In the famed land of opportunity, justice knows no equal under lady liberty’s watch. Except, that is, when two mindless cruel teenagers exact their own kind of justice upon a hopelessly lost East Indian. Gupta, on his first day in New York City, is all alone at a bus stop as he tries to find the way to his son’s home. He tempts the likes of hooligans Joey and Murphy to act out their own fears of this “silent” stranger in their land. Shunya Theatre presents this chilling tale of racial prejudice and hate - the kind that is fed out of ignorance, boredom and misunderstandings - straight from its setting on a cold September’s day right in the heart of the Bronx.

“The Indian Wants the Bronx” is an off-Broadway, theatrical play written by Israel Horovitz in 1968, with a message about humanity’s capability for violence that is gripping, uneasy and direct. The language - physical and emotional - is certainly no less virulent today than when it was first staged at the Astor Place Theater in 1968 with Al Pacino and John Cazale as the two punks. The production won three Obies - Best Play (Horovitz), Best Actor (Pacino) and Best Supporting Actor (Cazale). Guru Singh takes the lead for Shunya as director, the punks are played by Adam Conlon (Murphy) and Sydney Truss (Joey), and the East Indian is played by Ramam Chavali (Gupta).

Shunya’s revival adds something unique to the themes of hopelessness, fear, and cruelty that play out in Horovitz’s boldy scripted tale. Juxtaposed against these stark themes, the theatre troupe presents a montage of images depicting the struggles, the successes, and the hope of the South Asian American immigration experience. A documentary film directed by Sameer Vyas is interwoven throughout the production. The film highlights the answers given by local immigrants interviewed about their own personal experiences after arriving in the United States. Why did they come? What challenges have they faced? Is America truly the land of opportunity? With art direction by Shraddha Srivastav, spoken word, and live music, the production is poised to provide its audience, or rather take hold of it, with a tangible grasp on the reality of the issues we still face today.

Shunya Theatre is a not-for-profit theatre troupe in pursuit of voicing the South Asian-American experience. The play will be staged at Diverse Works Art Space (1117 East Freeway @ N. Main) the weekends of July 30th and August 6th, 2004. Advance purchase tickets (recommended due to limited seating) are $13 for Friday and Saturday shows (8:00 p.m.) and $10 for Sunday shows (3:00 p.m.), and can be purchased either online or by phone (www.tickets2events.com , 713.412.8478). Otherwise, available tickets at the door for all shows will be $15. To learn more about the organization, you can visit www.shunyatheatre.org or email questions or comments to the theatre troupe at: info@shunyatheatre.org.