Promo Video: Om Shanti Om, Agni Productions at the Long Center, August 23 - 25, 2013

Video by Prakash Mohandas for the

production of

Om Shanti

once upon a time in Bollywood

 

at the Long Center, Austin, Texas

August 23 - 25, 2013

Every fairytale you fell in love with always began with “Once upon a time”, and so does this one. Om Shanti is a tale that tells the story of Om, a court dancer madly in love with the princess, Shanti; and a land called Bollywood, whose soul was song and dance until “the incident” changed everything. This summer, Agni Entertainment brings to you a saga on stage: of celebration, friendship, hope, love, life, after-life, revenge, and more, all rolled into one big fat musical – Bollywood style!

Think Broadway  -- Think Bollywood -- Now mix it up!

So come to the Long Center and watch Om Shanti as young Rahul and Anjali take you on a journey so full of excitement and energy but managing to touch your soul. This is a roller coaster ride you dont want to miss as all the wonders of Bollywood – lights, costumes, dance, music and melodrama come together to unfold a tale you won't forget.

The first-ever regionally produced, large scale, Bollywood musical, Om Shanti tells the story of Om, a court dancer madly in love with the princess, Shanti - in a land called Bollywood - whose soul was song and dance until everything changed...
With grand sets, 75 dancers, 15 actors, a 20-member orchestra, a large choir and crew this 120 member production aims to delight audiences with an authentic Indian cultural experience, transporting them across the globe through live music, song, dance, vibrant costumes and imaginative sets.
Tickets available at : http://thelongcenter.org/event/om-shanti-once-upon-a-time-in-bollywood/

Prakash Mohandas Prepares 'Om Shanti Om' for Dell Hall, Long Center - Austin Statesman, July 7, 2013

Uncredited feature published July 7 in the Statesman's 'Love My Job' feature

Click to go to the Statesman's video interview of Prakash Mohandas





 Love My Job: Prakhash Mohandas

(photo: Austin Statesman)

 Watching Prakash Mohandas direct cast members for his upcoming production, “Om Shanti — Once upon a Time in Bollywood,” it is hard to believe engineering was his mainstay up until a few months ago. [CLICK to view 'Upcoming' announcement page at AustinLiveTheatre.com]

The actor, dancer, musician and filmmaker is obviously in his realm on the stage, but Mohandas is also a successful entrepreneur. He is founder and CEO of Agni Entertainment, the burgeoning film and theater company which produces, promotes and distributes independent film and theater projects with a South Asian focus.

“Coming from India, I never thought that all of my artistic interests could be translated into a profession,” he said. “I think one of the things the U.S. has taught me is that anything can be a profession if you are really passionate about it, provided that you put in some thought about how you can make that passion of yours monetarily viable.”

Mohandas’ passion for the arts came at an early age. He began learning hip hop and jazz in India at age 6. When he was 11, he took up Indian classical music. He also participated in theater throughout school and continued to pursue dance, theater and music during his undergraduate studies.

“Most of my artistic abilities came from my early education in India,” he said. “But culturally, the community has a stigma against artistic careers; they aren’t considered lucrative enough to make a living. Culturally, I was raised to go toward a path of engineering, medicine, law or an MBA.”

Mohandas left India to attend graduate school in engineering at The University of Texas. Engineering was never something Mohandas questioned; instead, he said he followed suit with many of his peers and moved to the U.S. to pursue his graduate studies.

“Over there, all my artistic interests were considered hobbies — even through I was really passionate about them, I never thought of them as a career path,” he said.

Click to read more at AustinLiveTheatre.com . . . . 

Click to view article at Austin Statesman. . . .

Dance Auditions for Om Shanti Om, Austin's First Indian Musical, March 9 at UT and March 24 at Ballet Austin

Have feet...Will dance! Do you want to be a part of the first ever Bollywood Musical in Austin? No prior Bollywood dance experience required.
Music you can’t stop dancing to, costumes that scream color and shimmer, a drama that speaks to your soul telling stories of love, revenge and life… it’s Bollywood and more! Agni Productions is looking for dancers of all genres for Om Shanti Om, the first ever Bollywood Musical, going on August 22nd, 23rd and 24th 2013 at the Long Center. 
 
Auditions will be held Saturday, 03.09.13 | 12:30pm - 3:30pm at the UT Art Building | 23rd & San Jacinto and Sunday, 03.24.13 12:30pm - 3:30pm Ballet Austin | 501 W. 3rd St, Austin

If you fit the bill, please RSVP at agniproductions@gmail.com

AGNI Productions Seeks Dancers for summer 2013 Bollywood Musical at Long Center, Austin

Bollywood Musical at the Long Center $$

Agni productions is looking for male, female dancers and actors older than 15 yrs of age to be a part of their next Bollywood Musical production named 'Om Shanti Om' . NO prior Bollywood dance experience required . Auditions in all dance forms accepted. 
 
Agni productions presents to you its next production named 'OM Shanthi OM' . The production will be a musical in English based on OM shanti OM the film. It will not be an exact recreation but a storyline that involves elements from the original movie. It will be a touring production with the first round of shows happening in Austin and Houston summer 2013 with current dates fixed in Austin at the Long Center in August.

The cast and crew will comprise of technicians , dancers , actors and in all we expect the the cast and crew to comprise of about 70-80 people.

Here are a few videos that will give you an idea of how the project will look
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56mdRrcTtSY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZ9mxl-4akc&feature=fvwrel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcWjdVq21Ac

To give you an idea of Agni Productions and our previous project here is a website www.thelankaproject.com

Requirements:
* Must be at least 15 years of age
* Must be available to rehearse starting March
* Must be available for a 2 weekends of live performances in August
Send us resumes , headshots and demo reels to : agniproductions@gmail.com -- contact 512 299 7766 for further details

Upcoming: Lanka, Agni Productions at Westlake High School, March 20

Found on-line:

Agni Productions presents

March 20, 6 p.m.

Westlake High School, 4100 Westbank Drive (click for map)

Tickets $25 - $50; discount pricing available for groups

Buy on-line via the Long Center's Frontgate Solutions

Agni Productions brings to you Lanka, a stage production that combines theater, dance and martial arts to narrate an epic tale. Lanka tells the fictional story about what transpires in Lanka after the Ramayana, the great Indian Epic. The presentation will be entirely in English interlaced with contemporary dance and martial arts drawing inspiration from varied influences. The production will tour Texas in March and April of 2011 and other states in the U.S. thereafter.

Click to listen to music at the website