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June 19 - July 27, 2025

Dhaba on Devon Avenue

World premiere by Madhuri Shekar, Lanford Wilson Playwriting Award Winner

  • Written by Madhuri Shekar
  • Directed by Chay Yew

Running time: 90 minutes with no intermission

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A family-run Indian restaurant fights for survival amid generational change in this world premiere play set on the far north side of Chicago.

Synopsis

Dhaba on Devon Avenue

Dhaba Canteen has been a stalwart institution on Chicago’s Devon Avenue since the ‘80s, serving up delicious Sindhi food with the power to transport diners back to the halcyon days of undivided India. Times are changing, however. With the bank threatening foreclosure and Chef Neeraj’s health in decline, the restaurant may soon be cooking up its last meal—unless sous chef Rita can convince her father to let her take over the kitchen. Rich with culinary tradition and dramatic twists, Dhaba on Devon Avenue serves up a searing Chicago-set story of family, legacy, and survival at all costs. 

Meet the cast

Isa Arciniegas

Luz Fuentes

Chicago credits: Love Song (Remy Bumppo); Solaris (Griffin Theatre); How to Defend Yourself (Victory Gardens Theatre); Wolf Play (The Gift Theatre); First Love Is the Revolution (Steep Theatre); Fantastic Mr. Fox (Emerald City Theatre); The Wolves (Goodman Theatre, Jeff Award—Best Ensemble), Fun Home (Victory Gardens Theater); Buried Child (Writers Theatre); We’re Gonna Die (Haven Theatre Company, ALTA Award—Outstanding Actor in a Principal Role in a Musical); Good Friday (Oracle Productions); American Idiot (The Hypocrites); Romeo and Juliet (Teatro Vista); and Adventures with Aladdin (Lookingglass Theatre Company with Chicago Symphony Orchestra). Regional: Where Did We Sit On the Bus? (Milwaukee Chamber Theatre); Such Things as Vampires (People’s Light Theatre); Stinky Cheese Man and Letters Home (Griffin Theatre National Tour). TV/FILM: The Bear, Swipe Up, Vivian!, Grace and Betty, Kissing Wells. Isa is represented by Gray Talent. Special thanks to MRM and her family.

Arya Daire

Sindhu Madhwani

Chicago Credits: An Enemy of the People (Goodman Theatre; Jeff Nomination for Best New Adaptation), A Disappearing Number (TimeLine Theatre Company), Inana (TimeLine Theatre), Julius Caesar (Writers Theatre), Samsara (Victory Gardens), Much Ado About Nothing (Victory Gardens), Principal Principle (Stage Left Theatre; Jeff Nomination for Best New Play), Big Lake, Big City (Lookingglass Theatre), Suburbia(University of Chicago), Disconnect (Victory Gardens), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Beverly Arts Center). Regional Credits: A Christmas Carol (Milwaukee Repertory Theatre), Miranda (Indiana Repertory Theatre). Film & TV: A Christmas Carol - The Concert (PBS; Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Original Music & Lyrics), Chicago Fire (NBC). Arya is represented by Stewart Talent. www.aryadaire.com

Mueen Jahan

Adil Jaisinghani

Mueen is excited and honored to be making his debut at Writers Theatre. His theatre credits include Bombay Dreams on Broadway, Enter Laughing (Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts), Homebody/Kabul (Mark Taper Forum), A Perfect Ganesh (Coachella Valley Rep, Desert Theatre League: Best Actor Nomination), Comedy Of Errors (Las Vegas Shakespeare Company), Becky’s New Car (North Coast Rep), Asylum (2100 Square Feet, LA Ovation Award Nomination: Best Actor), Into The Woods (3D Theatricals), Galileo (Center Stage), Suburbia (The Studio Theatre), Bad Apples (Circle X Theatre), Much Ado About Nothing (East LA Classic Theatre), Henry V, Midsummer Night’s Dream (Kingsmen Shakespeare Co.), Homebody/Kabul (Curious Theatre Co.). Television and film credits include the Sex Lives of College Girls, Bosch: Legacy, The Rehearsal, Pearl, Fresh Off The Boat, Crowded, Major Crimes, Victorious, Leverage, Sopranos, Law and Order, Outsourced, Prime Suspect, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Numb3rs. Mueen has a MFA in acting from the University of Cincinnati and a BA in acting from Shenanadoah University. He is a member of Actors Equity Association.

Anish Jethmalani

Neeraj Madhwani

Anish returns to Writers Theatre where he previously appeared in The Caretaker and To the Greenfields Beyond. Chicago credits include The Lehman Trilogy, Campaigns Inc., Oslo, In the Next Room or The Vibrator Play, A Disappearing Number, Inana, and Blood & Gifts (TimeLine Theatre); Wit and A Christmas Carol (The Goodman Theatre); Titus Andronicus, Water by the Spoonful, Mary Stuart, The Invention of Love and Life is a Dream (Court Theatre);  Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, Around the World in 80 Days, and Sita Ram(Lookingglass); as well as various productions at Chicago Shakespeare, Victory Gardens, Remy Bumppo, A Red Orchid, and more. Regional credits include Henry VII and Much Ado About Nothing at The Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Film and television credits include Deli Boys (Hulu), Station Eleven (Max), 61st Street(CW), Chicago PD (NBC), Chicago Med (NBC), APB (Fox), Boss (Starz), Leverage (TNT), Empire (Fox), Early Edition (CBS), Batman vs. Superman, Girl on the Third Floor, Animals and more. He is a company member of TimeLine Theatre.

Tina Muñoz Pandya

Rita Madhwani

Tina Muñoz Pandya is an actor, musician, and teaching artist whose Chicago credits include: The Matchbox Magic Flute (Goodman Theatre); London Road and The Tall Girls (Shattered Globe Theatre); The Secretaries (First Floor Theater); Anna in the Tropics (Remy Bumppo Theatre); Mr. Burns (Theater Wit); The Mousetrap (Court Theatre); and Octagon (Jackalope Theatre). Regional and touring credits include: The Matchbox Magic Flute (Shakespeare Theatre DC, Berkeley Rep); As You Like It and The Old Man and the Old Moon (Door Shakespeare); Matt and Ben (Penobscot Theatre); House of Joy (St. Louis Rep); The Merry Wives of Windsor and Henry IV Pt 1 (Montana Shakespeare in the Parks); and HMS Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance, and The Mikado (The Hypocrites). You can also hear her on the Chicago-based audio dramas The Vanishing Act and Fawx and Stallion. Tina is an ensemble member with Shattered Globe Theatre and is represented by Gray Talent Group.

Laura Quiñones

Understudy Luz Fuentes

(US Luz Fuentes) is a Colombian/Puerto Rican Chicago native. She is a founding board member of Downstage Arts, a non-profit dedicated to providing youth arts education. Credits: A Jukebox for the Algonquin (Citadel Theatre), Living Newspaper Festival (Jackalope Theatre), Brighter Futures (Paramount Theatre), Bernarda!, Somewhere Over The Border (Teatro Vista), Anna in the Tropics (Remy Bumppo), The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Refuge (Theo Ubique), Zorro (Music Theater Works), New Faces Sing Broadway 1979 (Porchlight). Laura is proudly represented by Grossman & Jack Talent. It takes a village, and I cannot be more thankful for mine. lauraquinones.com @lauquinoness

Maliha Sayed

Understudy Sindhu/Rita

(Understudy Sindhu/Rita) is thrilled to be making her Writers Theatre debut! Chicago credits include A Lie of the Mind (Beth u/s) at Raven Theatre, Carousel (Julie Jordan) at Music Theater Works, The Sondheim Tribute Revue (Principal) and The Secret Garden (Ayah; Lily/Rose u/s) at Theo Ubique, and Arabia, Arabia! (Narrator) with The Plagiarists. Regional: Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical (Lily Polkadot) at Constellation Stage and Screen. TV: Deli Boys (Amina) on Hulu. Upcoming: Sentinels (Elizabeth) with CPA Theatricals/Theo. BFA Musical Theatre from Ithaca College. Represented by Gray Talent Group.

Jonathan Shaboo

Understudy Adil/Neeraj

Jonathan returns to Writers Theatre where he previously appeared in The Band's Visit and A Distinct Society. U.S. National Tour: The Kite Runner and Evil Dead: The Musical. Regional and international stage credits: Uncle Vanya (New Theatre Project), Layalina (Goodman Theatre), The North American premiere of Julie: After Strindberg (Untold Wants), and Greater Expectations (The Second City Toronto). He is a graduate of the School at Steppenwolf and a founding member of Bramble Theatre Company.

Creative Team

Christine Pascual

Costume Designer

Christine A. Binder

Lighting Designer

Mantra Radhakrishnan

Assistant Director

Alexis Wiley

Assistant Stage Manager

Madhuri Shekar

Playwright

Madhuri's plays have been produced across the United States and internationally. They include House of Joy, Queen, In Love and Warcraft, A Nice Indian Boy, and many other works specifically for young audiences. In TV and film, her projects include the movies Evil Eye and A Nice Indian Boy, and the TV shows The Neversand 3 Body Problem. She is an alumnus of USC and Juilliard. She is thrilled that Dhaba on Devon Avenue, a play commissioned with love for the city of Chicago, is getting its world premiere now with Writers Theater and Timeline Theatre Company. madhurishekar.com

Chay Yew

Director

His New York credits include the Public, Playwrights Horizons, New York Theatre Workshop, Signature, New York City Center Encores!, Flea, Playwrights Realm, Audible, Rattlestick, and Ensemble Studio Theatre. His regional credits include the Goodman, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Berkeley Rep, Arena, American Conservatory Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, Alley Theatre, Goodspeed, South Coast Rep, Old Globe, Center Theatre Group, Denver Center Theater, Huntington, Seattle Rep, Writers Theatre, Victory Gardens, amongst others. His opera credits include Perelman Performing Arts Center, Tanglewood, and LA Philharmonic. He is a recipient of the 2024 Doris Duke Artist Award, and the OBIE for direction.

Lauren M. Nichols

Scenic Designer

Lauren is a Jeff-nominated freelance designer and model-maker native to Chicago. Writers credits include: The Hot Wing King and Tiger Style. Other credits include designs for Paramount Aurora, Steppenwolf for Young Adults, Marriott, Remy Bumppo, UIC, U Chicago, Rivendell, Lifeline, Steep, Jackalope, Harper College, Shattered Globe, Renaissance Theatreworks, Village Theatre in Seattle, Metropolis, The Gift Theatre, Firebrand, Teatro Vista, Raven, and BoHo. As an associate, she has worked on dozens of productions all over the country. She is currently finishing her 4th year as an adjunct professor at The Theatre School-DePaul University. MFA Northwestern. Member USA829. laurenangeldesigns.com

Eric Backus

Sound Designer

Eric is a Jeff-Award winning composer and sound designer, returning to Writers after previously designing Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812, and Pearl’s Rollin’ with the Blues. Off-Broadway: Hollow/Wave (United Solo Festival), Churchill (New World Stages); Regional credits include productions at Milwaukee Rep, South Coast Rep, Northern Stage, TheatreSquared, and The Rev. Chicago credits include productions at Goodman, Chicago Shakes, Steppenwolf, Paramount, Northlight, and many others. In addition to theatre, Eric composes and sound designs for film, video, and podcasts. He is a proud member of USA829. www.ericbackus.com.

Kristina Fluty

Intimacy Director

Writers: The Last Match. Lie of the Mind (Raven); Noises Off, Another Marriage, Describe the Night, The Children (Steppenwolf Theatre Company); Black Sunday, Cardboard Piano (TimeLine); Spring Awakening(Porchlight); The Sound of Music (Marriott); Frankenstein, Top Girls (Remy Bumppo); Mies Julie, Indecent(Victory Gardens). Regional: Linda Vista (Center Theatre Group – Los Angeles). Kristina’s main creative home since 2003 is Molly Shanahan/Mad Shak, a modern dance company based in Chicago. MA in Dance/Movement Therapy and Counseling, Laban Movement Analyst, Movement Pattern Analyst, Spiral Body Techniques® instructor. Associate Professor of Movement - The Theatre School at DePaul University.

Karina Patel

Dramaturg

Karina is a director and dramaturg originally from London, UK. She is the Literary Associate at Chicago Shakespeare Theater and New Works Manager at Jackalope Theatre Company. She is thrilled to be working on this incredible play! Karina has developed new and devised work with The Story Theatre, The Understudy Chicago, APIDA Arts, Actor’s Gymnasium, Token Theatre, 24 Hour Plays, and more. Most recently, she directed Hannah and Halmoni Save The World at Filament Theatre. She has also served as an assistant director at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Lookingglass Theatre Company, Court Theatre, and the Repertory Theatre of St Louis.

Katie Klemme

Production Stage Manager

WT: The Hot Wing King, Eurydice, A Distinct Society, Tiger Style!, Wife of a Salesman, and Into the Woods. National Tours: Hamilton, Sorin: A Notre Dame Story; Regional: Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, Geva Theater Center, ArtsEmerson. Select Chicago credits: Prayer for the French Republic, The Heart Sellers, Little Women, The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk, Brooklyn Laundry, Dial M for Murder, The Porch on Windy Hill, Georgiana & Kitty, Intimate Apparel, Mr. Dickens' Hat, The Wickhams, Landladies, and You Can’t Take It With You; Notes from the Field (TimeLine); Villette (Lookingglass); and productions with Theater Wit, About Face Theatre, Victory Gardens, and 10 seasons at American Theater Company.

Know Before You Go

About the Play

  • Playwright Madhuri Shekar is the 2020 winner of the Lanford Wilson Playwrighting Award, established by the Estate of Lanford Wilson and presented by the Dramatists Guild Council to a dramatist based primarily on their work as an early career playwright. Her play A Nice Indian Boy was adapted into a feature film and was released earlier this year to great critical acclaim. 
  • Dhaba on Devon Avenue takes place on Devon Avenue on the far north side of Chicago, an area renowned for its remarkable diversity, and a magnet for immigrants as they settle into life in America. The play is inspired by Chicago’s South Asian community, the third largest population of South Asians in the country.
  • Madhuri Shekar has said that Dhaba on Devon Avenue is “my ode to the quiet heroism and daily struggles that are required to be an artist, an entrepreneur, an immigrant, and a parent.” 
  • Director Chay Yew returns to Writers Theatre where he previously directed Dishwasher Dreams. In May 2025, Yew was highlighted by the Stage Directors and Choreographers Union as one of the 65 directors and choreographers whose “work has inspired SDC Members and transformed the American theatre.”
  • The COVID-19 pandemic shut down the intended 2020 world premiere production of Dhaba on Devon Avenue at Victory Gardens Theater in Chicago. The Writers Theatre production, produced in partnership with TimeLine Theatre Company, reunites many of the original cast members and designers.

Content Advisory

This production features onstage cooking and the use of real ingredients and spices.

The performance also includes strong language, discussion of death, depiction of vomiting, and alcohol consumption.

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Audience Guide

A photo of playwright Madhuri Shekar
Read

Keeping Things Honest: A Q&A with Playwright Madhuri Shekar

Read

Home Stretch: A History of Chicago's Devon Avenue

A refugee special train at Ambala Station during the Partition of India
Read

Refugees at Midnight: Sindhi Hindus and the Partition of India

The Green Room
Listen

The Green Room: Anish Jethmalani and Tina Muñoz Pandya

Detail of a Map of the British Empire from the India and Colonial Exhibition in London, 1886.
Read

A Timeline of Indian and Devon Avenue History

Read

From Our Kitchen to Yours: Recipes from Dhaba on Devon Avenue

Read

Discussion Questions: Dhaba on Devon Avenue

Read

Plot Synopsis: Dhaba on Devon Avenue

Bonus Content

Watch

Meet our Dhaba on Devon Avenue Audience

Watch

Dhaba on Devon Avenue Cocktails

Alexandra C. & John D. Nichols Theatre

325 Tudor Court Glencoe, Illinois, 60022

Accessibility

Fully ADA accessible with wheelchair seating available.

Parking

Free parking is available in the Tudor Court lot, and street parking is readily available.

Public Transit

Conveniently located near the Metra Union Pacific North line’s Glencoe station.

More This Season

Jul 11, 2025 - Jul 25, 2025

Up Next

Jul 12, 2025 at 3pm

Previously

Jun 10, 2025 at 7pm