The Post Office
“The butterfly counts not months but moments, and has time enough.” — Rabindranath Tagore
[SALT LAKE CITY, UT performed July 28th-August 3rd] — Deliverance Theatre and Flying Bobcat Theatrical Laboratory present Rabindranath Tagore’s The Post Office, translated from Bengali by William Radice, at the Great Salt Lake Fringe Festival.
A physical and poetic staging of Rabindranath Tagore’s classic play, The Post Office is the story of a young boy, Amal, who has fallen ill and been confined indoors by the local physician and his adoptive family who are desperate to protect him. As Amal longs to be a part of the outside world, he reaches out to everyone who passes by his window. When he discovers that they’ve built a royal post office across the road, Amal dreams of receiving a letter from the king. Tagore’s The Post Office is at once a celebration of Bengali culture and a universal story of community and connection.
Deliverance Theatre’s The Post Office began as a Theatre & Design independent study with University of Utah alumni Jacob Sen (Musical Theatre Program) and Kiernan Grissom (Multi-Disciplinary Design), who wanted to continue their creative partnership and exploration in a production for the Great Salt Lake Fringe.
CREATIVE TEAM
- co-directors alexandra harbold & jacob sen
- designer kiernan grissom
- choreographer shruthe raammohan
- composer jt kaufman
- costumes avneet kaur sandhu
- stage manager tay rushton
COMPANY
jacob sen amaljordan palmer kabiraj, headman, madman, chidam
hans fenton uncle (madhab datta)
tracie merrill auntie, watchman, royal kabiraj
gabe root tharkurda (fakir)
emily williamson curd-seller, boy
michaela blades sudha
marcus romero boy, king’s messenger
The Retreating World
“With a single candle we can light a hundred” – Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi
[NEW YORK, NY performed April 5th-18th, 2025] – Deliverance Theatre presents an adaptation of Naomi Wallace’s The Retreating World at the New York City Fringe Festival.
The Retreating World by Naomi Wallace is a poignant monologue reflecting on life before, during, and after the First Gulf War in Baghdad, Iraq. Through the voice of a former soldier named Ali, we witness the devastating impacts of war, and are challenged to truly see and acknowledge the pain of those around us, regardless of their beliefs. Wallace’s work brings injustices vividly into focus; the atrocities that often remain comfortably in the periphery of our political and social discourse are rarely given center stage. The question must be asked: what can we do? This piece both expressively and naturalistically grapples with trauma, memories, and the universal need for human connection.
CREATIVE TEAM
jacob sen – director, choreographer
kiernan grissom – creative director, scenic designer
ethan feil – lighting designer
america hernandex sanchez – visual artist
elizabeth clark – costume designer
abril soler rocha – scenic construction
joseph daniel stowell – dramaturg
spencer gray – associate costume designer
ashley brooke cohen – production assistant
ellora laskar – literary associate
COMPANY
meshal alsunaid – ali
david najam liskow – samir
Philanthropy:
Thanks to the generous support of translator William Radice, Anna Dawson and the Johnson and Alcock Literary Agency, 90% of all proceeds from The Post Office went to a foundation in Kolkata, India that offers short and long-term housing for children in addition to various developmental and outreach programs.
Through collective efforts, The Retreating World team raised funds for the Iraqi Children Foundation in support of their Hope Bus initiative and Fallujah medical clinic.
