Teaneck New Jersey Native Performs in State Theatre Broadway Series
Magic 98.3 is the official sponsor of the Broadway series which includes The Kite Runner at State Theatre New Jersey.
New Broadway Series Show Coming to State Theatre NJ
When one of the Broadway Series shows comes to STNJ we get the chance to chat with one of the cast members of the show. Another Broadway Series show, The Kite Runner is coming this weekend.
We had to opportunity to speak with James Rana who plays “General Taheri.” James is from Teaneck, New Jersey, and has performed on Broadway in “The Band’s Visit.” His off-Broadway credits include “The Government Inspector, Serendib, Marat/Sade, Shogun Macbeth, and Mother Courage.” He also wrote and performed in the movie “Strays.”
Check out our interview with James Rana here:
The Kite Runner at State Theatre New Jersey
The play is based on Afghan American novelist Khaled Hosseini’s amazing international best-selling novel, The Kite Runner. It’s a new play that’s not a true story, however it does have some autobiographical elements in it.
The author, Hosseini, moved to America as a refugee about forty years ago after growing up in Afghanistan. He used many of his experiences as a child in this critically acclaimed play.
The Kite Runner was adapted by Matthew Spangler and follows one man’s journey to confront his past and find redemption.
Salar Nader, is a renowned musician who had audiences amazed when he performed in the Broadway production. Nader is reprising his role playing the tabla for this tour.
It’s a show that the New York Times called “Enormously moving, satisfying, and soulful.” The play is set in Afghanistan, a divided country. “Two childhood friends are about to be torn apart. It’s a beautiful afternoon in Kabul and the skies are full of the excitement and joy of a kite flying tournament. But neither of the boys can foresee the incident which will change their lives forever. Told across two decades and two continents, The Kite Runner is an unforgettable journey of forgiveness, and shows us all that we can be good again.”
The Kite Runner Information and Tickets
Showtimes for The Kite Runner at State Theatre New Jersey are Friday, May 3rd and Saturday, May 4th for 8pm shows each night.
For tickets and more information go to STNJ.org
State Theatre New Jersey is a nonprofit and one of the oldest theaters in New Jersey. Originally starting with vaudeville acts in 1921 the theater now features a variety of programming including musicals, concerts, and comedy acts. As of June 2020, over six million patrons have come through the theater, which houses over 1800 seats.
5 Of Robert Downey Jr.'s Best Roles
Robert Downey Jr. is one of our favorite actors of all time. The man oozes charisma and in every role; you can’t help but be drawn to him. RDJ was born on April 4, 1965, in New York City, the son of writer, director, and filmographer Robert Downey Sr. and actress Elsie Downey.
(Photo by Evan Agostini/Getty Images)
As a child, Downey was “surrounded by drugs“. His father was a drug addict, and his mother was an alcoholic. Downey Sr. His father allowed him to try marijuana when he was six years old by handing him a joint and said, “Take a puff.” RDJ has said he also “might have had a little coke” as a child. Growing up in the 70s, his father thought nothing of it. The Iron Man alum stated that he and his father did drugs together for the first time when he was eight and that drug use became an emotional bond between him and his father as a way of “him trying to express his love for me in the only way he knew how.”
RELATED: Robert Downey Jr. Jokes He’s A ‘Fledging Interior Designer’
Robert Downey Jr. made his acting debut at five years old in his father’s 1970 film Pound as a sick puppy. Downey’s parents divorced in 1977 when he was twelve. He went and lived with his mother, while his sister Allyson went to live with their father in California. RDJ went to live with his father in California but dropped out of high school. At 17, he moved back to New York to pursue an acting career.
The actor started gaining critical acclaim, appearing in Less Than Zero, Weird Science, and Chaplin. However, he was battling drug addiction, was arrested several times, and was in and out of rehab for the next ten years. It wasn’t until 2003 that Downey turned things around in his sobriety. 2008 was the actor’s biggest year, starring in back-to-back blockbusters Iron Man and Tropic Thunder. Since then, the actor has stayed sober and credits it all to his wife, Susan Downey, after she gave him an ultimatum. With 93 acting credits below his belt, there are plenty of films to choose from of Robert Downey Jr.’s best roles.
Take a look below at our top 5 picks of Robert Downey Jr.’s best roles:
