Akaina Ghosh
UPCOMING PRODUCTIONS
DREAD/D.R.E.A.D.
(February 1st - 4th, 2024, Shubert Theater & Walker Theater, NYC)
Following the lineage of "Project/Project," DREAD/D.R.E.A.D.
is compromised of two simultaneous performances in back-to-back
black box theaters. The two independent but interweaving storylines
(comprised of the same cast of characters), investigate the supernatural
through different means. In one environment, a group of strangers find
themselves in a mysterious, haunted house hosted by a strange doctor,
while in the other theater a group of lab scientists conduct a bizarre
line of research with alarming results.
Fifth of July
(October 18th - 23rd, 2023, Walker Theater, NYC)
Award-winning playwright Lanford Wilson's fast-paced, darkly comedic
investigation into family, heartbreak, and the aftermath of the
Vietnam War. Fifth of July is part of the award-winning
Talley Trilogy, where he follows generations of the Talley family
through the trails and tribulations of loss and love in the twentieth century.
Ken Talley finds his Missouri home the site of a reluctant family reunion
on the anniversary of the death of Uncle Matt, but when old friends
reunite new truths come to the surface.
PrEP Play, or Blue Parachute
(April 1st - May 8th, 2022, NCTC, San Francisco)
What if you had the chance to rewrite history?
Erik’s world is thrown into free-fall when he’s pulled
into a wondrously bizarre time-traveling journey by
Agent 701 (aka his now-sentient PrEP pill). Landing
into the AIDS epidemic of the 80s, Erik finds himself
in a race against history to save a life lost decades ago.
From award-winning playwright Yilong Liu comes
a contemporary queer fantasia that examines
the ghosts of our past and the hopes for our future.
Plot Points in Our Sexual Development
(November 11th-December 19th, 2021, NCTC, San Francisco)
Sex is complicated. Especially if you’ve got a history.
When their relationship hits a breaking point,
Theo and Cecily look back at their awkward-messy-tender-
wonderful-heartbreaking pasts to understand the meaning
of true intimacy. There’s no holding back in this provocative
exploration of gender, sex, and the risks of being vulnerable
with the one you love.
Neighborhood Stories
(May 15th-May 30th, 2021, El Cerrito)
Cows vs. Casinos, and Citizen Committees FTW!
El Cerrito’s under-the-radar reputation belies
a rough and lawless history. From Ranchero to
cattle path, from “City of Sins” to “the City of Homes,”
home of “Big Bill” Pechart and the origin of
child care centers, this scrappy, little part of the Bay
holds hidden delights, as illuminated by performers
who call this area home.
Phantasmagoria
(April 29th-May 23rd, 2021, Streaming On-Demand)
Purchase Here
An other-worldly rumination on how we return as our world
calls us back from isolation, Phantasmagoria combines
collaged classic texts by Lewis Carroll, all new music by
Bay Area Theatre Cypher, and non-stop visual surprises
from Mugwumpin.
Horror fantasia, psychedelic creature-feature, and an escape room
all-in-one: twin spirits Ghosty and Ghostie must free themselves
from their 2-dimensional boxed confines after transformative
visitations from monsters-of-the-beyond.
Feel the Spirit
(March 31st-April 11th, 2021, Virtual)
Our world premiere Zoom commission follows a young,
queer pastor attempting to navigate her new congregation’s
shift to online worship due to COVID-19.
As seasons change outside and the flat timeline of
quarantine continues, the church fights to maintain a practice
that rotates around fellowship and community
across generations and cultures when they can’t hug,
cook, or sing together.
Don't Follow the Lights
(October 23rd-24th, 30th-31st, 2020, Virtual)
Mystic Ventures Collective presents
Don't Follow the Lights,
a virtual immersive dark fantasy adventure.
Featuring a mix of pre-recorded and live actors,
gamified elements with riddles and puzzles,
various possible endings influenced by
audience actions, and spooky fun!
As You Like It
(June 29th - September 22nd, Summer 2019, Bay Area Tour)
Just after Rosalind and Orlando meet and fall for
each other, they’re both exiled from the autocratic
Court to the Forest of Arden– with Rosalind in
disguise as the boy Ganymede. Despite the challenges
of life in the woods, they find new friends and allies
and fall in love all over again. Our new musical
adaptation features original music and lyrics by
celebrated Bay Area composers The Kilbanes and
Resident Artist Phil Wong.
Time Sensitive
(April 6-May 4 2019, The Flight Deck, Oakland)
The City swallowed the world.
It ate the day and the night.
It ate the tides and the seasons.
Now there are only seconds
and nanoseconds and a constant
insatiable GO. Speed is power,
status is vertical, and time is literally up.
A Midsummer Night's Dream
(June 30-September 23, Summer 2018, Bay Area Tour)
“Find your inner Fairy.” We hope this production
will excite your imagination and bring you joy,
whatever your age, whether you are a lover,
a madman, a poet, or all three at once.
A Different Long Stretch of Earth
(April 6-April 28 2018, The Flight Deck, Oakland)
TAXIDERMY. DECOLONIZATION. KINK. APOCALYPSE.
The American cowboy. Hero or villain? Casanova or colonizer?
Either way, his myth rides on. And in this rural Montana town,
everyone must reckon with his long, stooped shadow.
But Brucie has other plans. The resident 13-year-old with
an appetite for apocalypse is throwing a birthday party.
The theme: DOOMSDAY. Be there…or else.
Wonderland
(February 24th-March 18th 2018, Secret Location, San Francisco)
Slide down the mantle through a rabbit hole
into a world of mystery and delight.
Coming this February 24th for a limited
*four-week* engagement! Wonderland will
play at a secret location in San Francisco at
5pm, 6:30pm, 8:30pm, and 10pm on Saturdays
and 2pm, 3:30pm, 5:30pm, and 7pm on Sundays.
Tickets go on sale on Monday, February 12!
This show will sell out -- and sell out quickly --
so to get early access to tickets, join the
Infernal Motel
(October 7th - December 17th 2017, Rathskeller Club, SF)
Buy Tickets Now
This sold out show has been a raging success. You can
still be notified when tickets open up by signing up for
The Infernal Motel features four tracks, known as The Lust Suite,
The Gluttony Suite, The Envy Suite, and The Greed Suite. You will
enter and exit the experience with all six guests, separating and
reuniting along the way.
Gluttony, Greed, and Lust all feature some crawling through tunnels. In addition, the use of blindfolds with actor-guided walking may occur. Envy is recommended for guests with limited mobility or claustrophobia and does not include crawling or blindfolds. None of the four tracks would be considered frightening; instead, the mood is eerie and full of discovery.
Romeo and Juliet
(Open now - December 15th 2017, Locations Vary)
Details Here
I am so thrilled to be portraying Tybalt, the King of Cats,
as well as Lady Capulet in San Francisco Shakespeare Festival's
production of Romeo and Juliet. In addition to the dozens
of private performances, we have shows open to the public!
My next public appearances will be:
December 5 - San Mateo Library
55 W Third Ave, San Mateo 94402 / (650) 522-7802
Show at 7:00 pm / Post-show Q&A with the cast at 8:00 pm
December 9 - Cupertino Library
Community Hall, 10350 Torre Ave, Cupertino 95014 / (408) 446-1677
Show at 4:00 pm / Post-show Q&A with the cast at 5:00 pm
A Midsummer Night's Dream
(July 22nd-August 13th 2017 @ John Hinkel Park Amphitheatre, Berkeley)
Details Here
Who DOESN'T love Shakespeare in the Park?
Gather some food, drink, a person you enjoy,
and see the beauty of live theater at the stunning
outdoor Amphitheatre located at John Hinkel Park.
Join us on this playful exploration of love, magic,
and good intentions gone very, very wrong.
I am thrilled to be playing Puck in this adventurous
production of Shakespeare's iconic classic! This
production, adapted, directed and designed by
Giulio Cesare Perrone, transports the audience
using fantastical fight choreography, stunning
movement sequences, and just the right amount
of magic.
How to Be a White Man
(June 16-July 1st 2017 @ Piano Fight, San Francisco)
With lessons such as “The key to a great non-apology”
and “If it’s not about you, make it about you,”
How to Be a White Man follows Luna Malbroux’s
onstage stand-up career as a queer Black comedian,
and off-stage personal journey crushing the patriarchy.
I will be playing Bonnie, Luna Malbroux's partner in crime
(and in other things). An intelligent comedy that you
don't want to miss!
Fourth Annual Contemporary Performance Diasporas Festival
(May 26th-28th 2017 @ South Berkeley Community Church, Berkeley)
Inferno Theatre proudly presents its fourth annual
Contemporary Performance Diasporas Festival.
This cross cultural, interdisciplinary festival is a natural
outgrowth of Inferno’s mission to link cultures and
explore human relationships in space and time.
Once again, we are pleased to present artists
representing multiple generations.
I will be performing in a preview of Inferno's fall show,
Quantum Couplings, where I portray a flamboyant modern
woman named Beatrix. The weekend will be full of new works
by talented artists of different backgrounds.
SoundWaves
(April 7th-9th 2017 @ DeAnza Visual & Performing Arts Center, Cupertino)
Buy Tickets Now
SoundWaves is the incredible true story of Noor Inayat Khan, Muslim
Indian living in Paris who became the first female radio operator
during the Second World War. Trained by Britain as an Allied Special
Operations Executive and sent into occupied France, she worked
behind enemy lines but was betrayed by a friend, tortured and shot
in Dachau on September 13th, 1944. Britain posthumously awarded
her the George Cross, and unveiled a bronze bust of Noor in London,
the first memorial in Britain to either a Muslim or an Asian woman.
She was commemorated on a stamp issued by the Royal Mail. France
awarded her the Croix de Guerre.
I have the honor of portraying Noor Inayat Khan in this production. I hope that you are able to attend this event of beautiful storytelling, painful honesty, and uncomfortable history. Now more than ever, this story feels very important to be seen and heard.
(Photo from Ragged Wing Ensemble's production of William Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale)