In this new play, CioCio from Puccini’s opera Madame Butterfly completes her suicide, only to wake up realizing she is trapped in a never-ending loop of her story. Then Miss Saigon’s Kim joins the void, thrusting another tragic heroine into the deadly cycle, until a mysterious office woman throws their worlds out of balance. This Is Not a True Story unravels the history of Orientalist art and theatre, and looks at what happens when the tragic Asian heroine takes control of her own story.
Performances at Los Angeles Theatre Center
September 14-October 15, 2023 (Thursday-Sunday)
Previews: September 14-15 (Pay-What-You-Will)
Opening Night: September 16
90 minutes with no intermission
This Is Not a True Story is recommended for ages 13 and up.
World Premiere Produced in association with Latino Theater Co.
Special Performances
• Understudy Performance – Thursday, October 5
• Filipino American Community Night – Friday, October 6
• UCSD Community Night – Thursday, October 12
Post-Show Discussions
• Friday, October 6 after the 8 pm performance
• Thursday, October 12 after the 8 pm performance
Content Warning
This production includes strong language, theatrical haze, flashing lights, high frequency sounds, a non-firing prop pistol and gunshot sound effects, suicide, the myth of the American Dream, and discussions of sex work, sexual assault, and war violence. This production also includes women speaking for themselves and questioning the status quo. No babies or butterflies were harmed in the making of this production.
About the Play
Production Photos
Reviews
“OUTSTANDING… Thought-provoking, highly entertaining… Hilarity, poignancy and above all, insight into the damage that racial stereotyping causes ensues… nuanced performances that are sometimes, tragic, sometimes comic and always on point.” —Hollywood Progressive
“⭐⭐⭐⭐… nearly a laugh a minute… a wonderful new comedy that makes you think differently about the racial stereotyping of our classic literary characters.”—Haines His Way
“STAGE RAW TOP 10… RECOMMENDED… inventively told, sprinkled with humor and, ultimately, graced with a moving ending… outstanding performances.”—Stage Raw
“VIBRANT… brilliantly ironic in dismantling the very stereotypes it presents.”—The Hollywood Times
“BEAUTIFULLY explores representation, exposes racism in theater and film.”—USC Annenberg Media
“AMAZING… avant-garde… exactly how theatre should be done in 2023.”—Seoulite TV
“AN EYE-OPENER that uses subtle humor and the crude truth of our history surrounding the stereotypes forced upon Asian women… ends on a hopeful message that we as Asian women can write our story and happy ending.”—The Nerds of Color
Audience Reactions from Opening Night
Cast
Julia Cho
Zandi De Jesus
Rosie Narasaki
Understudies: Darica Louie, Chacha Tahng and Jo Yuan
Creative Team
Preston Choi (Playwright) is a Korean/Irish-American playwright whose work focuses on social science fiction and Asian/mixed/queer lives. His work has been recently developed with Round House Theatre, Interact Theatre, Cygnet Theatre, and more, while his plays include limp wrist on the lever (2023 Stephen Lim Playwriting Award), performing class (2022 NNPN New Play Showcase), The Migratory Patterns… (2021 Stephen Lim Playwriting Award, 2019 NNPN New Play Showcase, 2017 Agnes Nixon Award) and Happy Birthday Mars Rover (2022 Planet Earth Arts Award). He received a BS in Theatre from Northwestern University and an MFA in Playwriting from UC San Diego.
Reena Dutt (Director) is a city girl with a country soul who believes in creating with a conscience. She directed the development workshop of Accidental Feminist at The Public, Guards at the Taj in the Berkshires, the midwestern premiere of American Fast and assistant directed The Collaboration with Paul Bettany and Jeremy Pope on Broadway. Dutt is a seasoned film director/producer, having screened at over 80 venues, including Sundance, Outfest, NBCShorts, HBO, BET and PBS/Latine, and is an award-winning audiobook narrator/director. Fellowships: Drama League, Lincoln Center Directors Lab, DLW, Project Involve, SFFilm. ReenaDutt.com
Yuki Izumihara, Scenic Designer
Henry Tran, Lighting Designer
Jojo Siu, Costume Designer
M. Glenn Schuster, Sound Designer
Vanessa D. Fernandez, Projection Designer
Naomi Kasahara, Props Designer
Yoko Haitz, Hair & Make Up Designer
Katherine Chou, Associate Director and Dramaturg
Kurt Sanchez Kanazawa, Dialect Coach
Yaesol Jeong, Stage Manager
Ally Marie Lardner, Assistant Stage Manager
Learn More About The Play
MEET THE PLAYWRIGHT
DRAMATURGY
INSTAGRAM LIVE SERIES
Join us on Instagram for our weekly This Is Not a True Story IG Live series featuring exciting special guests and deep-dive conversations on themes related to the production.
This program is supported by the LA County Department of Arts and Culture
as part of the LA County Performing Arts Recovery Grant.
Artists at Play — A Los Angeles-Based Theatre Collective 