What happens when a college road trip turns into a search for roots, history and connection? Asian American theater collective Artists at Play and Latino Theater Company team up for their third collaboration in as many years with the joyous new comedy नेहा & Neel by Ankita Raturi. Directed by Lily Tung Crystal, the world premiere opens October 18 at The Los Angeles Theatre Center, with performances continuing through November 16. Six low-priced previews take place October 9 through October 17.
Parvesh Cheena, Achintya Pandey and Pia Shah star in Raturi’s funny, heartfelt, intergenerational tale about love, family and heritage. Neha (नेहा), an Indian immigrant and single mom, worries that she’s failed to pass her language and traditions down to her 17-year-old American-born son, Neel (नील). Could a cross country college tour be her last shot? If only she can convince Neel to visit the historic Hope Diamond and witness a piece of Indian history for himself, perhaps it will turn their trip into something more.
“It feels like with every generation you have to hold on tighter,” says Raturi, a first generation American whose parents are from India. “That fear of losing connection to your culture is real, but I wanted to tackle it with warmth and humor.”
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Tung Crystal, who is first-generation American-born Chinese, immediately connected to the material.
“I myself am a child of Asian immigrants, as well as a mother working to pass our family’s culture to a teenager, so I see myself in both characters,” she says. "I love plays that are both of the heart and of the mind. नेहा & Neel addresses complicated themes like immigration, identity, and colonialism — all while keeping the audience laughing.”
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नेहा & Neel opens on Saturday, Oct. 18 at 8 p.m., with performances thereafter on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 4 p.m. through November 16. Six preview performances take place October 9 through October 17 on the same schedule. Tickets range from $10–$48, except opening night which is $75 and includes a post-performance reception.
The Los Angeles Theatre Center is located at 514 S. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90013. Parking is available for $8 with box office validation at Los Angeles Garage Associate Parking structure, 545 S. Main St., Los Angeles, CA 90013 (between 5th and 6th Streets, just behind the theater).
For more information and to purchase tickets, call (213) 489-0994 or go to latinotheaterco.org.
