Amid a pandemic year when live stage shows everywhere were prohibited, Mount Madonna School (MMS) reenvisioned its performing arts, and distinctive, annual theatrical production of an ancient Hindu epic to create a movie version, offering its preschool to high school students who comprise the show’s cast an innovative and unique performance opportunity.

Utilizing the 375-acre campus that encompasses MMS and Mount Madonna Center (MMC) to film the story’s scenes, the collaborative team of director Gitanjali Lori Rivera, musical director Anand Darsie, visionary videographer Devin Kumar (’06) and producer Jeevani Vince, have crafted a beautiful, dazzling musical feast, with striking attention to nuance and detail.

See MMS and MMC as you never have before: with costumed monkeys frolicking in the trees, devoted palace guards defending the temple, and an ethereal Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati bringing the story to life. Follow along as princes Ram and Lakshman and Princess Sita journey into the unknown, encountering peaceful tribal villagers dwelling by the lake, joyful forest animals in a magical forest, and demons in many guises – from mischievous forest spirits, minions and the ferocious Surpanakha, to the giant Kumbhakarna and a dazzling golden deer, all ruled by the insatiable desires of the 10-headed demon King Ravana.