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Plan Your Visit

Visual Director Clint Ramos transforms Lincoln Center's outdoor campus with multiple open-air public spaces—welcoming all New Yorkers and visitors to enjoy throughout their day, whether a show is on the agenda or not! Take a spin on The Dance Floor at Josie Robertson Plaza with a 10-foot mega disco ball, read a book from PEN America's pop-up Little Library for Big Ideas at The Garden at Damrosch Park, or relax and play games at Hearst Plaza. Explore spaces & venues »

Campus map

Download the Summer for the City campus map here.

Summer venues & outdoor spaces

The Dance Floor at Josie Robertson Plaza

New York City's largest outdoor dance floor with a—now iconic—10-foot disco ball returns to Josie Robertson Plaza as the centerpiece of Summer for the City. Designed once again by Visual Director Clint Ramos, this year's dance floor is inspired by flaura and fauna of the American prairie, setting the ambiance for the joyful and popular Social Dance and Silent Disco series. Don't miss New York City's hottest outdoor summer dance parties that are sure to satisfy any dancer's taste, including nights devoted to salsa, Lindy hop, disco, country, Hip-Hop, freestyle, ballroom, and much more.

Damrosch Park

The 2,500-seat amphitheater plays host to headlining events as part of India Week, The Outdoor Film Series presented in collaboration with Film at Lincoln Center, the 20th Annual NYC in C, Brasil Summerfest, a meditative concert adaptation of The Ritual of Breath, a concert by Steel Pulse, and dozens of the most celebrated names in music, dance, and theater—all FREE, all summer long.

The Underground at Jaffe Drive

Also designed by Visual Director Clint Ramos, The Underground—a speakeasy-inspired performance space now expanded in size—returns this summer. Tucked away on Jaffe Drive, under Lincoln Center's Josie Robertson Plaza, the pop-up stage and bar hosts FREE comedy shows with NYLaughs, jazz sets presented by Jazz at Lincoln Center, and the Living Music Underground series curated by Nadia Sirota.

Hearst Plaza

We invite visitors to enjoy the outdoor space of Hearst Plaza this summer, equipped with outdoor games and cafe seating with shade. Hearst Plaza hosts free performances for kids, teens, and families, pop-up events by Voices of a People's History, La Casita, Urban Bush Women's Haint Blu, a performance by Elite Pan Consortium, and so much more!

The Garden at Damrosch Park

Looking for a quiet place to unwind and relax while at Lincoln Center this summer? Stop by The Garden at Damrosch Park, a greenhouse-like retreat to chat, read a book from PEN America's pop-up Little Library for Big Ideas, escape the sun, and be zen. The space is filled with greenery and plants designed in collaboration with Donyale Werle Design. On Wednesday mornings and afternoons, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts presents arts-based storytimes for children, and Poet-in-Residence Mahogany L. Browne curates poetry & meditation events throughout the summer.

Indoor Venues

The general public is welcome to make use of the public space, facilities, and dining options at David Geffen Hall and the David Rubenstein Atrium. Select events are also held at Alice Tully Hall, the David H. Koch Theater, and the Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center.

Snacks at the Night Market at Damrosch Park

New this summer is the Lincoln Center Night Market, an outdoor food emporium open Wednesday–Sunday from 5:00–10:00 pm, featuring a wide range of cuisines at affordable prices including Jerrell's Betr Brgr serving 100% plant-based burgers; Maya's Snack Bar featuring Mexican dessert snacks; Harlem Seafood Soul with gourmet seafood and soul food; Japanese-style street food from Yakitori Totto; Manousheh serving traditional Lebanese street food; and authentic Mexican from Taqueria al Pastor. There will also be a tent with rotating food offerings that align with that week's programming. Joe Coffee will be available during the day. Additional vendors to be announced soon. Our permanent on-campus options will be open all summer as well!

Lincoln Center Night Market is made possible by CHASE
Additional Support for the Lincoln Center Night Market is provided by United Airlines
Community programming at Damrosch Park is made possible by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF)

Accessibility

Lincoln Center seeks to create a more inclusive experience and meet access needs for our audiences by providing a range of accommodations for all performances.

All venues include accessible seating, entrances and restrooms, and alternative entry for guests who are unable to stand in line due to a disability. ASL interpretation, audio description, live captioning, and haptics are integrated into dozens of performances.

Click here to explore accommodations for Summer for the City »

Health & Safety

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts ("LCPA") is committed to the safety of our visitors, performers, and employees. Our guidelines for events and performances at outdoor and indoor venues managed by LCPA when LCPA is the presenter can be found here.

How to Get Tickets to Summer for the City

There are three ways to get tickets to Summer for the City at Lincoln Center, depending on the venue and the programming. Please refer to the dedicated event page of the show you’d like to attend to confirm ticketing options.

Free General Admission

For free events, over half the venue capacity is aways available for General Admission. Just show up; no tickets needed! Entry to most Summer for the City performances and events is available for FREE via General Admission—first-come, first-served. Learn more »

Free Fast Track

In addition to General Admission, we’re offering a FREE Fast Track option for the majority of Summer for the City events held at Hearst Plaza, The Dance Floor, the David Rubenstein Atrium, and other select venues. Fast Track reservations are available every Monday at noon for that week's events!
• By booking Fast Track for events ahead of time, guests can access the Fast Track line at the venue which gives them priority entry to that event.
• While event admission is not guaranteed, Fast Track ticket holders will have priority over the General Admission line up until 10 minutes before show time (please note: show time for social dances on The Dance Floor is the start of the dance lesson). We recommend arriving an hour before show time to ensure entry into the event.
• Please check the event's dedicated web page to confirm if Fast Track is available for the performance you'd like to attend.
• Lincoln Center Members get automatic access to every Fast Track line, no reservation required!
Learn more »

Choose-What-You-Pay

A majority of indoor events held at David Geffen Hall, Alice Tully Hall, and the David H. Koch Theater are available on a Choose-What-You-Pay basis; day-of general admission will not be offered for these shows. Select the ticket value that's right for you, knowing your contribution helps expand access for all. Find Choose-What-You-Pay shows here »

Box Office Hours

Call CenterCharge at 212-721-6500 from Monday–Friday 10:00 am–6:00 pm (EST).

Book in-person at the Alice Tully Hall box office (Broadway and 66th Street) or the David Geffen Hall Welcome Center from Monday–Saturday 10:00 am–6:00 pm and Sunday noon–6:00 pm.

Lincoln Center Contemporary Dance Festival

The biannual dance festival launches this summer, bringing the most innovative international dance to NYC.

Social Dance

Find your groove at free Social Dance nights led by dance instructors and headlined by artists from around the world.

Festival Orchestra of Lincoln Center

Explore beloved melodies and discover new works in this exhilarating season that sparkles with passion, wit, elegance, and fanfare.

BAAND Together Dance Festival

Celebrate the sixth edition of the BAAND Together Dance Festival, as five of NYC’s most iconic dance companies reunite on one stage.

Chinese Arts Week

Experience the rich artistry of China with a week-long showcase of programs highlighting the depth and diversity of Chinese culture.

Dance Encounters

Immerse yourself in the magic of dance—up-close and personal—with a series of choreographic works that will energize Hearst Plaza.

Featured Concerts

Mark your calendar for our featured concerts and all-day artistic takeovers, taking place both indoors and outdoors on our biggest stages—all for FREE or Choose-What-You-Pay!

Kids, Teens, and Families

This is your one-stop destination for shows and activities for teens and kids of all ages—hosted by artists from across the globe.

Silent Disco

The Dance Floor comes to life with free dance parties headlined by world-class DJs spinning live sets, keeping you moving all night long.

Summer at the Atrium

All summer long, the Atrium is your home for free jazz music, comedy shows, contemporary music, theater, dance, family events, and so much more!

Summer Forum

From July 7–11, we bring together local and international teaching artists and educators to grow, connect, and propel their artistic vision forward.

The Art of Wellbeing

Art engages the mind, body, and spirit with guided meditations and movement-based lessons accompanied by live music.

World at Play at Lincoln Center

Celebrate the global spirit of soccer and the intersections of arts and sport with a series of artistic programs, offering a unique point of connection.

THIS EVENT HAS PASSED

*Please note: This performance contains adult themes and graphic content. The production also features loud noises and bright lights. Audience discretion is advised.

Discover a once-in-a-generation theatrical experience weaving ancient wisdom with modern spectacle in Why Not Theatre’s visually stunning retelling of the Sanskrit epic, Mahabharata.

A contemporary take on a story that is over 4,000 years old and foundational to Indian culture, this tale of a family feud is an exploration of profound philosophical and spiritual ideas that are more relevant than ever.

This large-scale narrative is told in two distinct parts—Part One: Karma: The Life We Inherit and Part Two: Dharma: The Life We Choose. Throughout the experience, the production undergoes an evolution in storytelling, from the most ancient and intimate to a contemporary and technologically integrated spectacle. Led by an international South Asian cast, Mahabharata presents a hybrid of cultures, balancing East and West, traditional and contemporary.

We strongly encourage all guests to arrive and be seated at least 15 minutes before the performance begins. Please plan ahead and visit restrooms, concessions, or outdoor smoking areas before entering the theater. Late arrivals may not be seated in their originally assigned seats and will be accommodated at the discretion of house management, if possible.

View the Program for Part 1 »

View the Program for Part 2 »

Key Crediting

Cast & Creative Team

CAST

Shawn Ahmed (Yudhishthira) Shawn is an actor and filmmaker from Toronto, celebrated for bringing humanity to roles both hilarious and harrowing. On-screen, you might recognize him inciting a mutiny aboard the UNN Agatha King (The Expanse), melting hearts as a Hallmark hunk (Holidazed), or smoking reefer and writing an alien into his sitcom (DC’s Legends). On stage, Shawn’s highlights include two seasons at the Shaw Festival and acclaimed performances with Shakespeare & Co. Sharing Mahabharata with audiences in NYC is a dream. He’d like to let Rong know “Nay, it’s you.”

Neil D'Souza (Krishna) Neil is an actor and writer. His acting work includes Out Of Season (Hampstead Theatre), How To Hold Your Breath (Royal Court), Much Ado (Royal Shakespeare Company), The Man Of Mode (National), Austin (ABC), Slow Horses (Apple TV), Diamonds (Netflix), Renegade Nell (Disney), Eastenders (BBC), In The Long Run (Sky), The Goddess and Dear Harry Kane (BBC Radio 4). As a writer, his work includes The Goddess (BBC), and three plays for London UK theatres, including Out of Season (2024). Neil teaches acting and writing and is a member of the RADA audition panel.

Jay Emmanuel (Shiva/Amba/Eklavya/Drupada) Born in India and based in Australia, Jay is an award-winning actor, director, and the founding Artistic Director of Encounter. He has directed innovative works emphasizing authentic storytelling, including Beneath the Music and Children of the Sea (Perth Festival 2021). As a performer, he starred in acclaimed productions like Counting and Cracking (Belvoir St./Co-Curious/Adelaide Festival) and Heroes by Radhouane El-Meddeb. A 2023 WA Multicultural Arts Award recipient and Churchill Fellow, Jay is celebrated for his global leadership, community engagement, collaboration, and best practices in the arts.

Miriam Fernandes (Associate Director, Storyteller) Miriam is a Toronto-based artist who has worked as an actor, director and theatre-maker around the world and the Co-Artistic Director of Why Not Theatre, an international company whose work challenges the status quo of what stories are being told and who gets to tell them. Co-creator and co-writer of the ancient epic Mahabharata, and a co-writer and performer in What You Won’t Do for Love with Drs. David Suzuki and Tara Cullis (Why Not Theatre), her directing credits include The Courage to Right a Woman’s Wrongs (Stratford Festival Meighan Forum), Metamorphoses (CDTPS), Hayavadana (Soulpepper Theatre), Nesen (MiniMidiMaxi Festival, Norway), and The First Time I Saw the Sea (YVA Company, Norway). She is currently developing a new adaptation of Ibsen’s Enemy of the People. Miriam’s plays have been turned into films, published, and produced across Canada, the UK, Australia and Norway.

Ravin J. Ganatra (Dhritarashtra) Ravin is based in the UK and his career as an actor has spanned over three decades, including extensive stage, film, and television appearances. His work as a producer has recently seen his feature documentary A Girl Can Touch the Sky sweep 12 international awards and is streaming globally. Ravin’s other passions are travel and charity, and as such, has started a not for profit to create fundraising adventures. He is delighted to work on Mahabharata, having originally discussed the collaboration with Ravi Jain nearly a decade ago.

Darren Kuppan (Duryodhana) Darren has been part of Mahabharata since its humble beginnings many years ago, and he’s so proud of the show it’s become and the special people it’s brought into his life. Using his skills as a dancer and martial artist, bringing the character of Duryodhana to life has been one of his proudest achievements. His theatre, TV and radio credits are extensive, and he’s worked in some of the most prestigious theatres in the UK, most recently playing Shere Khan in The Jungle Book.

Anaka Maharaj-Sandhu (Arjuna) Born on Treaty One Territory, Anaka is a South-Asian, gender non-conforming artist with a passion for storytelling that transcends boundaries. Their work is inspired by a fascination with everyday life and the shared emotional experience of performance. Anaka’s background in political science informs their practice, often focusing on community impact. They aim to challenge traditional narratives by offering fresh interpretations of the ‘classics’. Anaka is honoured to be at Lincoln Center and dedicates this performance to their ancestors and loved ones: for Nanie, Nana, Biji, Grandpa, and Darius.

Goldy Notay (Draupadi/Gandhari) Goldy played Amma in the Olivier award-winning production Life of Pi, directed by Max Webster. Previously, Mahabharata (Why Not Theatre), All of Us (National Theatre London), Abigail’s Party (by Mike Leigh), The Game of Love and Chance (Tara Theatre), and Pink Sari Revolution (English Touring Theatre). TV and film credits include Little English, It’s A Wonderful Afterlife, Sex and the City 2, and My Own Country. Goldy received a Best Actress Award for the film Chapter Two, and a Best Actress nomination for The Dishonoured.

Ellora Patnaik (Kunti/Drona) Ellora was born in Toronto and grew up as an Odissi Indian Classical dancer. She is a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts (NYC). Recent film and TV projects include Sort Of, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Calorie, Law and Order Toronto: Criminal Intent, One Small Visit, Kim’s Convenience, Ginny & Georgia, and Schitt’s Creek. Ellora has performed in an array of theatre productions, including Crones, A Christmas Carol, Standing On My Knees, Nagamandala, Umrao Jaan Ada, The Penelopiad, Romeo and Juliet, Acha Bacha, Much Ado About Nothing, and Free Outgoing.

Meher Pavri (Voice of Krishna) Parsi-Canadian soprano, Meher hails from London, Ontario. She is a multidisciplinary artist who enjoys performing in opera, musical theatre and film/television and is most passionate about new Canadian works. Career highlights include: Maria in West Side Story (Windsor Symphony Orchestra, Niagara Symphony Orchestra); soloist in Soulpepper Theatre shows, most recently 88 Keys; roles in the world premiere of The Overcoat (Canadian Stage, Tapestry Opera, Vancouver Opera), Bend It Like Beckham: The Musical (Starvox), and Mahabharata (Why Not Theatre).

Sakuntala Ramanee (Shakuni/Sanjaya) Sakuntala trained in Drama at Kent University. Theatre includes The Red Shoes (Royal Shakespeare Company), Mahabharata (Why Not Theatre), Life Of Pi (West End), Romeo and Juliet (RSC at Stratford, the Barbican, UK tour), The Forest (Hampstead Theatre), Father and the Assassin (National Theatre Olivier), East Is East (Jamie Lloyd, UK tour), Coventry Mystery Plays (Belgrade, Coventry), Dead Eye (Soho Theatre and Birmingham Rep), Camille (Lyric Hammersmith, UK tour), and Maa (The Royal Court). TV includes Granite Harbour, Emmerdale, Line of Duty, Hustle, and Coronation Street.

Ronica Sajnani (Standby - Dhritarashtra, Bhishma, Drona/Kunti) Ronica is an actor whose select theatre credits include A Brimful of Asha (Theatre Antigonish), My Granny the Goldfish (Factory Theatre), and Rice Boy (Canadian Stage). Film and television credits include Water (directed by Deepa Mehta), Run the Burbs, Sort Of, TallBoyz (CBC), Good Sam (CBS), Sneakerella (Disney), Wedding Season, Black Mirror (Netflix), Kids in the Hall (2022) (Amazon), and Workin’ Moms (CBC/Netflix). Awards include Theatre Nova Scotia Robert Merritt nominee, Best Lead and Production (A Brimful of Asha), Academy Award nominee (Water), and nine Genie Award nominations.

Ishan Sandhu (Standby - Shakuni/Sanjaya, Krishna, Arjuna) Chandigarh, a small town in North India designed by a French architect, is where Ishan calls home and is where he first dreamt of becoming an actor. He has been acting for as long as he can remember, but mostly in service to escape his mother's chappal. After dodging his way through that, he pursued a BFA in Acting from the University of British Columbia. Most recently, you can see him in Normal Scotia on Fibe TV, a television show about immigrants working in a curling club.

Navtej Sandhu (Karna/Satyavati) Navtej is a Toronto-based actor, born in Long Island, New York. Her most recent acting credits include Jin in The Caged Bird Sings, directed by Rafeh Mahmud, and Karna/Satyavati in Mahabharata, directed by Ravi Jain. Navtej is also a skilled vocalist with credits including Devi Triptych by Red Beti Theatre and Jungle Book by Kidoons Productions. Navtej currently holds an Intermediate Actor Combatant Certificate with experience performing her own stunts. “Any form of art is a form of power; it has impact, it can affect change – it can not only move us, it makes us move.”- Ossie Davis

Munish Sharma (Bhima) Munish is an actor, writer and dancer. He began his career in Vancouver creating sketch shows and cabarets and has been working in theatre for over a decade. Munish is beyond grateful to be part of this fantastic show. It’s a dream come true. Love to his family and friends for their support.

Arun Varma (Standby - Karna, Bhima, Yudhishthira, Duryodhana) Arun is a widely versed performer of stage, screen, and vocal booth. He has had the pleasure of working in multiple cities across Canada. Selected theatre works include national touring productions of Jungle Book and Frankenstein: A Living Comic Book (Kidoons), and From the Stars in the Sky to the Fish in the Sea (Geordie Theatre). Arun is thrilled to have the opportunity to work on this epic undertaking of such a culturally keystone piece as the Mahabharata, and hopes you enjoy the spectacle!

Sukania Venugopal (Bhishma) Sukania is an actor from Malaysia. Her work includes Mahabharata (Why Not Theatre), which was first performed in Niagara on the Lake in Canada in 2023, and later that fall at the Barbican in London. Her work also includes the Australian production, Counting and Cracking (Belvoir Theatre), performed in Sydney (2019, 2024), Adelaide (2019), Edinburgh Festival (2023), Birmingham, UK (2023), Melbourne (2024), and New York (2024).

CREATIVE TEAM

May Nemat Allah (Assistant Stage Manager) May is the Assistant Stage Manager for Mahabharata. Other credits include Apprentice Stage Manager for Fat Ham and The Wizard of Oz: The Toto-ly Awesome Family Musical (Canadian Stage); Assistant Stage Manager for Steel Magnolias (Drayton Entertainment); Apprentice Stage Manager for Women of the Fur Trade and Death and the King’s Horseman (Stratford Festival); Stage Manager for Antigonick and Everything Gone, Everything Shone, and Assistant Stage Manager for Maybe Not Tomorrow and Cabaret (National Theatre School of Canada). Training: National Theatre School of Canada and the University of Waterloo. May extends endless love and gratitude to family and friends!

Dylan Bell (Bass, Keyboard, Music Contributions) In one word: multifaceted. Juno-nominated Dylan is a vocalist, instrumentalist (piano, bass, guitar, Stick, percussion), composer/arranger, music director, producer/engineer, educator, and author. Dylan’s musical curiosity keeps him effortlessly blurring musical boundaries with Canada’s premier vocal ensembles Hampton Avenue, The Watch, FreePlay, and Retrocity. Behind the mixing board, Dylan has produced/engineered several award-winning albums for vocal legends such as The Swingles (UK) and The Nylons (Canada). He has written two books on a cappella arranging, and his choral compositions and arrangements are performed worldwide.

Daniel Bennett (Technical Director) Daniel is the Director of Production and Facilities for Canadian Stage. He has also worked as a Technical Director at the Grand Theatre in London, Ontario. Daniel has toured internationally with Prince Hamlet and Mahabharata (Why Not Theatre), nationally with ROOM (Grand Theatre/Mirvish/Covent Garden Productions), and Fall on Your Knees (NAC/Canadian Stage/Grand Theatre/Neptune Theatre/Vita Brevis Productions). When he's not in a theatre, Daniel can be found on a spin bike.

Rebecca Desmarais (Consulting Producer) Rebecca is an international tour producer for theatre and on-set teacher for film and television. She has produced and managed over 65 tours across 5 continents with award-winning shows, such as Why Not Theatre’s Prince Hamlet and 2b theatre company’s Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story. She has also worked with companies, such as Quote Unquote Collective, Fascinator Management, and TRIA Theatre. As an on-set teacher, Rebecca has worked on over 20 productions, such as HBO’s It: Welcome to Derry, Netflix’s Fubar, and Universal Studios’ The Black Phone 2.

Sharada K Eswar (Creative Associate, Khana & Kahani Storyteller) Sharada is an Indo-Canadian writer, singer and storyteller and currently the Artistic Director of Jumblies Theatre. Her work has been featured in Canada and internationally. Selected credits include Mahabharata (Why Not Theatre), blue skies, red earth & tall pines (Jumblies Theatre), Chitra (Shaw Festival), Hayavadana (Why Not Theatre/Soulpepper Theatre), The Two Gentlemen of Verona (Stratford Festival), and Abhimanyu (Theatre Direct/National Arts Centre). Upcoming work includes The Butcher's Song and La-la Land (Jumblies Theatre).

Gillian Gallow (Costume Designer) Gillian is a set and costume designer based in Canada who has collaborated with theatre companies across the country, most notably with the Canadian Opera Company, Shaw Festival, Stratford Festival, Espace Go, Rideau Vert, Soulpepper, Canadian Stage, RMTC and The National Arts Centre, to name a few. Gillian is a graduate of York University’s Theatre Design Program and has received the Virginia and Myrtle Cooper Award for Costume Design, a Meta Award, four Dora Mavor Moore awards, and was the 2021 Siminovitch Prize Laureate.

John Gzowski (Conductor, Co-Composer, Co-Sound Designer, Guitar) John is a composer, sound designer, musician, and instrument maker. He has created sound design and performed live foley and music in shows across Canada. His theatre work has garnered 6 Dora Awards, with nominations from Ex Machina, Stratford Festival, Shaw Festival, Luminato Toronto, National Arts Centre, the Mirvishes, MTC, the Arts Club, Canadian Stage, Soulpepper, Dancemakers, Tarragon, Factory Theatre, and YPT. John has played on numerous records, with artists such as Patricia O'Callaghan, Tasa, and Autorickshaw, and received a Juno nomination with Maza Meze.

Gurtej Singh Hunjan (Percussion, Music Contributions) Gurtej is a Juno Award nominated multi-instrumentalist composer and DJ. His training in North Indian rhythm informs his approach to writing and performance. His most recent composing contributions can be heard in season one of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s hit series, Sort Of. Gurtej is passionate about collaboration and continues to explore traditional and contemporary modalities of musical expression. He thanks his teachers and influences who continually inspire.

Ravi Jain (Director) Ravi Jain is a highly acclaimed theatremaker known for making politically bold, accessible, and thought-provoking theatrical experiences that are changing the face of Canadian theatre. Founder of Why Not Theatre, Mr. Jain has created over forty collaborations and performed over five continents, from small, intimate shows with non-actors—like his mother, in A Brimful of Asha, and renowned environmentalist David Suzuki, in What You Won’t Do for Love—to big, bold productions like his recent adaptation of The Mahabharata, which premiered at the Shaw Festival and toured to sell out the Barbican Theatre in London.

Nika Jalali (Assistant Producer & Company Manager) Nika (she/her) is an Iranian-Canadian producer and multi-disciplinary artist dedicated to amplifying racialized voices on international stages. She has collaborated on interdisciplinary projects in Canada, Italy, Scotland, the Czech Republic and Germany. She was selected as the 2024 Metcalf Foundation Artistic Producing intern, under the mentorship of Nightwood Theatre, where she deepened her commitment to creating transformative, thought-provoking theatre that inspires change. Nika is grateful to work with talented collaborators on this momentous tour of Mahabharata, curating spaces and pushing boundaries for meaningful storytelling.

Zaheer-Abbas Janmohamed (Tabla, Music Contributions, Music Coordinator) Zaheer-Abbas is a Toronto-based tabla player who brings the tradition of tabla to new contexts through his artistic practice and collaborations. He has played extensively in Toronto with various local artists at many of the city's well-known venues. He has performed across Canada in a variety of classical, semi-classical, and contemporary settings, including appearances such as Sonic Landscapes (Surbahar) with Ustad Irshad Khan, Sufi folk music of Mukhtiyar Ali, and Rifflandia Festival.

Mikael Kangas (Associate Lighting Designer) Mikael designs lights for theatre, opera, dance, events and film. Recent work includes: Wozzeck, Madama Butterfly, Nabucco, Fantasma (Canadian Opera Company), Anything Goes, My Fair Lady, The Amen Corner, Damn Yankees, Trouble in Mind, Glass Menagerie, O’Flaherty VC (Shaw Festival), Chris Mrs. (Boldy Productions), Just for One Day, In Dreams, & Juliet (Mirvish). Mikael is the Lighting and Projection Design Coordinator for the Canadian Opera Company and is a member of the Associated Designers of Canada and United Scenic Artists.

Jeff Pybus (Lighting Associate) Jeff is a freelance lighting designer and technical director based in Toronto, Canada. Select credits include La Bête, Herringbone, The Yalta Game, Hedwig & the Angry Inch (Talk is Free); Beautiful Renegades (Peggy Baker Dance Projects); SHOUT! The Mod Musical (Magnus); As an Associate: The Runner (Human Cargo); Angels in America (That Theatre Company); As an Assistant: My Fair Lady, One Man Two Guvnors, Sherlock Holmes & the Mystery of the Human Heart, Sex, Victory, The Russian Play, Desire Under the Elms, Shadow of a Doubt (Shaw Festival); The Invisible, Vigilante (Catalyst); Silence (Grand, London); The Pigeon King, A Huron County Christmas Carol (Blyth Festival); I Forgive You (Artistic Fraud); Between Riverside and Crazy, People Places and Things (Coal Mine).

Hana S. Kim (Projection Designer) Hana is an immersive media designer and a visual artist for live performances. Recent credits include The Outsiders at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, The Old Man and The Pool at the Lincoln Center Theater, Summer 1976 at MTC, Orfeo at the Santa Fe Opera, and The Harder They Come at the Public Theater. She is a recipient of the Tony Awards, the Princess Grace Awards in Theater Design, Richard Sherwood Award from CTG, and Kinetic Lighting Award for distinguished achievement in theatrical design from LA Drama Critics Circle.

Chanti Laliberte (Head of Wardrobe) Chanti is a Toronto-based craftsperson and Head of Wardrobe with a BFA Honours from York University. A two-time nominee for the Pauline McGibbon Award and co-owner of Awl Or Nothing Creative Inc, Chanti is also an administrator and advocate for their creative maker collective. Chanti has spent numerous seasons working on countless shows with the Blyth Festival, the Stratford Festival, and companies such as Canadian Stage, Obsidian Theatre Company, Buddies in Bad Times and Factory Theatre. Their work has been seen on stages throughout Ontario for over fifteen years.

Kevin Lamotte (Lighting Designer) Kevin has created lighting designs for many international performing arts companies. Recent productions include Mahabharata (Shaw Festival, Barbican), The Secret Garden, Gem of the Ocean, Desire Under the Elms (Shaw Festival), A Christmas Carol (Theatre Calgary), Traviata (Opéra de Montréal), Fidelio (Pacific Opera Victoria), and L’ Histoire du Soldat (Art of Time). Kevin’s awards for outstanding lighting design include the Pauline McGibbon Award and the Dora Award. He is the Director of Lighting Design at the Shaw Festival in Niagara on the Lake.

Brandy Leary (Choreographer) Brandy is a choreographer and dancer. Her body of work has been commissioned and produced in Canada, Europe, India, the Arctic, South Africa, and the USA, occupying theatres, urban environments, festivals, museums, art galleries, and landscapes. Her choreographies have been described as “phenomenological interventions” (Canadian Theatre), “soulful and sensuous” (NYTimes), and “magisterial movement”(UK Guardian). Brandy is a senior Kalarippayattu practitioner studying for two decades under traditional martial artist VM Vikas Gurukal in Kozhikode (IN), and Founder/Artistic Director of Anandam Dance Theatre and Co-Founder/Co-Director of Collective Space (Toronto).

Crystal Lee (Lead Production Manager) Crystal is originally from a small east coast Canadian community in the Chaleur Region. Her first exposure to theatre was in a local high school auditorium – a touring production of The Velveteen Rabbit. After the experience, she was enthralled in how theatre was able to capture effective magic with simple sequences, and felt most comfortable facilitating that magic as a production manager. Best advice that has guided her practice? Don’t prep for perfection, but instead for spontaneity! Crystal trained at the National Theatre School of Canada.

Hasheel Lodhia (Traditional Music Consultant, Bansuri, Voice, Music Contributions) Hasheel is a queer Hindustani Artist, trained in vocals as well as the bansuri. He has been learning music since the age of five under his father and started playing the bansuri under the guidance of Shri Jeetu Sharma. Hasheel is currently a senior student of the legendary Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia and Pandit Ajay Pohankar. His music mixes Amapiano, electronica, R&B, and Bollywood with a steady undertone of traditional Indian Classical. Performances have included those with Kailash Kher, Hariharan, Karsh Kale, and for academy award winner A. R. Rahman.

Matthew Mellinger (Head of Video & Video Operations) Matthew is very excited to be Video Engineer on Mahabharata, especially after supporting the production at Shaw Festival and Barbican. He has over 100 theatrical production credits spanning the globe. Select Broadway credits include: Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, Anastasia, A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, The Other Place, Baby It’s You!, and Bring It On: The Musical. Matthew received a BFA from the California Institute of the Arts.

Neha Ross (Stage Manager) Neha is a stage manager based in Tkaronto, Canada. Neha is deeply grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the creation of meaningful theatre and to collaborate with talented artists and teams around the world. Selected credits include: Why Not Theatre: Prince Hamlet, ICELAND, and We Are Proud to Present a Presentation About… Between the Years 1884 – 1915. Canadian Stage: Playing Shylock. Soulpepper Theatre: Kim’s Convenience, Bad Parent, Animal Farm, and Kamloopa. Crow’s Theatre: Perceptual Archaeology. Young Peoples Theatre: One Thing Leads to Another. Obsidian Theatre: Other Side of the Game. fuGEN: Lady in the Red Dress.

Suba Sankaran (Band Leader, Co-Composer, Co-Sound Designer, Voice) Suba is a Dora-Award winning, thrice Juno-nominated musician who combines musical worlds and seamlessly crosses genres, performing worldwide with Indo-fusion ensemble Autorickshaw, a cappella live-looping FreePlay, and 80s revue Retrocity. She has performed for Peter Gabriel, Nelson Mandela and Bishop Tutu, collaborated with Deepa Mehta, and has performed with the Swingles, Bobby McFerrin, Lorraine Segato and Jane Siberry. She is a performer, educator, composer, choral director and sound designer. Suba was recently awarded the prestigious 2023 Johanna Metcalf Performing Arts Prize and the 2023 Kathleen McMorrow Music Award.

Lorenzo Savoini (Set Designer) Lorenzo is an award-winning set, costume, and lighting designer for theatre, ballet, and opera. His work has been seen throughout Canada, USA, England and Cuba. Most recently, he designed the set and lighting for Winter Solstice (Necessary Angel/Canadian Stage), set for Sound of Music (The Grand Theatre), set and lighting for London Assurance, set and costumes for Hedda Gabler (Stratford Festival) and set for My Fair Lady (Shaw Festival). Lorenzo has received five Dora Awards and is a member of the Associated Designers of Canada.

Ann Slote (Associate Projections Designer) Ann attended the University of California Los Angeles and is a video and lighting designer based in Berlin and San Francisco. Her video design work includes Joywave’s Helvetica and Cleanse Tour, Quinn XCII’s Festival Tour and MisterWives’ Resilient Little Tour. As video assistant/animator, her work includes Stranger Love at LA Philharmonic; Goddess at Berkeley Rep; Dancin’ at The Old Globe and The Sound Inside on Broadway. Lighting design work includes Best Funeral Ever (my russian funeral) for Ballhaus Ost and What You Will for Project Nongenue.

Victoria Wang (Assistant Stage Manager) Victoria is a Toronto based stage manager, producer, arts manager and yoga instructor who works in theatre, dance, film and interdisciplinary forms of live performance. She has worked with Native Earth, Why Not Theatre, Soulpepper Theatre, Cahoots, Aluna Theatre, Canadian Stage, Tarragon Theatre, the National Arts Centre, Segal Centre, SummerWorks, Buddies in Bad Times, Nuit Blanche and the Toronto International Film Festival. Victoria is a graduate of the University of Toronto and the National Theatre School of Canada. She is thrilled to be back with the Mahabharata team!

Brandon Wells (Head of Sound) Brandon has spent over a decade working with a multitude of artists and organizations in Toronto and beyond. Often employed as recording engineer, live sound engineer and livestream mixing engineer, Brandon has worked for Live from Koerner Hall, Soundstreams, Esprit Orchestra, Against the Grain Theatre, Pocket Concerts, Tapestry Opera, Canadian Stage, Why Not Theatre and numerous others. Brandon is a recording engineer at The Royal Conservatory of Music and holds degrees from McGill University and Humber College.

Kevin Matthew Wong (Lead Producer) Kevin is a Hakka-Canadian theatre creator, dramaturg, video artist, and producer. Kevin is the Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Broadleaf Creative, a company that produces social justice and climate justice-informed artworks. Kevin is also the Director of Producing and Creative Associate at Why Not Theatre leading a diverse portfolio of large-scale and internationally touring projects. Kevin is the inaugural winner of both the Jini Stolk Creative Fellowship and the Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding Innovative Experience. Kevin's upcoming Benevolence series is a triptych spanning film, theatre and installation, exploring guesthood and legacy.

Karen Tisch (Executive Producer, Why Not Theatre Executive Director) is a longtime arts manager and programmer. Before joining Why Not Theatre as Executive Director, she served in leadership roles at Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, Images Festival, Ashkenaz Foundation and Koffler Centre of the Arts, and worked as a program manager and policy advisor at the Toronto Arts Council and the Canada Council for the Arts. Karen is a current Board member of Red Sky Performance; a past president/chair of the Toronto Arts Council, A Space Gallery and the Toronto Book Awards; and an alumna of Canada’s National Ballet School and OCAD University.

THIS EVENT HAS PASSED

Select a Date

Tuesday, June 24, 2025 at 7:30 pm

Part 1 only

Wednesday, June 25, 2025 at 7:30 pm

Part 2 only

Thursday, June 26, 2025 at 7:30 pm

Part 1 only

Friday, June 27, 2025 at 7:30 pm

Part 2 only

Saturday, June 28, 2025 at 2:00 pm

Part 1 only

Saturday, June 28, 2025 at 7:30 pm

Part 2 only

Sunday, June 29, 2025 at 2:00 pm

Part 1 only

Sunday, June 29, 2025 at 7:30 pm

Part 2 only

Please note that performances vary between Part 1 and Part 2. On June 28 and 29, you can book both Parts for a marathon experience! Check the details above before booking your ticket.

To make the arts more accessible, tickets are available on a Choose-What-You-Pay basis. There is a suggested ticket price of $35.00, as well as options to pay more or less.

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A standby line will form day-of on the 5th Floor, prior to showtime. Tickets may become available to the standby line on a first-come, first-served basis. Admission is not guaranteed.

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Rose Theater, Jazz at Lincoln Center

Broadway at West 60th Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10023

For ticketing, call CenterCharge at 212-721-6500 from Monday–Friday 10:00 am–6:00 pm (EST)

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Located on the fifth floor of Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall in the Deutsche Bank Center at Columbus Circle, Rose Theater is the venue’s largest performing arts space. It features three levels, sleek wood veneer seating boxes, and moveable stage towers that can be configured for a theater-in-the-round or a traditional proscenium look. Learn more »

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UPCOMING SHOWS

Wednesday, June 10 at 11:00 am

Lincoln Center Presents In collaboration with The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts

Wednesday, June 10 at 1:00 pm

Lincoln Center Presents In collaboration with The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts

Wednesday, June 10 at 4:30 pm

By KEIGWIN + COMPANY

The Dance Floor

Wednesday, June 10 at 5:00 pm

Lincoln Center Presents In collaboration with Jodhpur RIFF

Hearst Plaza

Wednesday, June 10 at 6:30 pm

With Caleb Teicher & Company and Eyal Vilner Big Band

The Dance Floor

Wednesday, June 10 at 10:00 pm

The Dance Floor

Thursday, June 11 at 5:00 pm

Lincoln Center Presents In collaboration with Jodhpur RIFF

Hearst Plaza

Thursday, June 11 at 5:30 pm

Opening Day!

The Dance Floor

Thursday, June 11 at 8:00 pm

Produced by Jill Newman Productions & liber8

The Dance Floor

Friday, June 12 at 5:00 pm

Lincoln Center Presents In collaboration with Jodhpur RIFF

Hearst Plaza

Friday, June 12 at 6:30 pm

The Dance Floor

Friday, June 12 at 7:30 pm

Friday, June 12 at 7:30 pm

Friday, June 12 at 10:00 pm

The Dance Floor

Saturday, June 13 at 11:00 am

Full-campus experience

Saturday, June 13 at 8:30 pm

The Dance Floor

Sunday, June 14 at 6:00 pm

Trumpet Tradition Feat. Bruce Harris

Lincoln Center Presents In collaboration with Jazz at Lincoln Center

Wednesday, June 17 at 11:00 am

Lincoln Center Presents In collaboration with The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts

Wednesday, June 17 at 1:00 pm

Lincoln Center Presents In collaboration with The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts

Wednesday, June 17 at 5:00 pm

New York is Burning

Hearst Plaza

Wednesday, June 17 at 6:00 pm

Lincoln Center Presents In collaboration with NewYork-Presbyterian

The Dance Floor

Wednesday, June 17 at 8:00 pm

With DJ Felix Hernandez

The Dance Floor

Wednesday, June 17 at 8:00 pm

Thursday, June 18 at 5:00 pm

New York is Burning

Hearst Plaza

Thursday, June 18 at 6:30 pm

The Dance Floor

Thursday, June 18 at 7:30 pm

SutariNova With Special Guest Shahzad Ismaily

Thursday, June 18 at 7:30 pm

Lincoln Center Presents
In collaboration with The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts

Lincoln Center Presents
In collaboration with The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts

Lincoln Center Presents
In collaboration with Jodhpur RIFF

Lincoln Center Presents
In collaboration with Jodhpur RIFF

Lincoln Center Presents
In collaboration with Jodhpur RIFF

Lincoln Center Presents
In collaboration with Jazz at Lincoln Center

Lincoln Center Presents
In collaboration with The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts

Lincoln Center Presents
In collaboration with The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts

Lincoln Center Presents
In collaboration with NewYork-Presbyterian