Previews Begin January 15, 2021 – Opening Night is January 23, 2021

Geffen Playhouse will launch filmmaker and cookbook author Sri Rao’s (Netflix’s upcoming The Actress) Bollywood Kitchen in January 2021, it was announced today. Bollywood Kitchen is the latest show in a new lineup of live, virtual and interactive productions from the Los Angeles-based theater’s Geffen Stayhouse banner. Sri Rao’s Bollywood Kitchen is inspired by his cookbook of the same name, published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
In this interactive production, Rao invites us to prepare a homemade Indian meal along with him, drawing on the recipes that were staples at his family’s table. As we join him in cooking these delicious dishes in our very own kitchens, Rao interweaves the story of his parents immigrating to America, the joy and nourishment that Bollywood musicals brought to his whole family, and the culinary traditions they shared. Mouthwatering flavors come together with the colorful exuberance of Bollywood films to create a festive and fun virtual experience about rediscovering the comforts of home. 
“The two questions I get asked most often at cocktail parties are, ‘Can I get one of your mom’s recipes for homemade Indian food?’ and ‘I’ve never seen a Bollywood movie before—can you recommend one to me?’ Well, the Geffen is giving me the opportunity to answer both questions at once—and this time, the cocktail party is at my place! Bollywood Kitchen is my way of introducing audiences to two of my passions—Indian food and films—while taking them on a personal journey of my family’s immigrant experience,” said Rao. Bollywood Kitchen joins the currently running Geffen Stayhouse live, virtual and interactive productions of Inside the Box, from The New York Times crossword constructor and magician David Kwong (The Enigmatist); playwright, director and current member of The Kilroys Chelsea Marcantel’s (Airness, Tiny Houses) Citizen Detective; and illusionist and storyteller Helder Guimarães’ (Invisible Tango, The Present) The Future.
The Geffen Stayhouse banner originally launched in March 2020 with free, short-form content in response to Geffen Playhouse temporarily closing as a result of COVID-19. Geffen Stayhouse went on to develop and produce its first full-length effort The Present, a live, virtual, and interactive experience from magician, illusionist and storyteller Helder Guimarães, which made its world premiere in May 2020. The 250+ performance sold-out run was extended three times before closing with a global, livestreamed grand finale on October 17 with more than 6,000 viewers in the finale’s audience.