Indian Ink Theatre Company's THE ELEPHANT WRESTLER Set for Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 1/24

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts will present Indian Ink Theatre Company's production of The Elephant Wrestler on Saturday, Jan. 24, at 8 p.m. in the Virginia G. Piper Theater.

Tickets start at $29 and are available through www.ScottsdalePerformingArts.org or 480-499-TKTS (8587).

The contradictions of modern India with its iPhones and ancient gods come alive in The Elephant Wrestler, an outrageously funny and heartbreakingly beautiful romantic thriller. Inspired by an Indian fairy tale, the story centers around Kutisar, a poor chaiwallah (tea seller) in a train station, who dispenses his soulful beverage to the thirsty travelers who come and go. Unexpectedly, the humble street vendor finds himself challenged to solve the interwoven mysteries of true love, tragedy and joy. The play features one actor and one musician on stage, with multiple characters in the story, all performed by Jacob Rajan.

The Elephant Wrestler has enjoyed success touring throughout New Zealand as well as Australia, Asia and the United States. The Sydney Morning Herald picked the play as one of the theatrical highlights of 2010 and the New Zealand Listener named it the "Feel-Good Production of the Year."

Founded in New Zealand in 1996 by Jacob Rajan and Justin Lewis, Indian Ink Theatre Company blends Western theatrical traditions with Eastern flavors, and has been critically acclaimed for its use of live music, heightened theatricality, humor, pathos and great storytelling. The company has created a series of remarkable theatrical productions of intimate scale that remind audiences of the simple truths of life.