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| (courtesy photo) Cupertino resident and author, Jessi Kaur, had her book The Royal Falcon turned into a stage play. The play about a young boy who goes on a journey to learn about compassion, forgiveness and sharing can be seen Jan. 28 and 29 at Cubberley Theater in Palo Alto. |
A Cupertino author is taking her writings on the importance of tolerance and compassion from print to the stage.
Jessi Kaur is turning her 2009 book The Royal Falcon into a stage musical that is set to debut in the Bay Area this month.
The play, much like the book, tells the story of Arjan, a young boy who is taken on a fantastical journey through time by a falcon that teaches him the importance of certain virtues.
"The message is to practice kindness, compassion and forgiveness. We're all part of one big large family sharing the same planet," Kaur says. "My life's goal is to give this message in as many ways as I can."
The narrative is centered around a wartime episode from Indian history, where a water-bearer named Bhai Kanhaiya engages in acts of compassion during a time of conflict.
Despite the cultural backdrop, Kaur says this play is not just a play about Sikhs or Indians. The cast of the musical is multicultural, and the lyrics of the songs are based on verses from Sri Guru Granth Sahib, a scripture that Kuar says upholds the unity of mankind, celebrates diversity and demands respect and dignity for all.
"This is a universal message," she said. "I did not want it to be just for the Indian or Sikh community."
The young cast is multi-ethnic and features 16 children and four adults.
Tanna and Tony Kienitz team to direct the production, while the original score was composed by Manesh Advertisement Judge and Mike Anand. The songs and their accompanying choreography reflect several musical genres, including jazz, hip-hop and even rap.
Kaur worked with her directors and songwriters to tweak her original story into something ready for the stage. She estimates that about 20 percent of the book was reworked and enhanced so it could be better expressed on stage.
Kaur, a member of the Cupertino Fine Arts Commission, is active in the Sikh community. She is a frequent speaker at interfaith conferences and addressed the Parliament of the World's Religions held in Barcelona, Spain, in 2004. The event brings together representatives of different faiths from all over the world to create a global dialogue on religion. She was also invited to and spoke at the 2009 event in Melbourne, Australia.
In recent years, Kaur has turned her mission of spreading compassion to the world of storytelling. In addition to The Royal Falcon, she published Dear Takuya...Letters of a Sikh Boy in 2008. The book is in more than 200 elementary school libraries across the U.S.
The Royal Falcon will debut at the Cubberley Community Center Theater, 4000 Middlefield Road, in Palo Alto. Performances are Jan. 28 at 6 p.m. and Jan. 29 at 4 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for children.
For tickets or more information, visit www.musical.theroyalfalcon.org and www.jessikaur.com.
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The Royal Falcon Musical is based on the highly acclaimed children's book of the same name by Jessi Kaur, a Bay Area based author. It has been adapted for the stage by Tony Kienitz.
The Musical has been directed by Tanna and Tony Kienitz. The original score has been rendered by Manesh Judge and Mike Anand. With its multi-cultural cast, and songs and dances that incorporate elements of jazz, hip-hop, and rap, The Royal Falcon Musical will touch the hearts of children and adults alike. For tickets go to: |