Inside a recording studio or in front of the camera is where one often spots Lisa Mishra. But the actor and singer is equally at home in another place — theatre. After a 15-year hiatus from theatre, she is returning with A Perfect Time to Panic, directed by Akarsh Khurana. The production, also starring Taaruk Raina and Maidaan (2024) actor Chaitnya Sharma, will première on November 11 and 12 at the ongoing Prithvi Theatre Festival.
Before pursuing music and web shows, Mishra had performed in stage productions in Los Angeles, including Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. While music took centrestage in the past few years, she missed the spontaneous energy that theatre provides. She says, “Coming back to theatre after so many years feels special. The energy of live performance is unmatched — it’s raw, immediate, and so alive. I’ve missed that feeling of connecting directly with an audience.”
Taaruk Raina and Chaitnya Sharma
A Perfect Time to Panic is a musical tale of an environmentalist struggling to be heard. Mishra adds, “What I love about the play is that it captures the chaos and comedy of being human in uncertain times. Theatre has always been the foundation of my craft. There’s something about the discipline and honesty it demands that strengthens you as an artiste.”