Pan Asian Repertory Theatre Opens RANGOON, 5/25

Pan Asian Repertory Theatre, East Coast producer of Asian-American theatre, will continue its 35th milestone season with the world premiere of RANGOON by Mayank Keshaviah. Broadway veteran Raul Aranas (Miss Saigon), who directed Pan Asian's long-running Off-Broadway hit, Yellow Fever, returns as director. The production runs May 25th – June 17th at The Clurman Theatre at Theatre Row (410 W. 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Ave). Opening night isThursday, May 31st at 7:00PM.

In this contemporary play that spans from Burma to the American south, a family of Indian émigrés must deal with seductions of American life while trying to keep its heritage alive. RANGOON is funny and tragic - a quintessential 21st century American tale.

"Rangoon revisits the American Dream from an Indian point of view, updating it for the new millennium and its unique challenges," says playwright Mayank Keshaviah. He continues that "while the challenges faced by Indian immigrants have occasionally been dealt with in the American theatre, those affecting Indians who don't fit the 'model minority' stereotype-such as convenience store managers-are almost never explored. As one of the oldest and most prominent Asian-American theatres in the country, in a city that has the largest number of South Asian immigrants in the U.S., Pan Asian Rep provides the perfect home for my play."

In 1985, Pan Asian presented Ghashiram Kotwal, a provocative play that tackled India's caste system and introduced India's foremost modern Marathi playwright, the late Vijay Tendulkar, to American audiences. 25 years later, RANGOON expands Pan Asian's outreach to a new generation within the rapidly growing Indian community, while examining issues of cultural heritage and social justice relevant to the contemporary Indian-American experience.

Faizul Khan, last seen in Comedians and Meeting By The River on Broadway, leads a cast including Adeel Ahmed, Kylie Delre, Sunita S. Mukhi, Krishen Mehta, James Rana, Anita Sabherwal, Martin Sola, and Daniel Robert Sullivan. RANGOON features a scenic design by Kaori Akazawa (The Joy Luck Club), costume design by Carol Pelletier (Monster), and lighting design by Victor En Yu Tan (Imelda). The dramaturg is Snehal Desai. The stage manager is April Ann Kline and Assistant Stage Manager is Miriam Hyfler.

RANGOON is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Pan Asian Rep's RANGOON runs May 25 – June 17 at The Clurman Theatre (410 W 42nd Street at Theatre Row). Via Subway, take the A/C/E to Times Square, 42nd Street. Exit the subway at 42nd Street & 8th Avenue and walk 1 1/2 blocks west to Theatre Row. Note: the 1, 2, 3, 7, 9, N, R, Q, W, and S stop at 42nd Street and Seventh Avenue, 2 1/2 blocks east of Theatre Row.  Performances are Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30pm with matinees Saturday and Sunday at 2:30pm. Tickets are $51.25, contact Telecharge at212-239-6200 or www.telecharge.com. For discounts for groups, seniors and students, call 212-947-8844 or visit www.broadwayoffers.com. For more information about RANGOON, Pan Asian Rep and a schedule of weekday student matinee performances for middle and high school students, visit www.PanAsianRep.org.  For more information about Theatre Row visit www.theatrerow.org.