RISD. www.seandevare.com

HANNA YURFEST

Assistant Producer

Hanna Yurfest (she/her) is a director and producer. She studied American Studies and Theater at Skidmore College and is currently working and engaging with theater in New York City. Needylover.com, @yurfest0 on Instagram.

BEA PEREZ-ARCHE

Production Stage Manager & Assistant Director

Bea Perez-Arche is a Cuban American Theatre Artist, currently based in New York City. Her primary focus is creating community through her work and she currently freelances as a Stage Manager, Director and Dramaturg. She has primarily worked at The Public Theater on the New York Shakespeare Festival, Under The Radar Theatre Festival and with the Public Shakespeare Initiative. She is an Associate Artist at Sanguine Theatre Company and has worked with a range of companies including, The Flea, Tectonic Theater Project, One Whale’s Tale, Women’s Project Theater, Little Island, Chelsea Factory and Ballet Collective. She received her BFA in Theater Arts: Design & Production from Boston University. She is honored to be a part of such a fierce group of collaborators, each equally engaged in the betterment and evolution of our industry.

MAGGIE MANZANO

Sub Assistant Stage Manager

Maggie (they/them) is a stage and event manager and local tomato aficionado. They are thrilled to be taking part in such a beautiful play and would like to point out how especially beautiful the flower petals drop. Past credits; Williamstown Theatre Festival, Little Island FREE NYC, Wedding Band (Theatre for a New Audience), The Chinese Lady (Long Wharf Theatre, The Public), A Christmas Carol (St. Louis Rep), Men on Boats (American Conservatory Theatre). All art should be free and fully accessible. 

KYRA TANTAO

Graphic Designer

Kyra Tantao (she/her) is a Queer Latinx graphic designer, actor, musician, and playwright currently residing in Brooklyn, New York. Acting credits include include Dustin Guy Defa’s The Adults, the Disney+ feature, Zombies 3, and NBC’s Law & Order: SVU. Kyra is the front woman and founder of punk band Monica Bang. Her original plays have been premiered by multiple theatre groups, such as The Cool Kids Wear Black Lipstick at Ghostlight Theater Camp and The Tenants at Wardlaw + Hartridge School, which was also revised at Ghostlight in July 2021. This summer she will be directing a production of the Stephen Shwartz musical, Captain Louie at Ghostlight. She holds a BFA in Theatre Arts from Boston University’s College of Fine Arts School of Theatre and she studied physical theatre at the Accademia dell'Arte in Arezzo, Italy. Email kyratantao@gmail.com for any Graphic Design Inquiries. www.kyratantao.com

ELIZABETH BAKER

Social Media Manager

Elizabeth Baker (she/her) is an actor, playwright and social media manager based in Brooklyn! She graduated from Boston University with a BFA in Theatre Arts. She was thrilled that this opportunity was able to combine her love for theater with her social media career. She got her start in social media when her cat when viral on TikTok for opening her fridge (@tobiasthefloof). She has since does social media and content capture for a variety of brands such as Carpe, Purple Mattress Company, The Hard Rock Hotel, and Canopy Hotel. She had so much fun watching this beautiful story come to life and was so grateful to be a part of it!

JASMINE SHARMA

Events Coordinator

Jasmine Sharma (she/her) is a South Asian-American actor/writer/activist *newly* based in NYC. Plays include the recent world premiere of “Radial Gradient” at Shattered Globe Theatre, “For Your Consideration” produced by Moxie Arts NYC, “VIRGINS: A Madonna Bootcamp” produced by Jackalope Theatre Company, “Showtime, Auntie” written for APIDA at Goodman Theatre, “Kids Club/Club Kids” written for SERIALS by The Fled Collective, “Gut Punch” commissioned by AlterTheater Ensemble, “Cancelled/Cancel Me” supported by Ashland New Plays Festival New Voices, among others. Recent acting credits include “Calvin Berger” (The Colony Theatre), “Wives” (Aurora Theatre Company) and “The Wolves” (McCarter Theatre Center). Jasmine has contributed to @iWeigh, worked with the @24HourPlays as an actor and a writer, and sometimes, script PAs Broadway musicals. Her short film “CCC: Conflicted Cuties of Color” will release fall 2023, and she is a 2022-2023 Reel Sisters Fellow. In development: “PEACHY: a sorta chekhovian traumedy” with The IAMA Emerging Playwrights Lab 2023, "THE JAZMINES: a rage play - and for legal reasons, a parody" with The Multi-Gen: New Works Lab by Moxie Arts x The Entertainment Community Fund, and "Pigeonhole" commissioned by Center Theatre Group. Northwestern University. jasminesharma.org | @jasminesharmaa