The 2024 Ramaavan Cast
JOnathan Gregory Powers
Jonathan Gregory Power (Prince Ram) will be playing prince Ram for the third time here at Surati. He is excited to perform with this new cast! Past credits include: King Lear (ATA) an Enemy of the People (YBT) Washed in the Blood (YBT) Julius Caesar (ATA) The North Forty (ATA) What to Expect When Expecting our Lord and Savior (LIPF) Jonathan regularly attends Redeemer East Harlem church. A 2020 graduate from University of the Arts Jonathan would like to thank all of the people that have supported and held him in this journey. Tanner Hodson
Since taking the stage at the age of 9, Tanner has evolved into a multifaceted actor with experience across the industry from theater to modeling and even playing in a band. He has performed and worked on a variety of projects in over 19 countries across 5 continents. His excitement for arts and storytelling come to life in the story of Ramaavan - A Musical. Tanner is very excited to be a part of this production and share this beautiful story. Chelsea Hart
With a decade of stand up comedy and musical performance, Chelsea is a formidable force in the art sector, having garnered 1.6 million followers across social media. Born and raised in Alaska, Chelsea has performed in more than 30 countries around the world as a comedian and singer. Their solo Edinburgh show “Damet Garm” about the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement in Iran received high praise from some of the top publications in the UK including Chortle and Edinburgh festival magazine. They currently reside in New York. “Impressive” -Chortle UK Hitanshi Patel
Mari Takayama
Mari Takayama is a professional ballet dancer based in NYC. She was born in Japan and graduated from the Ballet Course at Senzoku Gakuen College of Music. In 2021, she moved to the United States and danced with American Repertory Ballet as a trainee. Mari has danced with ballet companies like Eglevsky Ballet, Connecticut Ballet, City Dance NY, and Neville Dance Theatre. Recently, she joined the national tour of The Thorn. |
August Williams
August Williams (Ravan): Raised in Savannah Georgia is very gracious to be making his debut with Surati Performing Arts. Being a new resident of New York has been an exciting experience in his career, he’s amazed by the chance to work with such wonderful performers. Jeremiah Williams
Jeremiah Williams (Hanuman): Jeremiah is delighted to be making his debut with Surati Performing Arts Ramaavan A Musical at Cullum Theatre. He recently worked with Live History Shows as Duke Lebeau in Lady Whistledown’s Tea Party at Jersey City’s Liberty Museum. Jeremiah studied Theatre Arts at Central Washington University where he received a BA. For fun, Jeremiah enjoys making comedy skits, and playing his ukulele. He wants to thank his wife for all of the support while acting and pursuing his dream. His artwork can be found at jeremiahwilliams.my.canva. site Persephone Zymos
Persephone Zymos is ecstatic to make her Off-Broadway debut alongside her best friend Madison Halla. Her recent performances include Roxie in Chicago and Spongebob in Spongebob the Musical, she is also performing in the upcoming off-broadway musical Blue Blind. Freshly out of high school, Persephone made the big move to NYC just a few months ago! Since childhood, annoying her brother with her singing until his break down, Persephone has dreamed of this moment. Represented by Kreativ Artists, Persephone can’t thank her vocal coach, Ms. Penny, enough, as well as her supportive family back in Wisconsin. Kijana Lewis
Kijana moved to the United States of America from Guyana in 2017 and has since performed in many productions with several Companies. Trained in contemporary, modern and afro-Caribbean dance styles, Lewis is a returning cast member who has worked with the same production before. Mihika keran
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Madison Halla
Madison Halla is overjoyed to be making her Off-Broadway debut alongside her best friend, Persephone Zymos. She recently graduated from NYU Steinhardt’s musical theatre program where she performed as Kate McGowan in the Broadway Orchestra’s Titanic. She has been warming up to her new post-grad life by going to auditions and starring at night as “Waitress” in BLT Prime Steakhouse. She couldn’t have done this without the emotional support of her parents, twin sister, younger brother, and beloved dog, and she extends her deepest gratitude to them all. Umang Shawney
Umang Sawhney is a bilingual actor whose journey from India to Canada and now New Yorkhas been marked by a passion for storytelling. His cultural fusion adds depth to his performances. After moving to Vancouver after high school, Umang completed the Acting forFilm & TV program, honing his craft and preparing for the stage and screen. Recently, Umang embarked on an exciting new journey in New York City, where he is method acting at The Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute. He believes that the craft is the journey and not just the result, a philosophy that informs his approach to performance. His recent work includes starring in the Off-Broadway production of Five Times in One Night, directed by Harsh Gupta, and a role in the SAG film At Night, directed by Zoe Simmons, which premiered at the Montreal International Black Film Festival. Additionally, he has performed in Bollywood dance shows like The Spirit of India with Shiamak, Vancouver. Umang also showcased his storytelling abilities as the director and screenwriter of Bokeh, which won the Best Screenplay Award at the LSTFI Film Festival. With a commitment to pushing creative boundaries, Umang continues to inspire audiences with his work. Harsha Harikumar
Harsha Harikumar is a seasoned classical dancer with a passion for preserving and promoting Indian performing arts. With a Master’s in Bharathanatyam and diplomas in Mohiniyattom, Kuchipudi, and Theatre Arts, Harsha’s dance journey spans over several experienced years. As a rank holder in her field of Bharathanatyam, she has honed her craft through rigorous training and dedication. Currently a company dancer at Surati Performing Arts, she has been with the organization for the past two years, contributing her artistry to its dynamic performances. With over 16 years of teaching experience, Harsha is committed to nurturing the next generation of artists, imparting not just technical skills but a deep respect for the cultural richness of each art form. Fiona Smith
Fiona Smith is a working dancer, teacher and choreographer from Portland, Oregon who loves to tell stories and connect with others through movement. They started their dance training at age 11 learning ballet, modern, jazz, contemporary, and tap. Since then, they have trained in a variety of other styles such as ballroom, heels, hip hop, and house, waacking and are always eager to learn more. Fiona graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Kinesiology from Oregon State University, and has been sharing their scientific knowledge of the body and movement through teaching classes for children, teens, and adults. In addition to teaching, Fiona loves to perform and choreograph, and has had the opportunity to do so for music artists, private and community events, youth recitals and musical productions. SANIKA Pophale
Sanika Pophale is a professional Indian Classical Bharatnatyam dancer. She completed her undergraduate and master's degrees in dance (Bharatnatyam) from Bharati Vidyapeeth School of Performing Arts in Pune under the guidance of Guru Dr. Swati Daithankar. She has been dancing for over 15 years. In addition to her expertise in Bharatnatyam, she is also trained in various dance styles, including Bollywood, contemporary, ballet, folk, and hip-hop. Furthermore, she is a National Taekwondo player with numerous awards at state and national championships to her name. In 2018, she was honored with the CCRT National Scholarship awarded by the Government of India in the field of dance. She has also showcased her talent on the Marathi reality show "Me Honar Superstar" on Star Pravah and has contributed to choreographing dance performances for reality shows and national-level competitions. Currently, she is pursuing her second master’s degree in digital marketing analytics at Montclair State University in New Jersey. |