The Dungeons and Dragons-inspired play, The Twenty-Sided Tavern, is leaving Broadway in mid-May to transition into a touring production. In its last month in New York City, the play will feature several prominent Dungeons and Dragons–adjacent guest stars. Among these is actress and TTRPG lover Anjali Bhimani, who will play the role of the Trickster from April 17 to April 22. Bhimani is thrilled to be taking on this role, as the collaborative storytelling The Twenty-Sided Tavern represents is one of her favorite things about Dungeons and Dragons.
Anjali Bhimani spoke to Game Rant about her upcoming time as the Trickster, including her enthusiasm for the show’s audience participation format and her eagerness to know what sort of stories the Dungeons and Dragons Dungeon Master will craft for her. She is excited to share her love of Dungeons and Dragons with audiences in New York, as she previously had via participation in various Critical Role events streamed online and Dungeons and Dragons one-shots played at conventions.
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The Twenty-Sided Tavern Tells A Unique Story Every Night With Audience Help
The Twenty-Sided Tavern features a cast of one Dungeon Master and three actors, playing “The Warrior,” “The Spellcaster,” and “The Trickster.” The characters the actors play, the adventures they embark on, the NPCs they encounter, and the foes they face are decided primarily via audience participation. The show has been playing in New York City and Sydney, Australia to positive reviews, and will be going on the road following its closing in New York. Alongside Bhimani, the guests appearing during the show’s last month include Devora Wilde, Samantha Beart, Darin de Paul, Travis McElroy, and Becca Scott.
When asked her opinion regarding the show’s audience participation element, Bhimani expressed excitement, stating that the collaborative story-building was one of her favorite things about Dungeons and Dragons. “The thing I love about games in general is the interactivity,” she explained. “I love the fact that you actually get to connect with your player audience.”
For Anjali Bhimani, Dungeons and Dragons Is About “Purveying Fun”
Anjali Bhimani is no stranger to connecting with her audience—she’s a frequent presence in the live chat section of Critical Role streams she appears in and regularly travels to conventions around the world. She is particularly thrilled to be working with the regular cast of The Twenty-Sided Tavern to connect with Dungeons and Dragons fans in a whole new way. Sharing her thoughts about her upcoming debut, Bhimani said:
“This is going to be a really fun group effort at purveying even more fun. And that’s my favorite thing about TTRPGs. It’s such a group activity. It’s such a shared joy. When one character rolls a natural 20, everyone rolled the natural 20. When someone rolls a natural 1, everyone’s jumping in to try to solve the situation.”
She is nervous and excited to see how the Dungeon Master of The Twenty-Sided Tavern personalizes the adventure for her. She suspects there might be references to her prolific career—she’s appeared in many games and TV shows, including Overwatch, Ms. Marvel, and, recently, Avowed—but is unsure exactly what will be referenced. “Honestly, I have no idea, because the fact is I do so many different things,” she admitted with a laugh. However, she is ready to embrace whatever kind of adventure awaits her when she joins the cast of The Twenty-Sided Tavern in April. Fans interested in viewing her performance can purchase tickets via the Tavern’s official website.
- Franchise
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Dungeons & Dragons
- Original Release Date
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1974
- Designer
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E. Gary Gygax, Dave Arneson