Casting Announced for ‘Life of Pi’ North American Tour

Simon Friend, Daryl Roth, Hal Luftig, Mark Gordon Pictures, and NETworks Presentations are proud to announce casting for the US tour of the Tony Award®-winning theatrical experience Life of Pi.

Leading the production is powerhouse actor Taha Mandviwala as Pi, supported by a dynamic company including Jessica Angleskhan, Alan Ariano, Pragun Bhardwaj, Ben Durocher, Emmanuel Elpenord, Shiloh Goodin, Anna Leigh Gortner, Austin Wong Harper, Rishi Jaiswal, Toussaint Jeanlouis, Mi Kang, Intae Kim, Sharayu Mahale, Sinclair Mitchell, Maya Rangulu, Betsy Rosen, Anna Vomáčka, Sorab Wadia & Savidu Geevaratne.

Lolita Chakrabarti’s dazzling stage adaptation of Yann Martel’s best-selling novel is a worldwide phenomenon that will now thrill audiences across the US on a multi-city tour, opening at the Hippodrome Theatre at the France Merrick Performing Arts Center in Baltimore, Maryland on December 10th, 2024.
 
Based on one of the best-loved works of fiction – winner of the International Booker Prize (formerly Man Booker Prize) which has sold more than 15 million copies worldwide – Life of Pi is a breath-taking theatrical adaptation of an epic journey of endurance and hope.
 
Told with jaw-dropping visuals, world class puppetry and exquisite stagecraft, the Broadway and West End sensation Life of Pi creates a visually stunning journey that will leave you filled with awe and joy. Martel’s extraordinary story of family, resilience and survival and the natural world combined with Chakrabarti’s brilliantly staged story speaks to every generation.
 
After a cargo ship sinks in the middle of the vast Pacific Ocean, a sixteen-year-old boy name Pi is stranded on a lifeboat with four other survivors – a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan, and a 450-pound Royal Bengal tiger.

Biographies

TAHA MANDVIWALA (Pi) is an actor, athlete, and health coach. Deeply passionate about movement and storytelling, he is grateful for the opportunity to lead the Life of Pi tour as Pi. Taha blends his love for performance and wellness to inspire others toward vibrant, balanced living.

JESSICA ANGLESKHAN (Amma/Nurse/Orange Juice) is an NYC actor of over 20 years, now on her first National Tour. Frequent Met Opera performer, she’s worked internationally as a revival movement director. Other credits include Law and Order: SVU, Blue Bloods, and more. Training: NYU, Stella Adler. Member of SAG-AFTRA, AEA. For Behr.

ALAN ARIANO (Mr. Okamoto/Captain) comes direct from Girl From the North Country (Dr Walker) national tour. Broadway: Miss Saigon (Original 1991), Jerome Robbins’ Broadway, The King and I, M. Butterfly, Shogun. Off-Broadway: Felix Starro, Good Enemy, Greater Clements. TV: SVU (recurring), L&O, FBI: Most Wanted, Gotham, Tremé. Visit www.alanariano.com. For MOM.

PRAGUN BHARDWAJ (Ensemble, u/s Father, u/s Admiral Jackson/Russian Sailor/Father Martin, u/s Mamaji/Pandit-Ji) is an Indian American Actor with a BFA in Musical Theater from Pace University. His recent appearances include Artie Green in Sunset Boulevard at ACT of Connecticut and also Ensemble with Understudy for Benny, Sonny and Piragua Guy in Gateway Playhouse’s In The Heights!

BEN DUROCHER (Cook/Voice of Richard Parker/Puppeteer, Richard Parker/Puppeteer, Ensemble) New York: Avenue Q (Princeton/Rod), Madama Butterfly at Met Opera, TV/Film: “Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock,” “Helpsters,” “Pineapple Playhouse,” Dying For Sex, “Mr. Crocket.” Two-time Emmy Award winning puppet builder/wrangler for Sesame Street and The Jim Henson Company. @bendurocher

EMMANUEL ELPENORD (Cook/Voice of Richard Parker/Richard Parker/Puppeteer, Ensemble) is a Brooklyn born, Haitian-American actor, puppeteer, and voice-over artist. Credits include: El Niño (Metropolitan Opera);  Disney’s Winnie the Pooh (Rockefeller Productions). He is a recipient of HCX LakouNOU Artist Residency Grant and Jim Henson Foundation’s 2024 Family Grant. @sword.of.elpenord

SAVIDU GEEVARATNE (Ensemble, u/s Pi, u/s Ravi) is excited to make his national tour debut with Life of Pi! A Sri Lankan American actor, singer, and musician based in NYC, he trained at NYU Tisch. Off-Broadway: Your Own Personal Exegesis, Monsoon Wedding. Grateful to his teachers, family, and ARC+Julia.

SHILOH GOODIN (Richard Parker/Puppeteer, Ensemble) Broadway: Life of Pi, Paradise Square. Off-Broadway: Babes in Toyland at Lincoln Center, LoveLife at Encores, Screwtape Letters, The Anthem. Other faves: A Chorus Line (Cassie) at Cincinnati Playhouse, Rigoletto (Santa Fe Opera), Twelfth Night (Assoc Choreo, The Public).

ANNA LEIGH GORTNER (Richard Parker/Puppeteer, Ensemble) Broadway tour debut! Regional Theater: label●less (Cincinnati Playhouse), The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati. Proud Tumbling instructor at Broadway Dance Center! So much love to Mom, Dad, Beth, Chris, Andrew and all of the teachers who helped me on the way! Jer 31:13. @anna.gortner

AUSTIN WONG HARPER (Richard Parker/Puppeteer, Ensemble, u/s Mamaji/Pandit-ji) National Tour: Tootsie. Regional: Sister Act (The Muny), Tootsie (Ogunquit Playhouse), Guys and Dolls, Newsies, Billy Elliot (Woodminster). Select live performance credits: “MTV VMAs” (Eminem), Blue Devils Color Guard. Big love to mom, Patrick, and Stanley! @austinhapa

RISHI JAISWAL (Mamaji/Pandit Ji/u/s Father) is an actor, director, screenwriter, and choreographer. He has been featured on the NBC comedy “American Auto”, ABC’s “Johnny Knoxville’s Prank Panel”, NBC’s “Superstars of Dance”, “So You Think You Can Dance”, and “Good Morning America”. Rishi wrote, starred in, and directed the feature film Unmasked in 2022.

TOUSSAINT JEANLOUIS (Richard Parker/Puppeteer, Ensemble) Meredith Monk’s Indra’s Net (Chorus), Dr. Bernice Reagan Johnson and Toshi Reagan’s International Tour of Parable of the Sower: The Opera (Bankole/Richard Moss), based on the novel by Octavia E. Butler, Katori Hall’s Pulitzer Prize Winning Hot Wing King (Cordell), and SITI Company’s The Bacchae (King Pentheus).

MI KANG (Lulu Chen/Mrs. Biology Kumar/Zaida Khan) is thrilled to be part of the Life of Pi! Selected credits: Inherit the Wind (Goodman); Villette (Lookingglass); The Chinese Lady (TimeLine); Dracula (Cincy Playhouse); Journal of Ben Uchida (Seattle Children’s); Tale for Time Being (Book-It). Mi is a Northwestern MFA Acting graduate and represented by Stewart Talent.

INTAE KIM (Swing, u/s Cook/Voice of Richard Parker, u/s Admiral Jackson/Russian Sailor/Father Martin, u/s Leonard Chen/Mr. Biology Kumar/Mr. Khan, Mr. Okamoto/Captain) is making his national tour debut. Originally from Boston, he graduated from UC Berkeley with degrees in Theater and English. Past credits include projects like “Fargo” and “Succession”. He’s thrilled to tour with this team and grateful to his family and loved ones for their support.

SHARAYU MAHALLE (Rani/u/s Pi) is excited to make her Broadway tour debut with Life of Pi. She holds a BS in Business from NYU and studied acting at Yale, Beverly Hills Playhouse, and Stella Adler. Her credits include Monsoon Wedding, Cobra Kai, and Footnotes. Follow her at @sharayu.mahale.

SINCLAIR MITCHELL (Admiral Jackson/Russian Sailor/ Father Martin) Broadway: The Lion King. Off-Broadway: The Emperor Jones, Harlem Song. National Tour: The Prom, School of Rock, The Producers, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Regional: Shout Sister Shout!, The Wiz. CCM Grad, Olympic Torch Bearer (’96). Love to fiancé Joey. Thanks to About Artists Agency.

MAYA RANGULU (Swing, u/s Amma/Nurse/Orange Juice, u/s Lulu Chen/Mrs. Biology Kumar/Zaida Khan, u/s Rani) is thrilled to make her National Tour debut! Originally from Portland, Oregon, her training includes American Conservatory Theater, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, AMAW Los Angeles, and a B.A. from Stanford University. Endless gratitude to family, friends, and mentors. Here’s to the stories we tell and the people we love.

BETSY ROSEN (Assistant Puppetry and Movement Director/Puppet Captain/ Richard Parker/Puppeteer, Ensemble) is a Helen Hayes Award-winning artist based in NYC. Broadway: Life of Pi (OBC). Selected credits: Sydney Opera House, Lincoln Center, American Repertory Theater, Cincinnati Playhouse, Woolly Mammoth. Grateful for all who hold me up, the LOP family, and FSE. @thebetsyrosen

ANNA VOMACKA (Richard Parker/Puppeteer, Ensemble) is a dancer who has worked with Brennan Gerard & Ryan Kelly, Bebe Miller, & Nami Yamamoto. She also creates her own work, including film Listening Near an Edge (2022) and immersive performance W A S T E in S P A C E (2019). Excited for her Tour debut!

SORAB WADIA (Father) hails from Bombay, India. Tours: Aladdin, Oklahoma!, Kite Runner. International: Jihad! The Musical (West End), Merchant of Venice (Venice), Bend It Like Beckham (Toronto). Off-Broadway: Babette’s Feast, The Tempest. TV: “Blacklist: Redemption”, “Madame Secretary”, “30 Rock”. Follow him at @SorabWadia.

Life of Pi is originally Directed by Max Webster, with the Tour Directed by Ashley Brooke Monroe, Set and Costume Design by Olivier and Tony Award winner Tim Hatley. The production features Puppet Design by Olivier Award winners Nick Barnes and Finn Caldwell, with Puppetry and Movement Direction by Finn Caldwell, supported by the Global Associate Puppetry and Movement Direction of Scarlet Wilderink with US Associate Puppetry and Movement Direction by Jon Hoche and US Assistant Puppetry and Movement Direction by Betsy Rosen.  Lighting Design is by Tony Award winner Tim Lutkin and Tim Deiling, Sound Design by Tony Award Winner Carolyn Downing, Video and Animation Design by Olivier and Tony Award winner Andrzej Goulding, Hair and Wig Design by David Brian Brown, Original Music Composed by Andrew T. Mackay, Dramaturgy by Jack Bradley, and Casting by Duncan Stewart and Patrick Maravilla with ARC Casting.
 
For the US tour, the team includes Associate Puppet Designer Caroline Bowman, Associate Scenic Designer Ross Edwards, Associate Costume Designer Robin L. McGee, Associate Hair and Wig Designer Meg Murphy, Associate Lighting Designer Paul Toben and Tim Reed, Associate Sound Designer Sam Clarkson and Elliott Williams with Sound Quiet Time, Associate Video and Animation Designer Brad Peterson with Dan Trenchard, Fight Direction from Rod Kinter and Puppet Captain Betsy Rosen.
 
The Life of Pi US tour Stage Management team is led by Kelsey Tippins with Matthew Brooks and Fouad Hassan, with Resident Director Jon Hoche. The Company Management team is Katie Cortez and Frank Deming II.

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