Presented by Artists at Play

CREATIVE TEAM
Playwright David Henry Hwang
Director Katherine Chou
Choreographer Annie Yee
Stage Manager Karin Naono

CAST
LONE Hao Feng
MA Dylan J. Locke
STAGE DIRECTIONS Jo Yuan

Cast

Hao Feng (Lone) is beyond ecstatic to be joining Artists at Play once again, last having appeared in their virtual reading of Fear and Wonder, and understudying in their production of The Chinese Lady. Theatre: Twelfth Night, Pericles (Independent Shakespeare Company); Nightwalk in the Chinese Garden (The Huntington Library/CalArts Center for New Performance). Film: Twisted Little Lies (Lifetime). VO: Alchemy of Souls, Somebody (Netflix); Soundtrack #1 (Disney+). MFA in Acting, CalArts; MPhil in Music and Science, University of Cambridge; B.S. in Neuroscience and B.A. in Piano Performance, Emory University. In his free time, Hao can be found doing martial arts, photography, or eating. Echelon Talent Management. @haothefeng

Dylan J. Locke (Ma) is a Chinese American actor, filmmaker, and producer originally from Seattle, WA. Recent credits include “Star Trek: Picard,” “Alien Vacation,” and over two-dozen Netflix and Disney+ English dubs ranging from “Pachinko” to “Love is Blind: Japan.” Dylan is a recent graduate of the USC School of Dramatic Arts (Fight On!) and makes a mean homemade boba tea!

Jo Yuan (Stage Directions) is an Asian American (Chinese/Taiwanese/Korean) actor from the OC. Her training consists of the Meisner technique, on-camera skills, and comedy (clown, long-form improv, sketch, etc). She was awarded the Diversity Scholarship at both The Second City and Groundlings, where she focused on improvisation and sketch. She also had the honor of being selected for ABC’s Workshop Week with East West Players, and being chosen to participate in an advanced audition technique class sponsored by NBCUniversal. Jo is a main cast member with hereandnow theatre company and a proud member of Artists Rise Up Los Angeles. More at: www.jo-yuan.com


Creative Team

David Henry Hwang (Playwright) Plays include M. Butterfly (1988 Tony Award, 1989 Pulitzer Finalist), Golden Child (1998 Tony nomination, 1997 OBIE Award), Yellow Face (2008 OBIE Award, 2008 Pulitzer Finalist), FOB (1981 OBIE Award), The Dance and the Railroad (1982 Drama Desk nomination), Family Devotions (1982 Drama Desk Nomination), and Bondage. He wrote the books for the Broadway musicals Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida (coauthor), the revival of Flower Drum Song (2002 Tony nomination), and Disney’s Tarzan. In opera, his libretti include Philip Glass’ The Voyage (Metropolitan Opera), Osvaldo Golijov’s Ainadamar (two 2007 Grammy Awards), Unsuk Chin’s Alice in Wonderland (Opernwelt 2007 “World Premiere of the Year”), and Howard Shore’s The Fly. Hwang also penned the feature films “M. Butterfly,” “Golden Gate,” and “Possession” (coauthor). He serves on the Council of the Dramatists Guild and was appointed by President Clinton to the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities.

Katherine Chou (Director) is a Taiwanese American writer, filmmaker, and theatre artist. Her work in theatre encompasses directing, producing, and dramaturgy. Theatre credits include Here is Where (Boston Court Pasadena), AAP Fest (Artists at Play), and The Chinese Lady (Denver Center). As a filmmaker, her work has screened internationally and received recognition from STARZ, Women in Film, and the Wrap. Film credits include Dunkirk and The Hate U Give. A graduate of L’Institut d’Études Politiques de Paris, she is an alum of EST/LA’s Ignite Project and Visual Communiction’s Armed With a Camera Fellowship. She has been a producing member of Artists at Play since 2017. @kacawcaw

Annie Yee (Choreographer) Escapegoat, The Golden Dragon (Boston Court Pasadena); Everybody (Antaeus Company); Interstate (East West Players); Sumo workshop (La Jolla Playhouse, Ma-Yi Theatre); On Gold Mountain (LA Opera); Detained, The Children, An Octoroon (Fountain Theatre); M. Butterfly (South Coast Repertory); King of the Yees (Baltimore Center Stage, ACT Theatre in Seattle); Made in Bangkok (Center Theatre Group); I Don’t Have to Show You No Stinking Badges (LATC). She is the first Chinese American Los Angeles Laker Girl and Rams Cheerleader. Annie is honored to serve on the Executive Board for the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society and Cornerstone Theatre.

Karin Naono (Stage Manager) began her professional career amidst the pandemic. Karin is a freelance stage manager and stage technician that has found her home within theatrical works and occasional event works. She works at the historic San Gabriel Mission Playhouse, while working gigs around the LA area, with some credits in Boston. Play and event credits include: The Butterfly of Chula Vista (Artists at Play); Radio Golf (A Noise Within Theatre); Latina Christmas Special (Atomictuna Productions); Kamioroshi, the Descent of the Gods (BU Arts Initiative); Produced by Conference 2022, PGA.

About Artists at Play

Artists at Play is a Los Angeles based theatre-producing collective dedicated to programming that explores the Asian American experience. Since 2011, we have produced theatre that demonstrates the humanity and complexity of our diverse communities. We provide a platform for meaningful representation through employment opportunities, inclusive programming, advocacy, and administrative and artistic resources.

Our mainstage productions have achieved box office success and critical acclaim, including “Critics’ Choice” by numerous news outlets, and earned a GLAAD Media Award nomination. Since 2015, Artists at Play has presented free Theatre for Young Audience performances as a way to encourage youth to build empathy and understanding between diverse people.

Through our New Play Development, we have provided resources and support to 20 playwrights as they developed new works. About half of those plays have gone on to world premiere productions at theatres across the United States and Canada. In 2022 we launched the AAP Emerging Playwright Commission. We continue to add new Asian American and Pacific Islander narratives to the canon of American theatre. 

Artists at Play actively participates in local and national advocacy for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access in theatre. As theatremakers, art is our tool for activism and pathway to justice.  We champion and uplift Asian American artists who give voice to our past, present and future. 

Special Thanks

Ruy Iskandar
Asian American Journalists Association Los Angeles Chapter
Asian Pacific Alumni of UCLA
Chinatown Service Center
Chinese American Museum
Chinese Club of San Marino
Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment
Organization of Chinese Americans Los Angeles Chapter
Southern California Chinese Lawyers Association
USC Asian Pacific Alumni Association