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Monday, November 11, 2019

State Theatre New Jersey presents Taj Express—The Bollywood Revue

Taj Express: The Bollywood Musical Revue

WHEN: Saturday, November 16, 2019, 8pm
WHERE:
15 Livingston Ave, New Brunswick
TICKETS: $40-$98
For tickets, more information, or group discounts, call State Theatre Guest Services at 732-246-SHOW (7469), or visit us online at STNJ.org. State Theatre Guest Services, located at 15 Livingston Ave, New Brunswick NJ, is open Monday through Friday from 10am to 6pm; Saturday from 1pm to 5pm; and at least three hours prior to curtain on performance dates unless otherwise specified. Additional ticket and transaction fees may apply.

This high energy celebration of new India’s pop music, Bollywood culture, and deep traditions features joyful dance, colorful costumes, and thrilling live music from A.R. Rahman the composer of Slumdog Millionaire.

Taj Express is a spectacular new musical from Film City, Mumbai which recently completed a smash hit, sell-out tour of the United Kingdom. Directed by Shruti Merchant and choreographed by Vaibhavi Merchant, Taj Express stars actual dancers from the world's most favorite Bollywood films.

This performance rhythmically blends the sounds of India and Bollywood, capturing the vibrant, expressive spirit of the world of Bollywood movies that have been entertaining billions of people in India for generations. Through a fusion of film, dance, and music, this dazzling international sensation takes audiences on a live cinematic journey through modern Indian culture and society. North America will be wowed by high-energy dance numbers, the latest Bollywood hits, spectacular costumes and exquisitely designed film projections created by the A-list of India's film and fashion industries.

Taj Express follows the story of one man’s passion and another man’s genius. Young composer Shankar struggles with his music, and it’s only when he begins to follow in the footsteps of his idol, A.R. Rahman, that he discovers his path to success. The production reveals the secrets of the world’s most prolific film industry, and the people behind the screen who make the magic in India’s factory of dreams.

With a cast of multi-talented Bollywood performers such as Mikhail Sen, Hiten Shah, and Tanvi Patil, Taj Express is an uplifting show full of color, high-energy music, and sensational dance scenes. It features choreography from one of Bollywood’s top young choreographers, Vaibhavi Merchant, and music by A.R. Rahman, composer of Slumdog Millionaire; all under the direction of Shruti Merchant.

Vaibhavi Merchant (Director of Choreography) has been the Director of Choreography for over 75 Bollywood films and is known for her smash hits such as Dhol Baaje, Jhoom Barabar, Kajra Re, Kamli, and Dhoom3. She has received numerous awards for her choreography including the prestigious National Award for Choreography, IIFA and the American Choreography Award.

Shruti Merchant (Director/ Producer) is also amongst the top choreographers in the industry. Starting in 2014, she appeared on India’s leading dance reality show, Dance India Dance, as a judge for seasons 4 and 5.

About State Theatre New Jersey

The theater exists to enrich people’s lives, contribute to a vital urban environment, and build future audiences by presenting the finest performing artists and entertainers and fostering lifetime appreciation for the performing arts through arts education. State Theatre New Jersey’s programs are made possible by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. Grant funding has been provided by the Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders through a grant award from the Middlesex County Cultural and Arts Trust Fund. United is the official airline of the State Theatre.