Overview

Synopsis

Bombay Dreams follows Akaash, a charming and ambitious young man from the slums of Bombay, who dreams of escaping poverty and becoming a Bollywood star. When a wealthy pro bono lawyer, Vikram, and his fiancée — Priya, the daughter of a celebrated filmmaker — arrive to help prevent the demolition of Akaash’s slum, Akaash is catapulted closer to the spotlight. His chance comes when he crashes a Miss India pageant, gaining the attention of famous actress Rani, who insists he co-star in her next film.

As Akaash’s fame grows, he drifts away from his roots and his loved ones, particularly Sweetie, his loyal eunuch friend who secretly loves him and tries to save the slum using his rising status. A tragic turn occurs when Sweetie is shot while confronting Vikram's betrayal, prompting Akaash to return home and defend his community—even at the risk of his career and love. In a climactic showdown, he crashes Priya’s wedding, exposes Vikram, and ultimately marries Priya in a joyous finale that celebrates love, identity, and belonging.

Show Information

Book
Thomas Meehan , Meera Syal
Music
A. R. Rahman
Lyrics
Don Black
Category
Musical
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
2002
Genres
Drama, Romance
Settings
Spectacle
Time & Place
Bombay/Mumbai, mid-1990s
Cast Size
medium
Orchestra Size
Large
Dancing
Heavy
Licensor
See CONTEXT AND/OR LINKS TAB
Ideal For
Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Includes Adult, Young Adult, Mature Adult, Late Teen, Elderly Characters, Medium Cast

Context

Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Priya

Lead

Female

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano

Akaash

Lead

Male

Tenor

Rani

Supporting

Female

Sweetie

Supporting

Non-binary

JK

Supporting

Male

Madan

Supporting

Male

Vikram

Supporting

Male

Shanti

Supporting

Female

Kitty

Featured

Female

Ensemble

Ensemble

Not Specified

Songs

Act One

Act Two

Notes

Note: This song list is based on the revised Broadway production.

A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number.

Monologues

All monologues are the property and copyright of their owners.. Monologues are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this monologue, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Key Terms

    Antagonist

    The antagonist is a character who opposes the protagonist and creates conflict within the story. They are not always villains but are critical to the development of dramatic tension.

    Character Arc

    A character arc is the journey of personal growth, change, or transformation that a character undergoes throughout a play or musical. It often involves overcoming internal or external obstacles, leading to a deeper understanding of oneself or others. Strong arcs help audiences connect emotionally with characters and give structure to the overall narrative.

    Choreography

    The art of designing and arranging movement sequences for theatrical dance and physical storytelling.

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