Rajadhiraaj musical witnesses packed house at Dubai Opera on its first day
The world's first mega musical on Hindu deity Shri Krishna, Rajadhiraaj: Love Life Leela, captivated a full house at the iconic Dubai Opera on its opening night on March 13, as audiences from the Indian diaspora gathered to witness the grandest Broadway-style production from Indian theatre.
Set to run until March 16, this production presents a portrayal of Shri Krishna's life through a dazzling theatrical spectacle and live singing. The production's scale, featuring 20 original songs, over 180 artists, and more than 60 dancers, left the Dubai audience in awe. The musical's intricate production design, breathtaking choreography, and 1,800 bespoke custom-made costumes combined to deliver an immersive experience unlike anything seen before on a stage.
Having already captivated packed houses in India, Rajadhiraaj received rave reviews from both celebrities and audiences alike for its rich narrative, stunning visuals, and soul-stirring live music. Executive Producer Bhoomi Nathwani promises an unforgettable experience for the Dubai audience, describing the production as a once-in-a-lifetime theatrical event.
Dhanraj Nathwani, producer of the show, expressed his excitement, saying, 'Through this musical, we aim to share the universal values of courage, wisdom, and love. Rajadhiraaj brings to life three swaroops of Shri Krishna – the playful Bal Swaroop, the regal Dwarkadheesh, and the merciful Shrinathji. I am thrilled to bring these timeless stories to life in a way that has never been seen before, taking the audience on an unforgettable journey.'
Written by Padma Shri awardee Prasoon Joshi, the musical is directed by Shruti Sharma and features enchanting music compositions by Sachin-Jigar. The musical's choreography is expertly crafted by Bertwin D'Souza and Shampa Gopikrishna. The grandeur of the production is further elevated by Omung Kumar's breathtaking set design, with creative producers Parthiv Gohil and Viral Rachh ensuring the production's seamless execution. The team is further supported by meticulous story research from Raam Mori and exquisite costume design by Neeta Lulla.
Tickets for the remaining shows are available on dubaiopera.com and Platinumlist.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Khaleej Times
5 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
'Maybe Happy Ending' triumphs at Tony Awards with top musical wins
Maybe Happy Ending, a sweet and futuristic story that follows two obsolete helper robots as they navigate isolation, affection and what it means to be human, was the big musical winner at the Tony Awards, capping a record-grossing post-pandemic Broadway theatre season. The show won three big awards including best musical. Darren Criss won his first Tony for best leading actor in a musical for his role as the innocent Oliver, and its director Michael Arden won the award for best director of a musical. The modern reimagining of Andrew Lloyd Webber's classic Sunset Blvd. also won big, taking awards for best revival of a musical and for Nicole Scherzinger, who stars as the faded movie star Norma Desmond, won best actress in a musical. The Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Purpose won the best play award. Written by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, the play follows a family whose carefully constructed legacy unravels when their youngest son returns home with an unexpected guest, exposing buried secrets and faith-based conflict. Host Cynthia Erivo, the Wicked film star, opened the show at Radio City Music Hall with a walk to the stage from the dressing room that mimicked actor Tom Francis' viral post-intermission live outdoor Manhattan stroll as he sings the title song in Sunset Blvd. Buoyed by a post-pandemic rebound, the 2024-25 season grossed a record $1.89 billion (Dh6.94 billion) in revenue and drew 14.7 million attendees, the Broadway League said. Cole Escola won the Tony for best lead actor in a play for his creation Oh, Mary! The show, Escola's reimagining of Mary Todd Lincoln's life and relationship with husband Abraham Lincoln, blends historical satire with absurd camp. The show also earned Sam Pinkleton the Tony for best director of a play. TV's Succession star Sarah Snook, who made her Broadway debut this season, won the award for best leading actress in a play for her tour-de-force performance of more than two dozen roles in The Picture of Dorian Gray. Hamilton reunited The original cast of Hamilton, including the show's creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, reunited to perform an electric medley in honor of the musical's 10th anniversary. The number also served as a reintroduction to Leslie Odom Jr. as Aaron Burr, a role he will resume in the production later this year for a limited time. Francis Jue won best actor in a featured role in a play for Yellow Face. He thanked the Asian American actors who came before him and addressed the next generation: 'This community sees you and I hope that encourages you to be brave, and to dream and to dream big.' Kara Young, who was nominated for a Tony in the role of featured actress in a play four years in a row, won for the second year in a row for her role in the 2025 Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Purpose. Natalie Venetia Belcon won the award for best featured actress in a musical for her role as Cuban singer Omara Portuondo in Buena Vista Social Club. Other awards remained to be announced. Jak Malone won the award for best featured actor in a musical for Operation Mincemeat, a fast-paced World War Two spy farce based on a bizarre true British plot to trick the Nazis with a dead body. Best revival of a play went to Jonathan Spector's Eureka Day, a sharp comedy about well-meaning parents at a progressive school whose unity cracks open over a vaccine debate. Rising production costs a factor Alongside the creative highs this year were economic realities plaguing producers and audiences alike. Premium seats for some productions run upwards from $400, prompting concern that Broadway is increasingly out of reach for casual and younger theatre lovers. Even with lotteries and rush ticket programs, demand-driven pricing has become the norm. Jason Laks, president of The Broadway League, said in a statement that rising costs have affected every facet of production, making it harder and harder to bring live theater to the stage. The Broadway League presents the awards along with the American Theatre Wing. This season showcased a wide range of voices and perspectives, with many shows being led by Asian American, Black, Middle Eastern and Hispanic actors and resulting in some historic nominations. Four-time Tony-winning actor and writer Harvey Fierstein received a special Tony Award for lifetime achievement in the theater. 'I dedicate this award to the people in the dark," he said, "and I offer my most profound thanks to the people in my community.'


Khaleej Times
5 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
‘Stranger Things' play wins Tony Awards, setting stage for TV series finale
With bloody body contortions, booming blasts and brooding high school angst, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, based on the 12-time Emmy-winning Netflix science fiction series Stranger Things, took home Tony Awards for best scenic design, lighting design and sound design of a play along with a special award for its illusions and technical effects. Miriam Buether, the scenic designer for Stranger Things: The First Shadow reflected on the journey of creating frightening moments on stage. "We love scaring people," she said backstage at the ceremony hosted by Wicked film star Cynthia Erivo. The play, directed by Stephen Daldry, was nominated for five Tony Awards in total, including best performance by an actor in a leading role in a play for Louis McCartney for his performance as Henry Creel, the younger version of the main antagonist of the Stranger Things series who is later called Vecna. Stranger Things: First Shadow is one of the expansions of the 'Stranger Things' universe created by brothers Matt and Ross Duffer, who announced the launch of Upside Down Pictures in 2022, marking an overall deal with Netflix that will also include a live-action Stranger Things spin-off series. The series has spawned video games, cosplay, in-person immersive experiences and merchandise licensing deals, including the January 2025 deal with the company behind the popular Squishmallow plush toys. Last month, at Netflix's globally livestreamed fan event called Tudum Live, it was announced that the Stranger Things TV series would have a fifth and final season split into three parts, with part one on November 26, 2025, part two on December 25, 2025 and the series finale on December 31, 2025. The final season of Stranger Things was delayed by dual Hollywood strikes in 2023. Stranger Things, the story of a group of adolescent friends in rural Indiana in the 1980s who battle creatures from an alternate dimension called the Upside Down, premiered on Netflix in 2016 and became a smash hit created by the Duffer brothers for the streaming platform. The play, produced by the Duffer brothers, takes audiences back in time to 1959, two decades before the period explored in the TV show. Jim Hopper and Joyce Maldonado — adult characters in the TV show — are seen as high school classmates with normal teen concerns about cars and classes until a new student named Henry arrives. Henry Creel is an odd and troubled boy that holds the future of the small town of Hawkins, Indiana in his hands. The New York cast includes Harlem actor Burke Swanson as Jim Hopper, Shameless actor Alison Jaye as Joyce Maldonado and McCartney as Henry Creel, who reprised his role after being in the London production. The monster-filled play debuted in London in 2023 at the Phoenix Theatre and made its New York Broadway debut in March 2025 at the Marquis Theatre.


Gulf Today
2 days ago
- Gulf Today
Renée Elise Goldsberry talks new album, whether 'Hamilton' return is an option and EGOT aspirations
Renée Elise Goldsberry is most inspired by artists bold enough to take a career leap, even when there's no guarantee of a safe landing. Over the years, Goldsberry spent her celebrated career surrounded by fearless risk-takers. Now, the Tony and Grammy winner, best known for her breakout role in the Broadway musical "Hamilton,' is taking a bold move of her own. She's stepping into the spotlight as a solo artist: Her debut album, "Who I Really Am,' was released Friday. "I'm surrounded by friends that do really crazy, brave, 'I could fail miserably' things,' said Goldsberry, whose role as Angelica Schuyler in Hamilton won her a Tony in 2016 for best featured actress in a musical. In that same year, she earned a Grammy for best musical theater album. "They jump off cliffs, they start to fly, we get to see it and it's so inspiring that you put out an album,' she said. Renee Elise Goldsberry poses during the interview. Photo: Associated Press Goldsberry has made her presence felt in other Broadway projects including "Rent' and "The Color Purple.' She's had standout work on "Girls5Eva' and "The Good Wife ' and was on the daytime soap "One Life to Live.' With "Who I Really Am,' Goldsberry is carving her own musical path. The album is a 13-track project filled with soul, funk, blues and gospel vibes featuring a reimagined version of her iconic "Hamilton' song "Satisfied,' which was originally penned by Lin-Manuel Miranda. In a recent interview, Goldsberry talks to the media about finding her identity through the album, whether returning to "Hamilton' is an option and aspirations for an EGOT, a term for the rare person who's won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony award during their career. Associated Press