Followup:
Neil Shastri is on Broadway
Eleven-year-old
Neil Shastri has had roles in lots of theatrical shows around
St. Louis. But, last month, he earned his first role on Broadway.
Last summer, he
played in Shakespeare Festival and Muny productions in Forest
Park.
This spring, he'll
have a principal character role in Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical,
"Bombay Dreams." That musical makes its Broadway
debut in April.
Neil and his sister,
Anita, were profiled in the June, 2003, edition of Young
Saint Louis.com. In Followup stories, YSL.com
likes to keep track of new developments in lives of kids from
past issues.
To read the previous
YSL.com article, click
here.
Last month, Neil
and his mother, JJ, moved to New York as rehearsals for the
Webber musical were getting underway. "Bombay Dreams"
is already a hit in London and is being adapted for the New
York stage.
The musical is
about the film industry in India, which is called Bollywood.
Neil will fit
right in to the cast. He's of Indian descent and from a theatrical
family.
Although he was
born in the United States, both his parents were born and
married in India. Also, father Jay, who is an architect, was
considered for several years to be the St. Louis' best theatrical
dancer.
Neil was first
noticed by the Webber team through a video audition. He then
flew to New York for a live audition and received the role
of "Munna." Neil plays a 10-year-old who has a principal
character role in the musical.