Shalaka Dolas brings Marathi tradition to life
On a dimly-lit stage before an audience of nearly 800 people at Los Alto Hill’s Smithwick Theater, junior Shalaka Dolas steps into the spotlight as one of the six main cast members in “Avagha Rang Ekachi Zala,” an Indian musical produced in the Bay Area. Performing in the Marathi language, Dolas portrays Jenny, a teenage girl from the United States who arrives eager to learn a traditional Indian storytelling form called kirtan.
Dolas’ entrance occurs during an intense conflict in the story, just after a heated argument between a father and son over the future of their family’s musician careers — the son pushing for modernization to appeal to wider audiences while the father insists on preserving tradition. The moment marks a dramatic shift in the production, which blends theater with traditional Marathi music.
“I was excited,” Dolas said. “I heard the audience react so much to everything that happened before my entry that I felt comfortable with them. It was really fun to interact with them and respond to their responses.”
When she learned about casting calls for the musical through the Marathi cultural organization Maharashtra Mandal Bay Area, Dolas saw it as a chance to combine two aspects of her upbringing: familial ties to the Marathi community and years of Hindustani classical singing.
“My character is really passionate about music and curious to explore crossovers between American-style music and Indian music,” Dolas said. “I felt like I connected with that.”
From dance and quick costume changes to showing character development, Dolas worked to master all elements of performance.
“It’s made me realize what true commitment is and the effort that goes into producing something of this scale,” Dolas said.
Alden James grows from school productions to professional sets
After several years in Lynbrook’s drama program, senior Alden James has grown from a newcomer in the cast to winning gold at the 2026 Lenaea High School Theatre Festival — a competitive three-day theater event that brings together roughly 120 schools from across California — for his monologue performance.
James has performed in several Studio 74 productions, including “Clue,” “Fiddler on the Roof” and “Laughing Stock.” Through the demanding process, James credits drama teacher Larry Wenner as a key influence on his growth as an actor.
“He’s almost like a secondary parent to me,” James said. “He has such a deep history with drama and he’s someone I really look up to.”
More recently, James has also begun exploring opportunities outside of school theater. This February, James appeared in a commercial for the Peace Corps, portraying a software engineer. In March, he was a background actor in “Too Done,” an upcoming short film shot in San Francisco.
“I got to practice sitting in the background and understanding what’s going on on set, rather than actually physically acting, which is also an interesting experience,” James said.
For James, acting is not only about performing, but also about understanding himself more deeply to successfully adapt to different roles.
“As an actor, your job is to know yourself more than anyone else,” James said. “I’m discovering more about myself every day.”
After graduating, James hopes to study theater or business in college while staying close to major acting hubs, such as Los Angeles or New York. Wherever he ends up, James plans to continue pursuing the same passion he has harbored since elementary school.
“I just want to tell stories and connect with people,” James said. “That’s what acting is about for me.”
Akshara Israni earns an unexpected, emotional gold
Junior Akshara Israni sits in the audience, bracing herself for disappointment as the judges begin announcing the results of the monologue awards at Lenaea. Israni’s name was not among the bronze winners, nor the silver awards. By the time the gold winners were announced, she had nearly lost all hope.
“I thought there was no way in hell I would get gold,” Israni said. “And then they called my name, and I started crying even more.”
In February, Israni earned a gold medal for her monologue performance at Lenaea. For Israni, the moment marked the culmination of months of preparation and years of growth in theater.li
Israni performed the piece “Clear Glass Marbles,” depicting a young woman reflecting on the loss of her mother. Holding a bowl of marbles throughout the monologue, she recounts small memories of her mother while gradually building toward the climax of her mother’s final moments. At the climax of the piece, Israni spills the marbles across the stage, filling the room with their clatter.
“Suddenly, everything gets very quiet, and you can just hear the marbles rolling everywhere,” Israni said. “It’s a very strong moment.”
After exploring theater through drama classes in middle school, Israni lost momentum during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her interest returned during her freshman year at Lynbrook when she decided to audition for “Ranked.”
The Lenaea monologue marked a new challenge for Israni, who previously gravitated toward comedic or dramatic roles rather than emotional performance. In the months leading up to the festival, Israni spent much time refining the piece, experimenting with different interpretations and staging choices.
“I wanted to do something a little different,” Israni said. “I’d never really done emotional monologues before, so this gave me a chance to explore that.”
