Off-Broadway's Sidd Gets Two New Leads

Bombay Dreams star Manu Narayan has taken over the title role in the off-Broadway musical Sidd. He will begin performances in the show on March 7. The production's original star, Neil Maffin, is "gracefully stepping aside," according to a production spokesperson. Additionally, female lead Pamela Jordan has left the production for "personal reasons." Understudy Natalie Cortez will assume the role of Mala.

Narayan was involved in all of the readings of Sidd. "Manu has been a part of the show since its inception," a production spokesperson told Broadway.com. "He was unavailable at the time this current production began. He became available and collectively the company welcomed him back." Narayan is best known for playing slum dweller-turned-movie star Akaash in the Broadway musical Bombay Dreams. His other theatrical credits include Fucking A off-Broadway and the Yale Repertory Theater production of The People Next Door.

Cortez's theatrical credits include regional mountings of West Side Story and Anything Goes. She also appeared as Chi Chi in the pre-Broadway tryout of The Mambo Kings.

Sidd has been in previews at Dodger Stages Theatre 5 since February 23. Both Maffin and Jordan played their final performance on March 4. The show is still scheduled to officially open on March 15.