The OBIE Award-winning NAATCO, National Asian American Theater Company, continues their 25th season with the World Premiere of Lloyd Suh’s CHARLES FRANCIS CHAN, JR.’S EXOTIC ORIENTAL MURDER MYSTERY. Ed Sylvanus Iskandar directs a cast that includes Jeff Biehl, Jennifer Ikeda, Peter Kim, Orville Mendoza, KK Moggie and Jeffrey Omura. This Off-Broadway limited engagement at Walker Space (46 Walker Street) began October 26th, with Opening Night set for Monday, November 2nd. Performances continue through November 21st only.
Jeff Biehl and Jeffrey Omura. Photo by William P. Steele
1967. The auspicious beginnings of a new political identity called Asian American, as a young literary hippie named Frank essays an inscrutable Chinese detective. A harmless sing-song Orientalist minstrel show that ends in a grotesque carnival of murder! Lloyd Suh’s CHARLES FRANCIS CHAN, JR.’S EXOTIC ORIENTAL MURDER MYSTERY is NAATCO’s first commission. It is an adaptation of Agatha Christie’s The Mysterious Affair at Styles, the novel that introduced Hercule Poirot.
KK Moggie and Jeffrey Omura. Photo by William P. Steele
CHARLES FRANCIS CHAN, JR.’S EXOTIC ORIENTAL MURDER MYSTERY will have scenic design by Jason Sherwood, costume design by Loren Shaw, lighting design by Seth Reiser, projections design by Olivia Sebesky, and sound design by Jeffrey S. Bloom. Composer and Musical Director is Alan Schmuckler, Dramaturg is Kimber Lee, Props Supervisor is Samantha Shoffner and Qui Nguyen will serve as Fight Choreographer.
Jeffrey Omura and Jennifer Ikeda. Photo by William P. Steele
Performances are Monday through Saturday evenings at 7:00pm with matinees Saturday at 2pm. Tickets for all seats for all performances are from $25 – $40 and may be purchased at www.naatco.org or by calling 866-811-4111.
Jeffrey Omura and Orville Mendoza. Photo by William P. Steele
Jeffrey Omura, KK Moggie and Jeff Biehl. Photo by William P. Steele
Jeff Biehl and Peter Kim. Photo by William P. Steele
Orville Mendoza and Jennifer Ikeda. Photo by William P. Steele
Under the leadership of Artistic Producing Director Mia Katigbak and co-founder Richard Eng, NAATCO was founded in 1989 to assert the presence and significance of Asian American theatre in the United States, demonstrating its vital contributions to the fabric of American culture by offering European and American classics as written with all Asian American casts; adaptations of these classics by Asian American playwrights; and new plays – preferably world premieres – written by non-Asian Americans, not for or about Asian Americans, but realized by an all Asian American cast. NAATCO puts into service its total commitment to Asian American theatre artists to more accurately represent onstage the multi- and inter-cultural dynamics of our society. By doing so, they demonstrate a rich tapestry of cultural difference bound by the American experience. The enrichment accrues to each different culture as well as to America as a whole. NAATCO performs the western classical repertory as written, with no forced Asian cultural associations. The repertory’s importance comes not only through the valuable training it provides for theatrical craft, but also from its ability to reach across ethnic boundaries to illuminate abiding characteristics of human nature. For her performance in the 2013 production of Clifford Odets’ Awake and Sing!, Mia Katigbak won an OBIE Award. NAATCO was the recipient of the 2012-13 Lucille Lortel Award from the League of Professional Theatre Women for their work “highlighting the multi- and intercultural dynamics of our society” and the 2006 Rosetta LeNoire Award from Actors’ Equity Association in recognition of its contribution toward increasing diversity and non-traditional casting in American theatre. NAATCO received an OBIE Grant in 2000 in recognition of the season’s productions: William Finn’s Falsettoland and the Brecht/Weill pieces, He Who Says Yes/He Who Says No. For more information, visit www.naatco.org.
Lia Chang
Lia Chang is an award-winning filmmaker, a Best Actress nominee, a photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist. Lia has appeared in the films Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman and Hide and Seek, which will screen at the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival on November 21st. She is profiled in FebOne1960.com Blog, Jade Magazine and Playbill.com.
Other Articles:
Jeff Biehl, Jennifer Ikeda, Peter Kim, Orville Mendoza, KK Moggie and Jeffrey Omura set for NAATCO’s World Premiere of Lloyd Suh’s Charles Francis Chan, Jr.’s Exotic Oriental Murder Mystery, Oct. 26-Nov. 21
George Takei, Lea Salonga, Telly Leung, Michael K. Lee and more at the first preview of Broadway’s Allegiance; opens Nov. 8
Darren Criss, Jenna Ushkowitz, Ann Harada, Kristin Chenoweth, Karen Ziemba, Jon Cryer and More celebrate Great Writers at Dramatists Guild Fund’s 2015 Gala
Photos: Camille Darby, Naveen Bahar Choudhury, Kristine M. Reyes, Diana Son, Michael Korie, Larry O’Keefe, Michael Weller, Tonya Pinkins, Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty and More at DG Fund Fellows Presentation
André De Shields, Richarda Abrams, Bryan Hickey, Dan McCormick and More Celebrate Roust Theatre’s HOMELESS AND HOW WE GOT THAT WAY Opening
Q & A with Arthur Dong, Award-winning Filmmaker and Author, Gay Icon, Distinguished Professor of Film
Greg Watanabe makes Broadway Debut as Mike Masaoka in ‘Allegiance’
Jose Llana, Christine Toy Johnson, Ann Harada, Ali Ewoldt, Raymond J. Lee, Josh Dela Cruz, Alan Ariano, Joanna Carpenter and more set for CHANGING THE STATS: ASIAN AMERICANS ON BROADWAY Concert on Nov. 2
Hide and Seek starring Lia Chang and Garth Kravits screens at the 2015 Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival (PAAFF15) in Women’s Shorts Program at Asian Arts Initiative on Nov. 21
Two-time Tony nominee and Emmy winner André De Shields and Broadway in Chicago President Lou Raizin to be honored at DePaul University theatre gala on Nov. 9
Film Lab Screening of #72HrSO Films at Time Warner Theater & Panel Discussion of Mass Media Constructions of Beauty
Alldigitocracy.org: “Allegiance,” Featuring George Takei, Lea Salonga and Telly Leung, Opens November 8
Playbill.com: Hugs, Laughs and Photobombs By Tony Winners! Go Backstage at the Special Actors Fund Performance of The King and I
Broadwayworld.com: Photo Flash: Phylicia Rashad, Andre De Shields & More Original Cast Members from THE WIZ Reunite in Central Park!
BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA Cast Reunion featured in BLACK BELT MAGAZINE August/September 2015
Drumhead Magazine: Living Colour Drummer Will Calhoun, Photos by Lia Chang
Broadwayworld.com: Photo Flash: First Look at THE REPORT as Part of FringeNYC
Playbill.com: Retweet! BroadwayGirlNYC’s Picks For Most Useful Theatre Women on Social Media
Crafting a Career
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