Berkeley Repertory Theatre will host the world premiere of ‘The Lunchbox,’ a new musical inspired by the acclaimed film, from May 17 to June 28.
BERKELEY, CA – Berkeley Repertory Theatre has announced the world premiere of ‘The Lunchbox,’ a new musical set to run from May 17 through June 28 at the Roda Theatre. This production adapts the beloved film directed by Ritesh Batra, which tells the story of an unexpected connection formed through Mumbai’s renowned lunch delivery system.
The musical features a book and co-lyrics by Ritesh Batra, with music and additional lyrics by the Lazours. Batra describes the stage adaptation as “a true adaptation of the movie” that “embraces the medium,” emphasizing its intimate yet expansive nature.
Director Rachel Chavkin praised the work for its “delicacy and depth of humanity,” a quality she notes is rarely found in musicals. She also highlighted the score and orchestrations crafted by the Lazours, Nathan Koci, Arun Ramamurthy, and Rohan Krishnamurthy.
The cast is led by Manu Narayan and Kuhoo Verma, featuring a diverse ensemble that includes 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. Artistic Director Johanna Pfaelzer expressed excitement about the production, noting that the team is creating a work that balances intimacy with theatricality.
The creative team behind ‘The Lunchbox’ includes choreographer Reshma Gajjar, scenic designer Mimi Lien, costume designer Arjun Bhasin, and lighting designer Bradley King. Sound design is managed by Justin Stasiw, with wigs, hair, and makeup by Charles LaPointe, and Sheela Ramesh serving as music director.
This production is supported in part by Berkeley Rep’s South Asian Leadership Council, which includes notable contributors such as Yogen and Peggy Dalal, as well as lead sponsors Anjali and Sundar Pichai. ‘The Lunchbox’ is produced in association with Mark Lunsford and Nik Dodani.
For more information, visit berkeleyrep.org.
According to India-West, the anticipation surrounding this musical adaptation reflects the growing interest in stories that explore cultural connections and the human experience.