ABOUT THIS series
Dream Devis is a joyously queer celebration of the feminine archetypes that have cast an enduring spell on the cultural imagination through their fascinating, frustrating, singular presence in Indian popular cinema and music.
A collective of South Asian femme performers, musicians, film buffs and visual artists have come together under the curatorial guidance of noted Chicago drag queen and artist Abhijeet (@bon_abhijeet) to combine drag, burlesque, live music, video and design with the ambition of illustrating a canon of familiar iconography that has inspired filmmaking, fashion and the feminine experience across South Asia and the diaspora (and, increasingly, beyond) – as well as subverting it via an intentionally queer and trans lens by recreating not only the histories of these Devis but also the Devis they birthed and nurtured within us, the artists behind this show.
Picture the chiffon-wrapped romance of The Ingenue, the tongue-in-cheek defiance of The Rulebreaker, the tear-soaked travails of The Mother, the smoke-scented schemes of The Vamp, the prurient allure of The Item Girl, the opulent heartbreak of The Courtesan, and the mind-bending spectacle of The Superhuman, brought to life via a dizzying combination of tribute and send-up.
We have conceived these beloved figures in a series of set pieces that evoke the style of the stereotypical Bollywood movie of a bygone era, replete with big emotions, big costumes, big tonal shifts, and, of course, big song and dance numbers; but rendered intimate and accessible in a unique limited-run theatrical experience.
Post-show DJ sets by DJ RIYA RIYA on April 5 & April 13
South Asian Vendor Spotlight: Jasjyot Singh Hans on April 4
Featuring
Leha as The Salamander @thesalamanderchicago
Masala Sapphire @masalasapphire
Gulabi Sapphire @bt_gulabi
Shruthi Kannan @shruthikannanmusic
DJ RIYA RIYA @djriyariya
ABOUT Abhijeet
Abhijeet (@bon_abhijeet) is a multimedia artists and drag queen from Mumbai in Chicago. By combining live performance with video, photography, fashion and events they produce art that is larger than life. They generally tend to explore themes of racial and queer gender identity with camp and fashion.
Photos by Secret Queen.
Running Time
Due to the high volume and wide breadth of work we present, we are often not able to proactively offer content advisories for individual performances. However, if you have specific concerns about stage effects (such as strobe lights or fog/haze) that might have a bearing on comfort or well-being, or if you would like to know more about the age appropriateness of the performance, please contact the box office at 312-335-1650.
Patron Code of Conduct
Welcome to Steppenwolf, one of the premiere ensemble theaters in America. By visiting us, you agree to adhere to the theatre’s Patron Code of Conduct and Health and Safety Protocols.
SPONSORS
Running Time
Content Advisory
Due to the high volume and wide breadth of work we present, we are often not able to proactively offer content advisories for individual performances. However, if you have specific concerns about stage effects (such as strobe lights or fog/haze) that might have a bearing on comfort or well-being, or if you would like to know more about the age appropriateness of the performance, please contact the box office at 312-335-1650.
Patron Code of Conduct
Welcome to Steppenwolf, one of the premiere ensemble theaters in America. By visiting us, you agree to adhere to the theatre’s Patron Code of Conduct and Health and Safety Protocols.