35th Annual Ramayana!

June 7, 8, and 9, 2013

Friday night, June 7 at 7:00 pm

Saturday night, June 8 at 7:00 pm

Sunday matinee, June 9 at 2:00 pm

Mexican Heritage Theater

at the School of Arts and Culture at Mexican Heritage Plaza

1700 Alum Rock Avenue, San Jose, CA

 

TICKETS

General admission (reserved seating) are now on sale via Brown Paper Tickets. You may also call Brown Paper Tickets at 1-800-838-3006 to place your order.

Dress Circle tickets are also available!

Dress Circle includes:

• the best seats in the house!
• reserved parking immediately adjacent to the theater
• a pre-show reception with hors d'oeuvres and refreshments
• intermission treats
• and backstage tours!
• a portion of the ticket price is a tax-deductible donation and helps to underwrite this production.

 

"Mount Madonna School's Ramayana,
the best school pageant ever.
BUT, the reality goes far beyond.
Yes, indeed, all actors are students at the school
from preschool to seniors,
but the quality of the production
raises it to the level of true art."

–Paul Myrvold
Entertainment Editor,
Out & About Magazine

 

The Play

The Ramayana is an annual all-school event in which the entire student body takes part. This magical theatrical production of drama, dance and song has been entertaining audiences for over 30 years. In the preschool years students may begin by taking part in the ever-popular forest animal scene. Gradually they work their way through various small parts as dancers, singers, monkeys, demons, and martial artists until they finally emerge in the lead roles in their high school years. Behind the scenes, a large supporting cast of parents, teachers, alumni and Mount Madonna Center staff take on the roles of prop makers, costumers, make-up artists, technicians, musicians, stage crew, and concessionaries. This makes the Ramayana our largest school event of the year. 

 

FOR ADVERTISERS

Please consider supporting the Ramayana! by advertising in the playbill. Playbill advertising plays a crucial role in underwriting this production and maintaining the quality performances year after year. Advertisement dollars help offset the significant costs of costumes, special effects, make-up, transportation, theater rental, and more.

Sellout performances play to audiences from:

• Santa Cruz County
• Santa Clara County
• San Benito County
• Alameda County

Rates for ads range from $100 - $1,050 Color or Black & White. See Rate Sheet (pdf).

For more information call (408) 847-2717.

 

FOR SPONSORS

Please help us support the Ramayana Production & the Mount Madonna School Theater Program by becoming a sponsor. 

Sponsorship Levels:

Platinum - $10,000

Diamond - $5,000

Ruby - $2,500

Emerald - $1,000

Download sponsorship opportunities summary (pdf).

For more information call (408) 847-2717

 

More Background on the Story

What could be better than a story with a prince and princess in love, gold-spangled costumes, smoke-breathing dragon, and a heroic rescue? Now in its 30th year, Mount Madonna School's dazzling show is the longest running western production of this timeless Indian epic, and an event for the whole family!

Enduring 2600 years as one of the world's most widely-read classics, Ramayana [pronounced ra-MY-a-na] tells the story of Prince Ram, who, banished from his kingdom, leaves with his true love Sita and brother Lakshman to find a new home. The trio makes its way deep into the forest, encountering an array of magical characters, including: tribal folk and gentle forest animals, giants and wizards, heroic monkeys and bears, an enchanted golden deer and a wild, smoke-breathing dragon!

Mount Madonna School's production, a local tradition since 1978, features a cast of 187 student performers, from preschool through high school, accompanied by a choir and adult musicians. It is a story of love, adventure, separation and an eventual joyous reunion, in an ancient allegory of the battle of good and evil. The show is filled with exciting action, spectacular costuming, family humor and original, live music.

As the story unfolds, relevant, profound and subtle themes emerge—not only the power of goodness and the determination of love, but also the need for compassion to all beings.

A rich performing arts tradition and integrated arts curriculum make MMS performances outstanding. Put aside any stereotypes of what "school play" might bring to mind—think professional quality, phenomenal, authentic costumes, staging, musical talents and dramatic accomplishment. These kids work hard—and it shows!

Bringing Ramayana to life each year is a labor of love for the crew as well, with hundreds of faculty, staff, parents and volunteers contributing in myriad ways. This is testament to the strong volunteer spirit and community-building efforts espoused by Mount Madonna School. 

Read more: a parent's perspective and a student's perspective on this production of the Ramayana.

Read more: Silicon India magazine's preview of the production.

See a gallery of "Ramayana!" photos on IndiaWest.com