Where There’s A Will

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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SAWITRI Theatre Group presents Where There’s A Will

SAWITRI Theatre Group – celebrating 10th successful year – Canadian premiere of acclaimed Indian playwright Mahesh Dattani’s play – 4 shows only – December 6, 7, 8 and 9, 2012!

SAWITRI Theatre Group’s 2012 home season offers Where There’s A Will, a two-act play in English at the Sampradaya Theatre, Mississauga; four shows from Thursday December 6 through Sunday December 9, 2012.

Where There’s a Will is one of the earliest plays of Mahesh Dattani, who is the first Indian playwright, writing in English, to have won the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award of India. A comedy of the drawing room variety, it tells the story of a rich businessman, Hasmukh Mehta, who tries to control his family through his “will”. Despite its comedy, the play offers a poignant and introspective look at women in their own homes being marginalized by patriarchal codes. It confronts issues of authority and identity within a seemingly traditional family. The patriarch, Hasmukh Mehta’s pet peeve is that no one lives up to his expectations. His son Ajit fiercely resists him, refusing to become an extension of his father. Ajit’s wife Preeti, tries to be a dutiful daughter-in-law, and Hasmukh’s wife Sonal, is an insipid woman living in his shadow. On the periphery of this family unit, is Hasmukh’s mistress, Kiran. Where There’s A Will is directed by, Christina Collins, a director known to South Asian audiences in the GTA for her recent successes – Bollywood interactive show Paul and Priya’s Wedding, and the North American touring production of 30 Dates.  SAWITRI Theatre Group is proud to support a cast of emerging new generation actors and talented Mississauga actors who remain under the radar as they largely perform in Indian languages – Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, etc.

An incorporated not-for-profit organization, under the artistic leadership of Jasmine Sawant and Shruti Shah, SAWITRI Theatre Group presents original, challenging and exciting works. Highlighting issues prevalent in the South Asian community, and is known to take risks, bringing unique theatre experiences to its audiences. SAWITRI Theatre Group is supported in part by: The Open Space, Nitin Sawant, Lata Pada, Sampradaya Creations, operationally by the City of Mississauga, and the unstinting support of family friends and volunteers. www.sawitri.ca   

Details

SAWITRI Theatre Group presents Mahesh Dattani’s Where  There’s A Will – a two act play in English. Directed by Christina Collins; Set & Lighting Design: Joseph Pagnan; Music: Vikas Kohli, Fatlabs; Costumes: Shruti Shah. Cast: Naimesh Nanavaty as Hasmukh Mehta, Jasmine Sawant as Sonal Mehta, Sid Sawant as Ajit Mehta, Aneri Nanavaty as Preeti Mehta and Namita Dandekar as Kiran Jhaveri.

Dates: Thu Dec 6, Fri Dec 7 and Sat Dec 8, 2012 at 8 pm – Sun Dec 9, 2012 at 3 pm.

Venue: Sampradaya Theatre, 5-3250 Ridgeway Drive, Mississauga, ON L5L 5Y6

Tickets: $25 – Adults and $20 – Seniors, children and arts workers. Box Office: Call Pravina at 905-793-8064 or Nitin at 416-450-4107.

Info: www.sawitri.ca  

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION – Where There’s A Will

Biographies

Jasmine Sawant – Co-Founder and Artistic Co-Director, SAWITRI Theatre Group – Playing ‘Sonal Mehta’

Producer, Actor, Writer, Manager Jasmine has worked extensively in both community and professional theatre in India and Saudi Arabia before coming to Canada.  At SAWITRI, Jasmine is responsible for artistic and strategic planning, project management, communications, development, as well as general administration.

Jasmine’s most recent stage acting credits include her role as narrator in SAWITRI Theatre Group’s Saree Kahaniyan – Saree Stories, RangManch Canada’s Jeevan Saathi Clinic, Fenstar Productions’ Paul & Priya’s Wedding and SAWITRI Theatre Group’s Kaalparikrama. Her film/TV credits include, Parvati in the Mylan Web Series, Tina in I Do. Do I? and Sunjit in Hart of the Annex. Jasmine has directed several plays for SAWITRI including the highly engaging Meri Saas Meri Jaan, The Kallus Next Door and Savita weds Satish.

Jasmine is indebted to the late Mahendra Joshi, her mentor in theatre, whom she met in 1975 and with whose encouragement and support she briefly pursued professional theatre in India, along with actors like Paresh Rawal, Swaroop Sampat, Sameer Khakhar,  who went on to be celebrated actors on stage and in Bollywood, and directors as Shafi Inamdar and Dinkar Jani. In Mumbai, Jasmine has also written, directed and acted in plays in French and German.

Taking several years off for marriage and motherhood, Jasmine went back to theatre while living in Saudi Arabia, where she wrote and directed plays for children. In Canada she continues to write articles, essays, plays, radio scripts, and has written and co-written plays for SAWITRI Theatre Group, the most significant being Saree Kahaniyan – Saree Stories, The Kallus Next Door and a dance-theatre script for young audiences, titled One World Our World that highlighted environmental issues, commissioned by the SAMPRADAYA Dance Academy. For over 20 years, she has been in theatre, and film, and believes that it all begins with a good story.

Jasmine holds a B. Com from the University of Bombay, Diploma in Journalism (India) and an Arts Administration from Humber College, Toronto. In her day-time avatar, Jasmine is the General Manager of the award-winning dance company, Lata Pada’s SAMPRADAYA Dance Creations. www.sawitri.ca

Shruti Shah – Artistic Co-Director, SAWITRI Theatre Group – Costume Design

Actor, Writer and Administrator, Shruti has worked extensively in professional theatre in India before coming to Canada. She works with Jasmine in artistic programming, communications and general administration.

Shruti Shah’s recent acting credits include her lead role in SAWITRI Theatre Group’s Saree Kahaniyan – Saree Stories, Sita in RangManch Canada’s Jeevan Saathi Clinic and her writing credits include Ab Kya Karey? (What Now?) and Meri Saas Meri Jaan that she co-wrote with Jasmine Sawant. Shruti was born and raised in Mumbai, (formerly Bombay) India, the city of dreams. She has loved Bollywood films since she was a little girl, but never pursued a career in films, TV or Radio, because growing up in the 70’s, it was still not considered ‘right’ for girls to be part of the entertainment/performing industry.  Shruti however has remained an avid viewer of these films, and a reader of all things filmi or Bollywood.

An alumnus of Arya Vidya Mandir, Mumbai, Shruti participated in theatre in school and studied Shakespeare, her favourite being the Merchant of Venice. It was very karmic when she was approached to play a part in a professional production of the Merchant of Venice while at St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai. The play, directed by Salim Ghouse, went on to stage several performances at prestigious venues as the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA) and Prithvi Theatre in Mumbai, as well as other cities in India.

And then there was no looking back – Hamlet, Chekhov, etc. Shruti continued to participate in theatre at all levels, including sound, light, backstage support, wardrobe and makeup. When she worked on the Hindi productions Hera Pheri and Hum Dono she had the opportunity to work with established names in the Bollywood industry as Shubha Khote, Rakesh Bedi, Smita Jayekar, Tom Alter, Avtaar Gill, Anant Mahadeven, Bhavana Balsaver and Shekhar Suman. Her work in professional theatre also involved touring with the productions across the length and breadth of India as well as the Middle East. Shruti holds a B.A. in Sociology, Diploma in Creative Writing from the British Council (India).

Christina Collins – Director

Christina Collins has been acting in Film, Television and Theatre for over thirty-five years – across Canada and the United States. She studied at NYU and Circle-In-The-Square in NYC where she also earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from New York University.   She has performed at a wide variety of theatres across Canada and the United States, including: Circle in the Square, and The Collonades Theatre Lab, (both in NYC); The Ethel Kweskin Theatre in Stamford Connecticut; The Bathurst Street Theatre, and The St. Lawrence Center, in Toronto; The Arbor Theatre in Peterborough; Theatre Aquarius in Hamilton; The Manitoba Theatre Centre, and Prairie Theatre Exchange, in Manitoba; and the Sudbury Theatre Centre.  Some of her theatre highlights include; Laura in The Glass Menagerie, Kate in Taming of the Shrew, Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Charlotte in Night of the Iguana, Libby in I Ought to Be in Pictures, Margherita in “We Won’t Pay! We Won’t Pay!”, Darlene in Balm in Gilead and Ms. White  in Reservoir Bitches, for the NYC Fringe.

            Ms. Collins also has numerous films credits to her name.  Some highlights include principal roles in: Dead Ringers, Glory, Glory, Women in Prison, Between Love and Honor, Holiday Affair, Extreme Measures, Thanks to a Grateful Nation, Jimmy Pacheco, Reversible Errors, and the lead role in the film, The Dinner Party.  She also has appeared in several film festivals across Canada in the hit short film, The Cat Sitter, as well as the a lead in the web series GETTING DOWN.

            In Television, she was a recurring cast member on the BBC/Disney produced series, I WAS A SIXTH GRADE ALIEN, and can be seen in many Canadian Television series such as; KUNG FU, E.N.G., DEEP WATER BLACK, DOC, KEVIN HILL, BLUE MURDER, THIS IS WONDERLAND, REGENESIS, THE FAMOUS JETT JACKSON, DEGRASSI, SECOND GENERATION, HEARTLAND, THE FIRM and most recently as guest star in the new Canadian series CRACKED.

            As well as her acting work, Christina has worked as a stage manager and producer in the theatre, and was co-founder and co-artistic director for Wild Thyme Theatre Company, in Toronto. She tutors actors privately, and has taught many improvisational classes for the TDSB.

            For the last ten years, Ms. Collins has been delighted to be among the teaching staff for the Film and Television Program at Humber College in Toronto.  SCRIPT ANALYSIS, FUNDAMENTALS OF ACTING, THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF ACTING FOR FILM AND TELEVISION, IMPROVISATION, ACTING TECHNIQUE and ADVANCED SCENE STUDY FOR THE CAMERA, are some of the courses she has taught at Humber and in Toronto.  Also at Humber she created and teaches the college course, THE BUSINESS OF ACTING FOR ELECTIVE MEDIA, which among many things, prepares the actor to be a self-employed actor in Canada. 

            Ms. Collins also freelances as a director, and frequently directs commercial auditions at Jigsaw Casting.  She directed the North American touring production of the play “30 Dates”, as well as the interactive Bollywood show “Paul and Prya’s wedding”.  She is ecstatic to add “Where There’s A Will” to her directing credits.

Naimesh Nanavaty – Actor playing ‘Hasmukh Mehta’

Naimesh’s passion for theatre is part of his own inheritance from his parents. He has acted in over 50 one-act and full-length plays in India. Unfortunately, Indian language actors are under the radar in Canada. Naimesh is now taking up roles in the English language, acting in a couple of independent short films and taking on his first full-length play in English with SAWITRI Theatre Group. With a background in law, Naimesh is a legal assistant at a law office. He is also a writer and arts manager. He has worked for several years as an arts manager with the Menaka Thakkar Dance Company, as well as Kalanidhi Fine Arts, both well-known Toronto arts organizations.

Namita Dandekar – Actor playing ‘Kiran Jhaveri’

Namita’s association with stage dates back to her school days when she was always part of dance and theatre performances for Annual Days. This association lasted until she graduated from university. It took a back seat due to marriage, family responsibilities and pursuing a ‘proper’ career. She’s delighted to be cast in yet another SAWITRI Theatre Group production, this time in English. She had played a lead role in two other SAWITRI productions in the Marathi language of India – Kaalparikrama – The Time Machine and Mahasagar – The Ocean.

NEW GENERATION ARTISTS

Sid Sawant – Actor – Playing ‘Ajit Mehta’

Sid is an emerging Toronto-based actor whose artistic aspirations have led him on stage and screen. After graduating Cawthra Park Secondary School with his Regional Arts Diploma in 2008, Sid continues his education at Humber College’s Acting for Film and Television Program. While studying at Cawthra Park, his stage credits include Cabaret in 2007 and Jesus Christ Superstar in 2008.

More recently, Sid performed in the 2011 Luminato Festival. He played Aurangzeb in Lata Pada’s Sampradaya Dance Creations’ dance-theatre production TAJ at the Fleck Dance Theatre, Toronto. Sid’s onstage performances also include the Fringe Festival 2011 with Limitless Dance Productions. Sid’s involvement in film includes several student short films and starring as Raj in the Houston Fest Remi Gold award-winning independent short I Do. Do I?

Joe Pagnan – Set and Lighting Design

Joe Pagnan is a scenographer based in Toronto Ontario. Select design credits include: Dark Locks (Scenic, SummerWorks), Feral Child (Scenic, Suburban Beast), Where There’s A Will (Scenic and Lighting, Sawitri Theatre), The Graduate (Director, set and Lighting design, Scarborough Players), Gruesome Playground Injuries (Scenic and Costume design, BirdLand), Doorways (Scenographer, Young Centre for the Performing Arts), Shrimp and Eggs (Art Director, Bravo Fact File [TV]), The Omnibus Bill (Production Designer, Rhubarb Festival), Roman Comedy (Lighting Design, Act II Studios), Last Five Years (Scenic and Costume Design, Clearwater Theatre Company], Kim’s Convenience (Assistant to Scenic Design, Soulpepper), Enter The Shadow [Assistant Scenic Design, EnWave], Hannah’s Turn [Scenic Design, Summerworks], Love, Virtually [Scenic Design, Best of Fringe], Mariner [Director, Scenic and Costume design, Risk The Void], Company [Lighting Design, Ryerson University], fragMENT [Lighting Design, Ryerson University], Seven Deadly Sins [Lighting Design and Set Decorator, Act II Studios], The Girls Who Saw Everything (Lighting Design, Ryerson University), A Murder is Announced [ Director and Scenic Design, Scarborough Theatre Guild], Hamlet [ Director and Scenic and Location Design, Anonymous Theatre Group], The Birds [Director and Scenic and Lighting Design, Anonymous Theatre Group]. He has been a dramatic arts counselor at Arts-N-Fusion and RV Wendell summer camps; a teaching assistant and guest lecturer at Ryerson University and multiple high school programs; a union representative for I.A.T.S.E. Local B173 at the Princess of Wales Theatre; and assisted the national curate of the Canadian pavilion for the International Conference of Space and Design, Prague Quadrennial 2011. He has also been a member of the emerging artist program with the Young Centre for the Performing Arts and has trained with the guidance of Tanit Mendes, Cameron Porteous, Caroline O’Brien, Ken MacKenzie, Torsten Blume (Germany), and Julia Bui-Ngoc (Poland). He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Honours in theatre production from Ryerson University. Upcoming projects include: Fortune and Men’s Eyes (BirdLand Theatre) and 9 Loons (Hatch Festival). Joe Pagnan is an associate member of Associated Designers of Canada. www.joepagnan.com

Vikas Kohli, FATLABS – Music

Vikas Kohli from FatLabs is a good guy. You want to be his friend. He's fought super-villains while the song he produced for Bollywood film "Mission Istaanbul" was performed live at the IIFAs in Bangkok, Thailand. He's grilled a samosa while composing for the CFC's "Shanti Baba Ram & The Dancers of Hope", which aired on Canwest Global. He ate the samosa while composing for "I Do. Do I?" which won a Gold Remi at the Houston International Film Festival. He's produced two albums with The Responsibles, both of which were nominated for Punk Recording of the Year; co-wrote Jennifer Abadesso's song "Did You Think", which hit #1 in Paris; produced multi-million album selling Bhangra artist Mika Singh and collaborated on projects with Cappadonna (Wu-Tang Clan), Justin Nozuka, Moka Only and Apache Indian. He is the first composer to receive the Trailblazer Award from the ReelWorld Film Festival, the first composer to receive a Voice Achievers Award and has won a MARTY award from the Mississauga Arts Council.  In the past 2 years Kohli has produced the Bollywood Monster Mashup #1 attended by 15,000 people, Bollywood Monster Mashup #2 attended by 15,000 people, and the Monster Rock Orchestra attended by 20,000 people. Vikas has been profiled by CBC The National, Globe and Mail, Hindustan Times, ET Canada and sits on the board for the Blackwood Art Gallery and the Art Gallery of Mississauga. Things are looking good at FatLabs. Let's do lunch. http://fatlabs.com

Aneri Nanavaty – Actor playing ‘Preeti Mehta’

Aneri has inherited her passion for theatre and poetry from her family – father as well as grandparents who were active stage personalities of their time in Gujarat, India. Her father has always supported her theatre activities all through school. She has acted in more than ten plays in English, Gujarati, Hindi and Urdu. Currently a Grade 12 student in Mississauga, Aneri plans to pursue theatre as a parallel profession.