LOVE AND LIBERATION

A creative exploration of the relationships we nurture and the ones we set free on our journey to collective liberation with Adya, Lena, Bennett, Alexis, LJ, Amy, Simha and Jayla.

ADYA MOHANTY (writer, director, tech/stage design, performer) is an actor, singer, writer, creative in Los Angeles. Since graduating from the USC School of Dramatic Arts in 2022 and training at the Ruskin School of Acting in Meisner technique, Adya has quickly landed a series regular role in an independent pilot, a network TV guest star, several leads in independent short films, a featured role in a Nike commercial for the Women's World Cup. She also recently performed at the Apollo Theater in New York City. She has been with the Playhouse for almost two decades having performed in numerous Playhouse Actors' Repertory Theater productions. Most recently, she has been able to craft this series of Love and Liberation performances with her dad and her friends and is beyond grateful to perform and create alongside such incredible talent. She thanks you all for being here and believes that with love as our guiding compass, our collective liberation will one day come.

LENA WINNER (writer/performer) is an actress with a background in psychology and a love for helping her community. She studied the Meisner technique at the Ruskin School of Acting where she learned how to access a deep vulnerability and developed her love of acting. She hopes to continue growing her acting skills and proclivity for empathy through both performance and pursuing a degree in social work.

BENNETT RINE (he/they) is an artist, writer, and poet.  With a background in international relations, Bennett believes in language's ability to disrupt dominant narratives and create possibilities by imagining new futures for us to inhabit.   His work can be found in Palaver Arts Magazine as well as forthcoming in Fruitslice. He looks forward to continue sharing his work and connecting with audiences. Originally from New Orleans, Bennett now lives in Los Angeles with his cat, Bast.

​RAEVA VASISHT (singer), 19, is a Punjabi and Odia younger sibling in a beautiful family. They enjoy aimlessly staring out the window, drinking tea, playing, and laughing. They hope that one day the bombs will stop and that people will remember how to love one another.

JAYLA (singer) is a Californian artist who speaks to herself in hopes that you hear her.

As an artist, organizer, gardening educator, and certified massage therapist, LJ (musician) values the intersectionality of creative expression with the liberation and health of our bodies and spirits. She enjoys camping, reading, cooking, skills/resource sharing, and spending time with friends and family. LJ recognizes that she resides on Unceded Tongva land, and she is deeply grateful to those who have stewarded this land for millenia. Tonight she is offering a selection of sounds highlighting the theme of Love & Liberation.”

​Hailing from the SF Bay Area in California, SIMHA (musician) is a recording artist exploring Soul, Jazz, and Indian classical sounds. He seamlessly blends elements of eastern and western music into his compositions by experimenting with the freedom of harmony. Simha is heavily influenced by the UK Jazz and Soul scene as well as indian classical artists he listened to during his early years of musical foundation. Simha received his bachelor's degree at Berklee College of Music and has taken many turns with his career. As he continues to delve into his identity as an artist, he takes time to also give back to his community by bringing people together through shows, singing circles, and songshares. He hopes to create comradery between artists through these community offerings. With his debut EP under his belt and three new singles out, Simha is currently in the studio working on his full length album that he aims to release in 2025.

ALEXIS MILAN TURNER (singer) is an actress, singer, and dancer whose determination, ambition, humor, and bubbly personality light up a room. From Los Angeles, CA, Alexis' versatility, tone, and training allow her to immerse herself into many genres vocally and within her acting work. She is a recent graduate of USC School of Dramatic Arts and Thornton School of Music and has been seen in USC's production of “The Secret Garden” and she has lead countless short films. She has also sung backup vocals for major artists including Frank Ocean, Carrie Underwood, Big Sean, Foster the People, A Great Big World, and WALK THE MOON on shows Jimmy Kimmel Live, So You Think You Can Dance, and Conan O'Brien's show. She is incredibly driven, passionate, and ebullient, and hopes to inspire others with her work both on and off-screen.

AMY AMATYA (musician) is a musician and writer from Los Angeles. She plays violin on people's records, writes and reads about how everything is connected, hangs out with communists, engages with the local songwriter scene, and bikes along Ballona Creek. She holds a bachelors in earth science from Princeton University and is working on a solo folk project about birds, mixed lineage, and uncertain but promising futures.

Producer BERKELEY SANJAY has a Masters Degree in Film and Television from the University of Dehli. Credits include As Vishnu Dreams, A Long Bridge of Deep Waters (both at the Cornerstone Theatre), Indian Wants the Bronx, Bridging the Great Divide (presenter/host) and over 100 performances as a street theatre activist in India. Recent credits include over a dozen ShortBurst® productions and several Actors' Repertory Theatre  New Year's Eve Musical Revues. He has directed numerous documentaries and is Associate Director of Adult Education for the Santa Monica Playhouse Diversity-in-Education Conservatory.

SHOW PROGRAM

Love and Liberation

Returning for one night only after its sell-out performance!

Sunday, March 16 at 7:00 pm
Tickets: $25
Admission includes post-show wine and sweets reception with the cast!

GET TICKETS NOW

Call the Box Office at 310-394-9779 ext 1

Santa Monica Playhouse programs are supported in part by generous grants from the City of Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Arts Commission,
​the Ahmanson Foundation, the Rotary Club Foundation and Playhouse PALS.

Santa Monica Playhouse Reserves the Right to Cancel or Reschedule Performances Without Prior Notice.