“A Kid Like Rishi” opens in NYC at Origin Theatre Company

Fri, May 27 - Sun, Jun 19  2022

“A Kid Like Rishi” in NYC at Origin Theatre Company – MAY 27 – JUN 19

Info + Tickets

Performances will take place at The Cell Theatre, 338 W. 23rd Street, New York. Special talk-backs exploring racial profiling from a European perspective on May 29 and June 5 and 12.

Origin Theatre presents the American premiere of A Kid Like Rishi, Kees Roorda’s critically acclaimed play about a notorious racial profiling police killing in The Hague. Originally produced in the Netherlands in 2017, this first US production is directed by Erwin Maas, a Dutch theater artist living in New York. A Kid Like Rishi features a Dutch and international cast and design team based in New York.

Widely praised for its gripping and even-handed use of courtroom testimony surrounding the 2012 shooting of Rishi Chandrikasing, A Kid Like Rishi was hailed as “genius” by Volkskrant, and “thrilling and exceptionally moving” by NRC Theaterkrant.

As he waited for a train at The Hague Holland Spoor Station, the unarmed, 17-year-old Rishi was shot while in retreat by a police officer who suspected him of assaulting a homeless person (who was never questioned or identified). Rishi died immediately of a gunshot to the head. The killing drew little attention in the Dutch media at first, but coverage increased when the police officer was acquitted.

The play was picked as a top-three Best New Play finalist by the Germany Youth Theatre. Roorda’s play has been endorsed by controlealtdelete.nl (a Dutch racial equity organization fighting ethnic profiling and disproportionate violence in law enforcement), and Rishi’s family and best friend have attested to its fairness. This is the play’s first production outside The Netherlands.

English translation by Tom Johnston

Cast
Sung Yun Cho
Atandwa Kani
Kaili Vernoff

Scenography GUY DE LANCEY
Sound FAN ZHANG
Costumes CLAIRE FLEURY
Dramaturgy HENRIËTTE RIETVELD
Stage Manager APRIL ANN KLINE
Assistant Stage Manager LAUREN JACKSON
Origin Artistic Director MICHAEL MELLAMPHY
Casting STEPHANIE KLAPPER
Publicity MEDIA BLITZ