La MaMa in association with The Ma-Yi Theater Company, now in its 25th anniversary season, will present the New York premiere of THE WONG KIDS IN THE SECRET OF THE SPACE CHUPACABRA GO! Tuesday, January 28 – Sunday, February 16, 2014 at La MaMa’s Ellen Stewart Theater (66 East 4th Street – between Bowery and 2nd Ave). Opening night is set for Friday, January 31.
Written by Lloyd Suh – whose previous productions with Ma-Yi include AMERICAN HWANGAP and JESUS IN INDIA Off-Broadway and who is a member of Ma-Yi’s celebrated Writers Lab – THE WONG KIDS IN THE SECRET OF THE SPACE CHUPACABRA GO! is helmed by Ma-Yi’s artistic director Ralph B. Peña (director of the company’s production of MICROCRISIS, along with CENTAUR BATTLE OF SAN JACINTO) with Jack Tamburri. THE WONG KIDS marks Ma-Yi’s first production of a new work fully suitable for family audiences of all ages. This exciting first-time collaboration between Ma-Yi Theater Company in New York and Children’s Theatre Company in Minneapolis is also notable for its rare depiction of young Asian-American characters as “heroes” of an adventure tale. The producers liken the sensibility and humor of THE WONG KIDS to that of the popular TV series PHINEAS AND FERB.
THE WONG KIDS uses time-honored stage magic – a mix of intelligent and fun action-driven storytelling, puppetry, and visual effects – as it transports its audience into the far reaches of the galaxy. Violet and Bruce Wong just don’t fit in with the other Earth kids. Sure, they have superpowers, they’re just not very good ones. But when an evil beast called the Space Chupacabra appears, intent on universal destruction, The Wong Kids must travel to outer space in order to stop it… if they can only stop bickering. Violet and Bruce ultimately realize that being different isn’t just okay, it might just be the most important thing like ever.
When THE WONG KIDS opened in Minneapolis earlier this year, the theater critic for the Pioneer Press called the play “A sci-fi satire fun and meaningful for all. One of the funniest, most-enjoyable productions I’ve seen this year.”
The cast of THE WONG KIDS at La MaMa includes Alton Alburo, Curran Connor, Sasha Diamond, Ethan Hova, Kate Marley, Matthew Gunn Park. The design team includes Meredith Ries (set), Becky Bodurtha (costumes), Paul Whitaker (lighting), Shane Rettig (original music & sound), David Parkinson Valentine (puppets). Jennifer Delac choreographs.
Ma-Yi Theater Company, founded in 1989 and now celebrating its 25th anniversary season, is a Drama Desk and OBIE Award-winning, Off-Broadway not-for-profit organization whose primary mission is to develop and produce new and innovative plays by Asian American writers. It is currently led by Ralph B. Peña (Artistic Director), and Jorge Z. Ortoll (Executive Director). Since its founding, Ma-Yi has distinguished itself as one of the country’s leading incubators of new work shaping the national discourse about what it means to be Asian American today. Its numerous acclaimed productions include this season’s BIKE AMERICA, last season’s JESUS IN INDIA, Qui Nguyen’s THE INEXPLICABLE REDEMPTION OF AGENT G (with Vampire Cowboys) and SOUL SAMURAI (with Vampire Cowboys), Mike Lew’s MICROCRISIS and the revival of Ralph B. Peña’s FLIPZOIDS. Other productions include: RESCUE ME by Michi Barall, Lloyd Suh’s AMERICAN HWANGAP and THE CHILDREN OF VONDERLY and THE ROMANCE OF MAGNO RUBIO. Through successful programs such as the Writers Lab, Ma-Yi emboldens a new generation of Asian American artists to voice their experiences, while developing a steady stream of quality new works by Asian American playwrights for its own performing repertory. New works developed at the Writers Lab have gone on to successful productions around the country, at such theaters as Victory Gardens, Laguna Playhouse, Long Wharf Theater, Woolly Mammoth, and the Actors Theater of Louisville, to name a few. Ma-Yi Theater Company productions have earned 10 OBIE Awards, numerous Henry Hewes Award nominations, a Drama Desk nomination for Best Play and the Special Drama Desk Award for “more than two decades of excellence and for nurturing Asian-American voices in stylistically varied and engaging theater.”
Children’s Theatre Company began as The Moppet Players, a small company, which produced creative dramatics, dance and theatre for children. In 1965, The Moppet Players moved into Minneapolis Institute of Arts and in 1975 was incorporated as Children’s Theatre Company. The Theatre’s reputation was built on a history of adapting classic children’s literature and storybooks, in addition to its extraordinary accomplishments in the areas of scenic and costume design. Today, CTC is recognized as North America’s flagship theatre for young people and families as well as a major cultural and artistic resource in Minnesota. CTC has been dedicated to advancing the art of theatre for families and young audiences for almost 50 years.
Ticket price is $25 (during previews); $30 (regular), $20 (seniors/students), $10 (children under age 10).
For tickets, visit www.ma-yitheatre.org or call the La MaMa Box Office at 212.475.7710.
Tuesday, January 28 – Sunday, February 16, 2014
Preview performances January 28 – 30 at 7:00PM.
Opens Friday, January 31. Regular Performances:
Tuesday – Wednesday at 11:00AM (Student Matinees)
Thursday – Saturday at 7:00PM
Saturday – Sunday at 1:30PM
La MaMa’s Ellen Stewart Theater
(66 East 4th Street – between Bowery and 2nd Ave)
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