Kushika plays lead role in Madeline’s Christmas
Kushika Pejavara, a local 9-year-old, was selected to be the first Indian-American cast in the lead role of Madeline’s Christmas, a professional musical theatre production held at the Horizon Theatre during the month of December 2017. The local 3rd grader performed 20 shows. The production is a collaboration between Horizon Theatre and Atlanta Children’s Theatre Company. Together, the two theatre companies have been putting on the show for the past 10 years. The show is a musical adaptation of the popular Madeline children’s books.
Kushika had to go through a two-phased, rigorous audition process to get the lead role in Madeline’s Christmas. Over 100 experienced young actresses from all over Atlanta arrived for the initial open casting call. Two casts of 12 girls each were selected to be in the final production. The talented young girls range in age from 8 to 13 and represent schools from all over the city.
Kushika got the opportunity of a lifetime to pursue her passion for acting. “What I enjoy about acting is getting to experience what it feels like to be someone else who lived in a different time and different place. It’s also fun to express a variety of emotions.”
What’s special about this play? “It’s a magical story about kids who want to go home to see their families for Christmas. I really like all the songs; some are exciting, some are funny, and some are very heartwarming. It’s such a perfect story for the holidays. The holidays are all about family,” says this articulate youngster.
Prior to her lead role in Madeline’s Christmas, Kushika has played lead roles in Annie: Adventures in NYC and Beauty and the Beast.
Three years ago, Kushika began taking Bollywood dance classes at Kruti Dance Academy as a way to be connected to our Indian heritage. In addition to being a straight ‘A’ student, her other interests include piano, soccer, and traveling.
Website Bonus Feature
Link:
http://www.horizontheatre.com/plays/madelines-christmas/
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