‘The Lunchbox’ Musical To Make World Premiere At Berkeley Rep

India-West News Desk

BERKELEY, CA – Berkeley Repertory Theatre Artistic Director Johanna Pfaelzer and Managing Director Tom Parrish have announced the world premiere of ‘The Lunchbox’, a new musical scheduled to run from May 17 through June 28.

Staged at the Roda Theatre, the production adapts the film by Ritesh Batra and follows an unexpected connection sparked by Mumbai’s famed lunch delivery system.

The musical features a book and co-lyrics by Ritesh Batra, with music and additional lyrics by the Lazours. Batra said the stage version is “a true adaptation of the movie” that “embraces the medium,” describing it as both intimate and expansive.

Director Rachel Chavkin added that the work has “a delicacy and depth of humanity” rarely found in musicals, while also highlighting the score and orchestrations developed by the Lazours, Nathan Koci, Arun Ramamurthy, and Rohan Krishnamurthy.

The cast is led by Manu Narayan and Kuhoo Verma, alongside Hashini Amarasinghe, Savidu Geevaratne, Akshara Gunda, Shaarada Trayi Karthik, Benjamin Mathew, Vaibu Mohan, Shiv Nadkarni, Anisha Nagarajan, Nasir Panjwani, Yash Ramanujam, Sushma Saha, Kinshuk Sen, Caryna Shah, Aathaven Tharmarajah, Vishal Vaidya, and Levin Valayil. Pfaelzer said the team is creating a work that is both intimate and theatrical, adding that she looks forward to audiences experiencing it.

The creative team includes choreographer Reshma Gajjar, scenic designer Mimi Lien, costume designer Arjun Bhasin, and lighting designer Bradley King. Sound design is by Justin Stasiw, with Charles LaPointe handling wigs, hair, and makeup, and Sheela Ramesh serving as music director.

The production is supported in part by Berkeley Rep’s South Asian Leadership Council, including Yogen and Peggy Dalal and lead sponsors Anjali and Sundar Pichai, along with additional contributors. ‘The Lunchbox’ is produced in association with Mark Lunsford and Nik Dodani. For more: berkeleyrep.org