Bhangra Nation

A Beat of Our Own (formerly Bhangra Nation)
MusicSam Willmott
LyricsSam Willmott
BookMike Lew
Rehana Lew Mirza
PremiereMarch 8, 2022: La Jolla Playhouse, San Diego
Productions2022 San Diego
2024 Birmingham
2026 Princeton

Bhangra Nation is a musical with a book by Mike Lew and Rehana Lew Mirza, music and lyrics by Sam Willmott.

Production history

World premiere: La Jolla Playhouse (2022)

The musical made its world premiere under its original title Bhangin' It at La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego from March 8 to April 17, 2022. The production was directed by Stafford Arima and choreographed by Rujuta Vaidya.

Birmingham (2024)

The musical made its UK premiere under the new title Bhangra Nation at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre from 17 February to 16 March 2024. The production was once again directed by Arima and choreographed by Vaidya with a new creative team. Critics praised the 2024 Birmingham premiere cast, with The Stage noting Siobhan Athwal's 'vibrant' lead performance and describing Sohm Kapila's Rekha as 'instinctively fabulous,' while WhatsonStage highlighted the 'superb comic timing' of the ensemble.

McCarter Theatre Center (2026)

The musical once again changed names to A Beat of Our Own for its next production in Princeton, NJ.

Cast and characters

Character San Diego Birmingham Princeton
2022 2024 2026
Preeti Vinithra Raj Zaynah Ahmed Tara Venkataraman
Jake Terrance Johnson Gregory Armand
Sunita Jaya Joshi Siobhan Athwal Sushma Saha
Lily Madison McBride Tia Antoine Charles
Shilpa Ramita Ravi Lydia Danistan
Noah Henry Walter Greenberg Kyle Evans
Billy Brandon Contreras Iván Fernández González J. Antonio Rodriguez
Mohan Aryaan Arora Kuldeep Goswami
Wallace Jason Heil Bob Harms
Varun Zain Patel Raimu Itfum
New Mary Devi Peot Sophie Kandola
Rekha Alka Nayyar Sohm Kapila Sohm Kapila
Shetal Anu Mysore Arysha Kelly
Constance Laura Dadap Ai Kumar
Amit Bilaal Avaz Mervin Noronha Rohit Gopal
Mary Ari Afsar Jena Pandya Salena Queshi
Gobind Jesse Bhamrah Ajay Sahota
Just Bob Amey Natu Leo Udvarlaky
Swings Nikki Miraz
Devina Sabnis
Gerry Tonella
Levin Valayil		 RoMaya Jey
Aaron Mistry
Edward Turner
Louis Mackrodt		 Kavya Bhat

Kabir Gandhi Brianna Aisjah Pember Sammy Pignalosa Sunayna Smith Gus Stuckey

References

  1. ↑ Akbar, Arifa (2024-02-29). "Bhangra Nation review – Punjabi dance powers a joyful high school musical". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-02-15.
  2. ↑ Brennan, Clare (2024-03-03). "Bhangra Nation: A New Musical review – big, bright and bursting with energy". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-02-15.
  3. 1 2 "Bhangin' It: A Bangin' New Musical". La Jolla Playhouse. Retrieved 2026-04-06.
  4. ↑ Hall, Margaret (2023-12-12). "Bhangra Nation Musical to Play Birmingham Rep". Playbill. Retrieved 2026-04-06.
  5. ↑ "BHANGIN' IT". La Jolla Playhouse. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
  6. ↑ Hall, Margaret (2024-02-17). "Bhangra Nation Musical Begins Birmingham Rep Engagement February 17". Playbill. Retrieved 2026-04-06.
  7. ↑ "Bhangra Nation at Birmingham Rep review – a firecracker of energy and enthusiasm". 2024-02-28. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
  8. ↑ "Bhangra Nation review at Birmingham Rep". The Stage. Retrieved 2026-02-15.
  9. ↑ "A Beat of Our Own". McCarter. Retrieved 2026-09-24.
  10. ↑ "See Who's Starring in A Beat of Our Own at McCarter Theatre Center". Playbill. Retrieved 2026-09-24.