The 2023 Ramaavan Cast

JOnathan Gregory Powers

Jonathan Gregory Power (Prince Ram) is thrilled to share this show for the second time playing the eldest of Dasaratha! Past credits include’ Washed in the Blood (YBT) Julius Caesar (ATA) The North Forty (ATA) What to Expect (LIPF) Jonathan would like to thank God, the cast, the production team, mom and dad and all of his friends and family who have supported him. Psalm 149

Andrew leonforte

Born and in raised in The Bronx, NY, Andrew Leonforte's past credits include three prior engagements in New York City. Leonforte is also a singer/songwriter. Leonforte thanks the entire production team for this incredible opportunity! As well as his family for their continued love and support!

melissa lubars

Melissa is a NYC based performer who is so excited to be performing in Ramaavan, the Musical! Recent credits include: Pamina (The Magic Flute), Queen of Hearts Understudy/Ensemble (Mad Hatter, the Musical), Yochebed (Ten Commandments, the Musical), Pluto (Pluto, world premiere), Annabel (Mondo Novo, world premiere), Emmie (Albert Herring). Melissa recorded her first EP of original songs with her band, Ourglass, and performs them at NYC venues. She has also recorded for multiple film soundtracks.
Melissa graduated from Manhattan School of Music and currently has a private voice studio consisting of singers of all ages. A huge thank you to her Mom, Matt, Rimli Roy, and the entire cast and crew of this fantastic production! @mellylubars

Jeevika Bhat

Jeevika Bhat is a Manhattan based dancer and choreographer who is excited to dance and play the role of Jatayu in Ramaavan. She has been learning Odissi, an East Indian classical dance form known for its nuanced storytelling and graceful fluidity, under the guidance of Guru Jyoti Rout for the past two decades. She recently received her MFA in Dance from UC Irvine, where her research explored the confluence of her cultures through a contemporary Indian dance medium. 

Giordano Cruz

Giordano Cruz is a theatre artist from Queens. His recent experiences at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival have changed his perspective on theatre. Some acting credits include: RSC King Lear at BAM (Chorus), Hamlet (Horatio), The Rover (Don Pedro), The Winter's Tale (Leontes/Polixenes), A View from the Bridge (Eddie), Westpine Myopes (Benedicto), Westward Mutations (Bickie), A Doll's House (Dr. Rank), The Third Wing (Manuel), Un Chico Normal (Vincente)(in Spanish).

U S Praveen

U.S. Praveen is a proud Singaporean who is excited to make his Off Broadway Debut. Recent credits includes Pischik in “The Cherry Orchard” at Theaterlab (NYC), Andres Bustillo’s “The Lone Wolf Society’s” reading at The Tank(NYC) and “Constellations of Everything Before Us” at the Marilyn Monroe Theater. He is also known for his work as a Recurring Guest Star for National TV Show (Vettai 5) back in Singapore. His commercial credits include brands like Guinness, Air New Zealand which has been shown internationally and also worked as a model for Gucci, Apple and Volkswagen to name a few. Praveen, hailing from Singapore, has also served in the Singapore Armed Forces as a Heliborne trooper. Praveen is a die-hard RedBull Racing fan and is always down to ‘talk cock’ or ‘la kopi’ at Urban Hawker NYC. #GGFTW @prabeenus

Akshat jha

Akshat is a NYC based Actor, Dancer and Model. He completed his acting training from The Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute. He is playing the lead in the ongoing production of TV series "Dharm", and the off-broadway musical “Baby Likes To Rock”. He walked the runway for reputed designers such as Miguel Wilson at New York Fashion Week 2023. He has made and acted in several short films, and stage plays such as adaptations of “Hamlet” and “12 Angry Men”. Akshat made his NY stage debut with "Constellations of Everything Before Us", a devised show for Asian Spotlight 2023. He is thrilled to play “Raavan” and be a part of a show that aims to make India’s biggest epic universal. You can find him on Instagram @akshatjha_

Roberto FAcchin

Roberto Facchin. Dancer, Actor and Singer who studied Musical Theatre in Malaga’s Dramatic Arts School and completed his dance studies through Royal Academy Of Dance in London and Marbella Dance School. Has worked in Antonio Banderas and Baayork Lee’s A CHORUS LINE as Mark, and also worked in the original production of CATS for Royal Caribbean as Alonzo and in several Zarzuelas as an ensemble dancer and chorus in Spain such as La verbena de la Paloma, Francisquita or Luisa Fernanda  Right now he is part of the Covenant Ballet Theatre of Brooklyn.

CARly Sesti

Carly is a NYC based performer  who is so excited to be performing in Ramaavan, the Musical! She is an alumni of Circle in the Square Theatre School. Recent credits include: Fredrika (A Little Night Music), Hymen (As You Like It), Casey (Manhunt,world premiere) Ludlow Ladd (Kooky Caroler),  Lucy ( Your’re a Good Man Charlie Brown) and Louisa von Trapp (Sound of Music).
She would like to thank her family and friends for their love and support as well as  Rimli Roy, and the entire cast and crew of this fantastic production!
@carlysesti,    www.carlysesti.com

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.

Ha Young Synn (Heidi)

Always wanting to become an artist at a young age, aspiring Korean-American opera singer Ha Young Synn stars in Ramaavan – A Musical as Reflection of Sita and Surpanakha 2 with the Surati for Performing Arts this fall. Ms. Synn has recently graduated from the Manhattan School of Music with her Master of Music degree in vocal performance (opera). She has also received her Bachelor’s degree at Syracuse University. This is her first-ever musical and first production with the Surati under the direction of Rimli Roy. Previous credits include Svadba: an acapella chamber opera (Nada), Le portrait de Manon (Jean, understudy), Cendrillon (Dorothée) at the Manhattan School of Music, Amahl and the Night Visitors (Mother, understudy) with Opera California, Speed Dating Tonight (Waitress), Die Fledermaus (Ida), and Dido and Aeneas (2nd Witch) at the Syracuse University Opera Theater. Scene work includes Der Rosenkavalier (Octavian), Idomeneo (Idamante), Così fan tutte (Dorabella) with Angels Vocal Art and at Weill Hall inside Carnegie Hall, Die Fledermaus (Orlovsky, understudy), Oberon (Fatime) at Musiktheatre Bavaria, and Der Rosenkavalier (Octavian), Carmen (Carmen), Lakmé (Mallika) with the Syracuse University Opera Theater. Apart from the standard repertoire, Ms. Synn also takes part in performing solos for church concerts and services. She enjoys getting lost in her other hobbies such as photography, playing guitar, and cooking when not performing.

TANVI

Tanvi is a NYC based Actor and Dancer who completed her acting training from The Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute. She is a trained dancer with a ‘Visharad’ in Kathak (Indian classical dance form) and a Hip-hop dancer specializing in Waacking. She has studied under some of the most respected dancers in India like Pandit Birju Maharaj, Saroj Khan, Shakti Mohan etc. In India, Tanvi has been on the set with many Bengali directors and actors like Parambrata Chatterjee, Raja Chanda and Raajhorshee De on both TV and Film sets. 
Fun fact, Tanvi got her Bachelor’s degree in Biology with Mathematics before shifting all her focus to acting.

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Alondra Schuck

Alondra Schuck is an actress from Long Island, NY. She recently graduated from Binghamton University where she performed as Mimi in Rent and Scaramouche in We Will Rock You. In July, she played Maureen in Rent directed by Adam Pascal. She is so honored, grateful and excited to be making her Off-Broadway debut as Sita in Ramaavan - A Musical. Alondra would like to thank Rimli Roy and everyone else involved in this wonderful production! You can find her on Instagram @aloschuck.

Henry Frontini

Henry Frontini is a NEW YORK CITY based actor. Growing up in Cleveland OH, Henry hailed from a family of artists. After body doubling for Mark Ruffalo in the HBO series, “I Know This Much is True,” he was inspired to move back to the city, where he was born (NYC), to pursue the truth, and master his technique. Represented by INGRID FRENCH MANAGEMENT, he is known for the roles of ‘Adam’ and ‘Stephen’ in the Reckless Few’s (a NY based theatre company that he founded) debut production of Chiara Atiks “Five Times in One Night”. His other credits include starring  in the award-winning short film “The Writer” by Simon Vadas, playing ‘David Heffield’. And starring as ‘Clay’ in the feature film “SCARS”,  written, produced and directed by both himself and Simon Vadas. Henry is a 2023 graduate of William Esper Studio’s acclaimed full-time program in New York City.

SriradhA Paul

Sriradha is an India based performer specialised in Odissi dance for more than two decades, independent researcher, dance educator and curator. She has performed, extensively in India and abroad (US, UK, Sri Lanka, China, Sri Lanka, China,  Hungary, Bhutan and South Korea) . She holds a second master degree in dance anthropology as an Erasmusmundus scholar in the choreomundus programme. She has received Indo-Pacific grant under US consulate. She is the logistics expert for the Choreo Dance Film Festival, premiered in France. 
This is Paul’s second year working as a dancer and the assistant choreographer for Rimli Roy’s Ramaavan. @sri_odissi

Annie Renita

Annie Renita is a dancer and a vocalist, specializes in Bharatnatyam and Kuchipudi. Graduate with a Master's degree in Engineering Management, a Diploma, and a Gandharva (Vishaarad) degree in Bharatanatyam. Dancing various styles since the age of 5 and professionally trained in Bharatnatyam for 12+ years under the guidance of Guru Kum. S. Vasantha at Kalanjali School of Classical Arts. Featured on an Indian TV show called Dance India Dance Season 2 : Finale, music video “Dil Lagayi Kudi” Redux version and on Netflix for Chelsea Handler’s Talk show in the episode: “Dear India”. Alumini of Stevens Institute of Technology’s (University) Choir. Was a member of the cast of the musical "Ramaavan" in 2022.

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.