Washington. September 2, 2008: While contemplating how to get Non-Sikh Americans engaged in learning about Sikh Scriptures, Guru Granth Sahib, Guru Gobind Singh Foundation (GGSF) thought of staging an American play with ideas and quotations from the Sikh scriptures. With the big day of 300th anniversary of Guru Granth Sahib approaching, a thought process got started. Why not celebrate with the world outside, the community at large? How do we say what we want to say without creating bias? Is there a better medium than kids to spread this fragrance from the Guru Granth Sahib? This thinking led to two plays by Sikh youth being planned for the fall premier expressing the themes of diversity, mutual respect, interfaith, and justice from Guru Granth. They will be staged on Saturday, December 12, 2008, at the Wootten High School in Rockville, Maryland.
Known for its innovative and creative approach in presenting Sikhism in the Western world, GGSF has ventured in an unchartered terrain in planning this program.
Last fall, Guru Gobind Singh Foundation had some of its kids take part in a play The Lorax, a musical adaptation from the famous Dr Seuss story book which was staged by kids from many different faiths. This play, adopted to create awareness about environment, was coordinated by the Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington and was staged by the Children’s Theater Company of New York.
Dr. Harminder Kaur Mangat, who organized the participation of the Sikh kids, said, “Though it was a lot of hard labor on the part of kids, teachers, parents and the coordinators, but the experience was far more valuable. All the Kids were given opportunity to act, dance, sing, character building and last but not the least speech training.”
After going through this experience, GGSF decided to form the Rockville Chapter of Children’s Theater Company last May to explore the possibility of staging a play depicting the concepts of Guru Granth Sahib. Dedicated to “Building Character Onstage”, the Children's Theatre Company (CTC) of New York develops in children and youth a keen sense of citizenship while introducing them to the incomparable magic of theatre through their full participation in the creation and performance of musicals and plays.
CTC of NY has been given many awards and has appeared on PBS and Good Morning America with Diane Sawyer. It has performed alongside of Nelson Mandela at the United Nations’ UNICEF concert for children’s rights and has also performed with prominent personalities including Harry Belafonte, Michael Douglas, Muhammad Ali, and Wynton Marsalis. GGSF has hired two qualified teaching artists Carmel Sanders and Puja Chawla to direct the kids in learning the skills to perform plays on stage.
Two plays have been selected in the upcoming show in December. First play - Yertle & Myrtle The Tyrant Turtles- Music and Adaptation by Lory Lazarus (inspired by Dr. Seuss) is to be performed by girls and boys of 6-9 ages.
In this story the hero, a turtle named Mack, shows how one can stand up to pressures of power executed by the King and eventually brings down the tyrannical throne.
Harminder Kaur Mangat said, “This may seem like a very simple idea, but when the meek speak up for their own rights and that off the others, specially acted by very young kids becomes rather special. When we infuse the play with quotations from Gurbani or our Sikh history, it becomes very apparent to the world that Sikhs have always stood up for human rights. It would become easier for a child to understand and remember how and why our identity is so important because if we can stand up for others we certainly can stand up for ourselves!”
Second play ‘Wayward Knight' with music and adaptation by Frank Sanchez and Mehr Mansuri, is going to be performed by our youth of ages 10 – 18 yrs. This is a story of a knight who is called upon to serve the King and that is the biggest honor he can get. As he sets off on this journey he comes across various situations where many seek his aid and protection. Though he resists something inside will not allow him to refuse. He presses on, but his mission is delayed again and again as the knight stops to help those in need. Has he been loyal to the King by following his heart or has he been an errant knight after all? Eventually he reaches the King, but no one in the kingdom recognizes him, and in fact he is called a thief. Finally when he meets the King, while he feels very low and humble because he did not fulfill the Kings command, the King recognizes him and honors him to highest degree of Knighthood for his good deeds, honesty and service!
Ravi Singh, Co-coordinator of the Drama Project, said, “We have adapted this play to show the character of a Sikh set in old times of Gurus when such Sikhs lived and followed their orders to the dot. The story will be of one of those Sikhs who has been summoned by the Guru at Anand Pur Sahib. Of course he is put through the test. We will incorporate Gurbani quotations and shabads to give inspiration to the Gursikh and be part of this long journey, learning at every step of the way what our faith is all about if we follow it from the Guru Granth Sahib. This effort can only be made by the youth and in theatrical sense to bring it to the community at large, because it leaves an impression on the minds of the performers and the audience like a pleasant dream. This would give life to our Sikh scriptures and teachings of service, honesty, duty, love and much more. The youth will also express them selves with Sikh costumes, turbans, warrior attire and very grand acts of Gatka the Sikh martial art.”
Dr. Rajwant Singh, Executive Director of GGSF, said, “This is a unique way of celebrating this important anniversary. For ages, art and culture has brought together different countries, races, and people. We hope to not only share the celebration of 300 years of Guru Granth Sahib with others outside our community but to bring everyone together through these plays.”
Jasjit Kaur Gabri, Assistant Director of the play, said, “Working in the Children’s Theater Company at GGSF really convinces me that theater and music infused with Gurbani is one of the most powerful tools that can be used by our kids to bring home and world together."
Other organizers of this project are: Jasjit Kaur Gabri, Manranjan Singh, Kawal Singh, Swaroop Kaur Virk, Supreet Kaur, Manjit Kaur Battu, Dr.Gunpreet Singh , Menu Kaur Nandra, Gagan Kaur Narang, PJ Oberoi, and Balbir Pandher. Dr. Rajwant Singh and Bhai Gurdarshan Singh are providing the quotes from Gurbani.
For more information contact
Dr. Harminder Kaur @ [email protected] or (301) 461-2276
Ravi Singh @ [email protected] or (240) 314-0494
To assist in this endeavor, Please make your tax deductible donations to GGSF or donate at www.ggsfusa.com
(marked for Children’s Theater)
