Tina Chilip, Jojo Gonzalez, Marcus Ho and More in Leviathan Lab’s Twelfth Night Production Photos, Performances through 11/19

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Foreground Center: Jojo Gonzalez as Feste with the cast of Leviathan Lab's TWELFTH NIGHT Photo by Bree Warner

Is it possible to have too much fun on stage? I don’t think so. If you haven’t made it to the Leviathan Lab’s inaugural production, Twelfth Night, an entertaining romp starring Jojo Gonzalez as Feste the clown, Tina Chilip as Viola, Kurt Uy as Orsino, Eileen Rivera as Olivia, Andrew Eisenman as Malvolio, John Roque as Sir Toby Belch, Ka-ling Cheung as Maria, Marcus Ho as Sir Andrew Aguecheek, Chris Doi as Sebastian, Roger Yeh as Fabian, and Eugene Oh as Antonio, you only have three more chances to do so through November 19 at the Arclight Theater in New York. I guarantee you will have a grand time.

L to R: Ka-ling Cheung as Maria, Eileen Rivera as Olivia and Tina Chilip as Viola Photo by Bree Warner

Leviathan Lab’s Twelfth Night is set in the seaside city of Illyria, but is a fresh take on Shakespeare’s comedy, infused with auteur Wong Kar-wai’s 1960s Hong Kong sensibility and style, and helmed by Nelson T. Eusebio III, with original music by veteran Broadway actor/composer Jason Ma, choreography by Dax Valdes, and sets & costumes by Maiko Chii.

Chris Doi as Sebastian, Tina Chilip as Viola Photo by Bree Warner

Performances are Thursday – Saturday at 8pm. Tickets are $18 general admission, $15 students and seniors, with special prices for groups of 10 or more.

L to R: John Roque as Sir Toby Belch, Marcus Ho as Sir Andrew Aguecheek Photo by Bree Warner

Andrew Eisenman as Malvolio Photo by Bree Warner

Arclight Theater
152 West 71st Street, Level 1 between Broadway and Columbus Avenues
New York

ABOUT LEVIATHAN LAB
Leviathan Lab is a professional creative studio founded in 2009 that includes more than 75 Asian-American actors, writers, and directors. Leviathan Lab invests in the advancement of both emerging and established Asian American performing artists by featuring them in new works by Asian American writers, in fresh interpretations of classical plays, and in original works for film, tv and new media. More information can be found at www.leviathanlab.com.

Leviathan Lab founder Ariel Estrada, composer Jason Ma, director Nelson T. Eusebio III and choregrapher Dax Valdes. Photo by Lia Chang

Jojo Gonzalez as Feste Photo by Bree Warner

Other Articles by Lia Chang
Photos: Kathie Lee Gifford at the 2011 Lord & Taylor Fifth Avenue Christmas Windows Unveiling in New York
Photos: Fall Foliage at Devil’s Lake State Park
Photos: Leviathan Lab’s Twelfth Night at the Arclight through 11/19
Tina Chilip and Jojo Gonzalez Star in Leviathan Lab’s Dynamic Hong Kong Re-imagining of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night Featuring an All-Asian American Cast, at the Arclight in NY, 11/3-11/19
Photos of AEA’s Asian Heritage Celebration, featuring the Leviathan Lab Asian American Women Writers Workshop
Photos: David Henry Hwang, Jennifer Lim, Leigh Silverman, Samuel L. Jackson, Kenny Leon, David Ives, Douglas Carter Beane and More at The Drama Desk & Fordham University Theatre Program’s “Anatomy of a Breakout” Panel
Ma-Yi Presents Carla Ching’s The Sugar House at The Edge of The Wilderness at The Connelly Theater, 11/8-12/4
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David Henry Hwang’s Chinglish Takes Home 2 Jeff Awards
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Lia Chang Photos: Opening Night of Mu Performing Arts’ Katie Hae Leo’s Four Destinies
Lia Chang Photos: Backstage at Mu Performing Arts’ Four Destinies by Katie Hae Leo
Art by Nicholas Galanin Featured in Kindred Spirits, Native American Influences on 20th Century Art, at Peter Blum Soho in NY, 10/29/11-1/14/12
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Up Close and Personal with Rick Shiomi, Award-winning Playwright and Artistic Director of Mu Performing Arts
Broadwayworld.com Photo Flash: Library of Congress’ IN REHEARSAL Exhibit
Lia Chang Theater Portfolio at Library of Congress Features Photos of Thom Sesma’s Makeup Transformation as Scar in Disney’s The Lion King Las Vegas, Robert Lee and Leon Ko’s Heading East Starring BD Wong, David Henry Hwang’s Chinglish, and Samrat Chakrabarti and Sanjiv Jhaveri’s Bakwas Bumbug! on View Through August 2
Photos and Video: Disney’s The Lion King Las Vegas- In the Makeup Chair with Thom Sesma
Photos: “How To Succeed” stars Daniel Radcliffe, Rose Hemingway & John Larroquette at Lord & Taylor Fifth Ave
Photos: David Duchovny, John Earl Jelks, Amanda Peet, Tracee Chimo at Opening Night Party of Neil LaBute’s Break of Noon
Multimedia: Promises, Promises’ Stars Kristin Chenoweth and Sean Hayes at Lord & Taylor Fifth Ave
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

The cast and creative team of Leviathan Lab's Twelfth Night on the set at the Arclight Theater in New York on November 11, 2011. Photo by Lia Chang

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Lia Chang Photo by Brianne Michelle Photography

Lia Chang is an actor, performance and fine art botanical photographer, and an award-winning multimedia journalist.
As a photographer and videographer, Lia collaborates with artists, organizations and companies in establishing their documentary photo archive and social media presence. She has been documenting her colleagues and contemporaries in the arts, fashion and journalism since making her stage debut as Liat in the National Tour of South Pacific, with Robert Goulet and Barbara Eden. Lia currently plays Nurse Lia on “One Life to Live”. She has appeared in Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman and “New York Undercover”.

Selections of Lia’s archive of Asian Pacific Americans in the arts, fashion, journalism, politics and space are now in the newly created LIA CHANG THEATER PHOTOGRAPHY PORTFOLIO in the ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN PERFORMING ARTS COLLECTION housed in the Library of Congress Asian Division’s Asian American Pacific Islander Collection.
Lia’s portraits and performance photos have appeared in Vanity Fair, Gourmet, German Elle, Women’s Wear Daily, The Paris Review, TV Guide, Daily Variety, Interior Design, American Theatre, Broadwayworld.com, Life & Style, OUT, New York Magazine, InStyle, Timeout.com, Villagevoice.com, Playbill.com, Theatermania.com, thelmagazine.com, The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, USA Today, The Boston Globe, New York Times and Washington Post. A former syndicated arts and entertainment columnist for KYODO News, Lia is the New York Bureau Chief for AsianConnections.com. She writes about culture, style and Asian American issues for a variety of publications and this Backstage Pass with Lia Chang blog.

All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2011 Lia Chang Multimedia. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at liachangpr@gmail.com.

Lia Chang Photos: Leviathan Lab’s Twelfth Night at the Arclight through 11/19

The cast and creative team of Leviathan Lab's Twelfth Night on the set at the Arclight Theater in New York on November 11, 2011. Photo by Lia Chang

I had a great time at Leviathan Lab’s inaugural production, Twelfth Night, an entertaining romp starring Jojo Gonzalez as Feste the clown, Tina Chilip as Viola, Kurt Uy as Orsino, Eileen Rivera as Olivia, Andrew Eisenman as Malvolio, John Roque as Sir Toby Belch, Karen Tsen Lee as Maria, Marcus Ho as Sir Andrew Aguecheek, Chris Doi as Sebastian, Roger Yeh as Fabian, and Eugene Oh as Antonio, currently having a limited run through November 19 at the Arclight Theater in New York.

Leviathan Lab founder Ariel Estrada, composer Jason Ma, director Nelson T. Eusebio III and choregrapher Dax Valdes. Photo by Lia Chang

Twelfth Night is set in the seaside city of Illyria, infused with auteur Wong Kar-wai’s 1960s Hong Kong sensibility and style, and helmed by Nelson T. Eusebio III, with original music by veteran Broadway actor/composer Jason Ma, choreography by Dax Valdes, and sets & costumes by Maiko Chii.

Raul and Mary Aranas came out to support Karen Tsen Lee in her debut as Maria and the brilliant Jojo Gonzalez who is fearless as Feste the Clown. Photo by Lia Chang

There are only 8 more performances for you to catch this talented ensemble, Thursday – Saturday, 8pm; Sundays, 2pm; Wednesday, 11/16 at 8pm. Tickets are $18 general admission, $15 students and seniors, with special prices for groups of 10 or more.

As Sir Andrew Aguecheek, Marcus Ho displays his flair for physical comedy. Photo by Lia Chang

Arclight Theater
152 West 71st Street, Level 1 between Broadway and Columbus Avenues
New York

ABOUT LEVIATHAN LAB
Leviathan Lab is a professional creative studio founded in 2009 that includes more than 75 Asian-American actors, writers, and directors. Leviathan Lab invests in the advancement of both emerging and established Asian American performing artists by featuring them in new works by Asian American writers, in fresh interpretations of classical plays, and in original works for film, tv and new media. More information can be found at www.leviathanlab.com.

Kurt Uy (Orsino) and Tina Chilip (Viola) Photo by Lia Chang

Chris Doi (Sebastian) and Eileen Rivera (Olivia) Photo by Lia Chang

Karen Tsen Lee (Maria) and John Roque (Sir Toby) Photo by Lia Chang

Leviathan Lab founder Ariel Estrada and Rick Shiomi, Mu Performing Arts Artistic Director and playwright. Photo by Lia Chang

Other Articles by Lia Chang
Tina Chilip and Jojo Gonzalez Star in Leviathan Lab’s Dynamic Hong Kong Re-imagining of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night Featuring an All-Asian American Cast, at the Arclight in NY, 11/3-11/19
Photos of AEA’s Asian Heritage Celebration, featuring the Leviathan Lab Asian American Women Writers Workshop
Photos: David Henry Hwang, Jennifer Lim, Leigh Silverman, Samuel L. Jackson, Kenny Leon, David Ives, Douglas Carter Beane and More at The Drama Desk & Fordham University Theatre Program’s “Anatomy of a Breakout” Panel
Ma-Yi Presents Carla Ching’s The Sugar House at The Edge of The Wilderness at The Connelly Theater, 11/8-12/4
David Henry Hwang’s Chinglish Takes Home 2 Jeff Awards
Cathy Foy-Mahi Plays Bloody Mary in 2011-2012 National Tour of South Pacific
Photos: Backstage with the Cast of Chinglish and David Henry Hwang at the Longacre Theatre
Lia Chang Photos: Opening Night of Mu Performing Arts’ Katie Hae Leo’s Four Destinies
Lia Chang Photos: Backstage at Mu Performing Arts’ Four Destinies by Katie Hae Leo
Art by Nicholas Galanin Featured in Kindred Spirits, Native American Influences on 20th Century Art, at Peter Blum Soho in NY, 10/29/11-1/14/12
Photos: Crossroads’ Ain’t Misbehavin’
Up Close and Personal with Rick Shiomi, Award-winning Playwright and Artistic Director of Mu Performing Arts
Photos: Christine Toy Johnson, Angela Lin, Louis Ozawa Changchien, Jake Manabat, David Shih in Jen Silverman’s Crane Story at The Cherry Lane
Broadwayworld.com Photo Flash: Library of Congress’ IN REHEARSAL Exhibit
Lia Chang Theater Portfolio at Library of Congress Features Photos of Thom Sesma’s Makeup Transformation as Scar in Disney’s The Lion King Las Vegas, Robert Lee and Leon Ko’s Heading East Starring BD Wong, David Henry Hwang’s Chinglish, and Samrat Chakrabarti and Sanjiv Jhaveri’s Bakwas Bumbug! on View Through August 2
Photos: David Duchovny, John Earl Jelks, Amanda Peet, Tracee Chimo opening night of Neil LaBute’s The Break of Noon
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

Lia Chang Photo by Brianne Michelle Photography

Lia Chang is an actor, performance and fine art botanical photographer, and an award-winning multimedia journalist.
As a photographer and videographer, Lia collaborates with artists, organizations and companies in establishing their documentary photo archive and social media presence. She has been documenting her colleagues and contemporaries in the arts, fashion and journalism since making her stage debut as Liat in the National Tour of South Pacific, with Robert Goulet and Barbara Eden. Lia currently plays Nurse Lia on “One Life to Live”. She has appeared in Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman and “New York Undercover”.

Selections of Lia’s archive of Asian Pacific Americans in the arts, fashion, journalism, politics and space are now in the newly created LIA CHANG THEATER PHOTOGRAPHY PORTFOLIO in the ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN PERFORMING ARTS COLLECTION housed in the Library of Congress Asian Division’s Asian American Pacific Islander Collection.
Lia’s portraits and performance photos have appeared in Vanity Fair, Gourmet, German Elle, Women’s Wear Daily, The Paris Review, TV Guide, Daily Variety, Interior Design, American Theatre, Broadwayworld.com, Life & Style, OUT, New York Magazine, InStyle, Timeout.com, Villagevoice.com, Playbill.com, Theatermania.com, thelmagazine.com, The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, USA Today, The Boston Globe, New York Times and Washington Post. A former syndicated arts and entertainment columnist for KYODO News, Lia is the New York Bureau Chief for AsianConnections.com. She writes about culture, style and Asian American issues for a variety of publications and this Backstage Pass with Lia Chang blog.

All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2011 Lia Chang Multimedia. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at liachangpr@gmail.com.

Tina Chilip and Jojo Gonzalez Star in Leviathan Lab’s Dynamic Hong Kong Re-imagining of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night Featuring an All-Asian American Cast, at the Arclight in NY, 11/3-11/19

Jojo Gonzalez

Leviathan Lab, an Asian American professional creative studio invested in advancing the careers of Asian American artists, presents its inaugural production, Shakespeare’s TWELFTH NIGHT at the Arclight Theater at 152 West 71st Street, Level 1 between Broadway and Columbus Avenues in Manhattan, November 3 – 19 (Thursday – Saturday, 8pm; Sundays, 2pm; Wednesday, 11.16 at 8pm). The production will feature an all Asian American cast and star Tina Chilip* (Flipzoids, Joy Luck Club) as Viola, and OBIE-award winning actor/musician Jojo Gonzalez* (The Romance of Magno Rubio, “The Smurfs,” and “PanAm”) as Feste the Clown.

Under the direction of Nelson T. Eusebio III (Assistant Director, All’s Well That Ends Well, The Public Theater/NYSF’s Shakespeare in the Park 2011), the seaside city of Illyria harkens to Hong Kong in the 1960’s, where the alluring scent of romance pervades the atmosphere. Viola sets a series of events that create a tangled knot of mistaken identities, bewildering desires, and practical jokes that only time and fortune can untie.

Leviathan Lab’s dynamic vision of TWELFTH NIGHT comes at an exciting time for Asian Americans performers and their audiences in New York, with three Off-Off Broadway productions, four Off-Broadway productions, and Chinglish on Broadway, all comprised of primarily Asian American artistic teams. “Leviathan Lab is the new (and ambitious) kid on the block,” says Tina Chilip. “I am very excited to be a part of this company that is focused on creating innovative Asian American theater, and I can’t wait to see what they do next.”

“It’s great that Leviathan Lab is pushing for more opportunities for Asian American artists,” says – OBIE award winning Jojo Gonzalez. “When I first started out, it was hard for an Asian American Actor to get cast and perform in classical plays. The opportunities were few. It was unimaginable to even produce Shakespeare with an entire Asian American cast, let alone set the production in a place like Hong Kong unless it was ‘experimental’. I’m glad that Leviathan Lab is continuing this movement, and I’m having a ball being a part of it.”

Along with Ms. Chilip and Mr. Gonzalez, TWELFTH NIGHT stars established and emerging Asian American performers that comprise Leviathan Lab’s acting company: Kurt Uy* as Orsino, Eileen Rivera* as Olivia, Andrew Eisenman* as Malvolio, John Roque* as Sir Toby Belch, Marcus Ho* as Sir Andrew Aguecheek, Karen Tsen Lee* & Ka-Ling Cheung* as Maria (alternating weeks), Chris Doi as Sebastian, Roger Yeh as Fabian, and Eugene Oh as Antonio.

TWELFTH NIGHT has original music by veteran Broadway actor/composer Jason Ma (THE SLY FOX, MISS SAIGON, SHOGUN THE MUSICAL), choreography by Dax Valdes, and sets & costumes by Maiko Chii.

Leviathan Lab’s TWELFTH NIGHT by William Shakespeare is an Actors’ Equity approved showcase production. Tickets are $18 general admission, $15 students and seniors, with special prices for groups of 10 or more.

*Denotes members of Actors’ Equity Association.

ABOUT LEVIATHAN LAB
Leviathan Lab is a professional creative studio founded in 2009 that includes more than 75 Asian-American actors, writers, and directors. Leviathan Lab invests in the advancement of both emerging and established Asian American performing artists by featuring them in new works by Asian American writers, in fresh interpretations of classical plays, and in original works for film, tv and new media. More information can be found at www.leviathanlab.com.

Other Articles by Lia Chang
Photos: Fall Foliage at Devil’s Lake State Park
Photos: Backstage with the Cast of Chinglish and David Henry Hwang at the Longacre Theatre
Cathy Foy-Mahi Plays Bloody Mary in 2011-2012 National Tour of South Pacific
Lia Chang Photos: Opening Night of Mu Performing Arts’ Katie Hae Leo’s Four Destinies
Lia Chang Photos: Backstage at Mu Performing Arts’ Four Destinies by Katie Hae Leo
Tony Award Winner Lea Salonga Leads Stellar Cast in First All-Filipino Concert for Philippine Development Foundation, “PhilDev Celebrates Broadway: Suites by Sondheim” at Alice Tully Hall on 11/7
Art by Nicholas Galanin Featured in Kindred Spirits, Native American Influences on 20th Century Art, at Peter Blum Soho in NY, 10/29/11-1/14/12
Photos: Crossroads’ Ain’t Misbehavin’
Up Close and Personal with Rick Shiomi, Award-winning Playwright and Artistic Director of Mu Performing Arts
Photos: Christine Toy Johnson, Angela Lin, Louis Ozawa Changchien, Jake Manabat, David Shih in Jen Silverman’s Crane Story at The Cherry Lane
Broadwayworld.com Photo Flash: Library of Congress’ IN REHEARSAL Exhibit
Lia Chang Theater Portfolio at Library of Congress Features Photos of Thom Sesma’s Makeup Transformation as Scar in Disney’s The Lion King Las Vegas, Robert Lee and Leon Ko’s Heading East Starring BD Wong, David Henry Hwang’s Chinglish, and Samrat Chakrabarti and Sanjiv Jhaveri’s Bakwas Bumbug! on View Through August 2
Photos of AEA’s Asian Heritage Celebration, featuring the Leviathan Lab Asian American Women Writers Workshop
Photos: David Duchovny, John Earl Jelks, Amanda Peet, Tracee Chimo opening night of Neil LaBute’s The Break of Noon
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

Lia Chang Photo by Brianne Michelle Photography

Lia Chang is an actor, performance and fine art botanical photographer, and an award-winning multimedia journalist.
As a photographer and videographer, Lia collaborates with artists, organizations and companies in establishing their documentary photo archive and social media presence. She has been documenting her colleagues and contemporaries in the arts, fashion and journalism since making her stage debut as Liat in the National Tour of South Pacific, with Robert Goulet and Barbara Eden. Lia currently plays Nurse Lia on “One Life to Live”. She has appeared in Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman and “New York Undercover”.
Selections of Lia’s archive of Asian Pacific Americans in the arts, fashion, journalism, politics and space are now in the newly created LIA CHANG THEATER PHOTOGRAPHY PORTFOLIO in the ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN PERFORMING ARTS COLLECTION housed in the Library of Congress Asian Division’s Asian American Pacific Islander Collection.
Lia’s portraits and performance photos have appeared in Vanity Fair, Gourmet, German Elle, Women’s Wear Daily, The Paris Review, TV Guide, Daily Variety, Interior Design, American Theatre, Broadwayworld.com, Life & Style, OUT, New York Magazine, InStyle, Timeout.com, Villagevoice.com, Playbill.com, Theatermania.com, thelmagazine.com, The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, USA Today, The Boston Globe, New York Times and Washington Post. A former syndicated arts and entertainment columnist for KYODO News, Lia is the New York Bureau Chief for AsianConnections.com. She writes about culture, style and Asian American issues for a variety of publications and this Backstage Pass with Lia Chang blog.

All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2011 Lia Chang Multimedia. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at liachangpr@gmail.com.

Abingdon Theatre Company Presents the New York premiere of Reggie Cheong-Leen’s play, The Nanjing Race, 10/29-11/21

James Chen, Ian Wen and Marcus Ho in The Nanjing Race. Photo by Kim T. Sharp

Abingdon Theatre Company presents the New York Premiere of Reggie Cheong-Leen’s The Nanjing Race, winner of a prestigious American Theatre Critics’ Association Best Regional Play Award, with performances from October 29-November 21, at the Abingdon Theatre Complex’s Dorothy Strelsin Theatre, 312 West 36th St. in New York. Opening night is November 7. Brian Tom O’Connor directs.

In The Nanjing Race, Philip, a gay Japanese-American businessman, visits Nanjing, China in 1988. Yu Ahn, a hotel “floor-boy” befriends Philip in the hope of being sponsored to go to America. But it is Bao, another floor-boy, who intrigues Philip. Trapped in their social and racial identities, the three men struggle to come to terms with their desires and prejudices. The Nanjing Race depicts an intimate culture-clash at an intriguing moment in recent Chinese history.

The cast of The Nanjing Race includes James Chen (Pan Asian Rep’s Ching Chong Chinaman) as Bao; Marcus Ho (The Shanghai Gesture, Pan Asian Rep’s Shogun Macbeth, NAATCO’s The Seagull) as Philip; and Ian Wen (Target Margin’s Dinner Party, the feature film “Tie a Yellow Ribbon”) as Yu Ahn.

The Nanjing Race features set and lighting design by Andrew Lu; costume design by Pam Prior; sound design by David Margolin Lawson; and fight choreography by Rick Sordelet.

Reggie Cheong-Leen’s The Nanjing Race is a recipient of the American Theatre Critics Association’s Best Regional Play Award whose past honorees include Moises Kaufmann’s 33 Variations, Lynn Nottage’s Intimate Apparel, and Nilo Cruz’s Anna in The Tropics. The Nanjing Race was first produced at the McCarter Theatre in Princeton, New Jersey. It has had staged readings at the Cleveland Public Theater and the Mark Taper Forum; and was presented in San Francisco at the New Conservatory Theatre.

Mr. Cheong-Leen’s other works include Cut Sleeves, Squeeze and Rock, Papper, Scissors. He is currently working on Obsessions, a new musical about a Chinese-American girl searching for her American father.

Director Brian Tom O’Connor helmed the first staged reading of The Nanjing Race at Cleveland Public Theatre. New York credits: Jim Beggarly’s Skeleton at The Feast; Robert Cessna’s David and Arthur, Arthur and David and Final Vows; John Patrick Shanley’s Women of Manhattan and Welcome to The Moon. He was artistic director of The New Moon Theatre Company in Vermont; and has collaborated with Debra Vogel on three revues, including Guy & Doll and How to Be Perfect.

Since 1993, Abingdon Theatre Company has developed and produced new plays by American playwrights exclusively. Our actors, directors, designers, producers and dramaturgs have collaborated with more than 200 playwrights to develop original plays. Under the guidance of Artistic Director Jan Buttram and Managing Director Sam Bellinger, the company provides a safe home in which playwrights collaborate with other theatre artists and receive audience feedback through the utilization of a four-step development process: Page 2 Stage, Staged Readings, and Workout Labs, which culminate in Studio and Mainstage Productions.

Reggie Cheong-Leen’s The Nanjing Race runs October 29 through November 21 at Abingdon Theatre Arts Complex’s Dorothy Strelsin Theatre (312 West 36th Street): Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:00pm; Fridays at 8:00pm; Saturdays at 2:00pm and 8:00pm; and Sundays at 2:00pm (with the following exception: special opening night performance, Sunday, November 7 at 5:00pm; no 2:00pm that day). Tickets are $25; http://www.abingdontheatre.org or 212-868-2055.
For more information, visit www.abingdontheatre.org

All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2011 Lia Chang Multimedia. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at liachang@hotmail.com.

Lia Chang

Lia Chang is an actor, performance and fine art botanical photographer, and an award-winning multimedia journalist.

As a photographer and videographer, Lia collaborates with artists, organizations and companies in establishing their documentary photo archive and social media presence. She has been documenting her colleagues and contemporaries in the arts, fashion and journalism since making her stage debut as Liat in the National Tour of South Pacific, with Robert Goulet and Barbara Eden.

Selections of Lia’s archive of Asian Pacific Americans in the arts, fashion, journalism, politics and space are now in the newly created LIA CHANG THEATER PHOTOGRAPHY PORTFOLIO in the ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN PERFORMING ARTS COLLECTION housed in the Library of Congress Asian Division’s Asian American Pacific Islander Collection.

Lia’s portraits and performance photos have appeared in Vanity Fair, Gourmet, German Elle, Women’s Wear Daily, The Paris Review, TV Guide, Daily Variety, Interior Design, American Theatre, Broadwayworld.com, Life & Style, OUT, New York Magazine, InStyle, Timeout.com, Villagevoice.com, Playbill.com, Theatermania.com, thelmagazine.com, The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, USA Today, The Boston Globe, New York Times and Washington Post. A former syndicated arts and entertainment columnist for KYODO News, Lia is the New York Bureau Chief for AsianConnections.com. She writes about culture, style and Asian American issues for a variety of publications and this Backstage Pass with Lia Chang blog.

Other Articles by Lia Chang:
Juicy Buns at Ollie’s
The Dish on Susur Lee and Shang
A night out with Gordana Rashovich, Flora Goforth in The Milk Train Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore
André De Shields Set for World Premiere of Charles Smith’s The Gospel According to James at Indiana Rep, 3/22-4/10
Photos: A.B. Cruz III and Lillian Kimura Receive 2011 AALDEF Justice in Action Awards
Photos of Lion Dancers in Los Angeles Chinatown
Photos: Chinese New Year Festival at The Huntington in San Marino
Andy Warhol, Romare Bearden, Alexander Calder, Lia Chang in Art & Healing Exhibit at Snug Harbor on SI
My Empire State Building at Dusk on view in HHC’s “Art and Healing-Healthy for the Holidays” Art Exhibit
STORIES FROM CHINESE AMERICA: The Arthur Dong Collection, Vol. 2 as 4 disc DVD Box Set
<Lunch at The Modern, A Stroll Through The Conservatory Garden in Central Park
Cherry Blossoms, Magnolias, Tulips and Narcissus at Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Spring in New York is a Veritable Color Riot
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive.

Lia Chang Multimedia: BD Wong, Anastasia Barzee, Clarke Thorell, Cindy Cheung and Orville Mendoza at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater’s Musical Mix ‘n Mingle

(L-R) Clarke Thorell, BD Wong, Wayne Barker, Robert Lee, Anastasia Barzee, Orville Mendoza, Cindy Cheung and Dave Phillips © Lia Chang

On Monday, October 19th, St. John’s in the Village was a lovely setting for the Rattlestick Playwrights Theater’s benefit mini-concert with BD Wong, Anastasia Barzee, Clarke Thorell, Cindy Cheung and Orville Mendoza performing songs by the Asian-American musical writing team of lyricist Robert Lee and composer Leon Ko (Journey To The West and Heading East).

(L-R) BD Wong, Cindy Cheung, Anastasia Barzee, Clarke Thorell, Orville Mendoza and lyricist Robert Lee on October 19, at St. John's in the Village in New York. (c) Lia Chang

The Musical Mix ‘n Mingle evening of music was part of Rattlestick’s ongoing series of intimate musical soirees with some of the company’s favorite theater artists, composers, singers and songwriters. Lyricist Robert Lee provided narration and guided us through selections from the Lee and Ko repertoire, including songs from Chinese Hell, Please Don’t Eat the Daisies and Heading East, with Dave Phillips on bass and musical director Wayne Barker on piano.

Lyricist Robert Lee and BD Wong (c) Lia Chang

THE SONGS
1. Golden Jade from Chinese Hell (BD)
2. So Suspicious from Chinese Hell (Cindy, Orville)
3. Marvelous Man from Please Don’t Eat the Daisies (Anastasia)
4. That’s My Girl from Please Don’t Eat the Daisies (Clarke)
5. I Follow You from Please Don’t Eat the Daisies (Anastasia, BD)
6. Comin’ Home from Heading East (Robert)
7. Family Tree from Chinese Hell (Cindy)
8. There’s a Ship… from Heading East (Orville, BD)
9. Who’s that Chinaman from Heading East (Company, BD)
10. Yankee Boy from Heading East (BD)
11. No Regrets from Please Don’t Eat the Daisies (Anastasia, Clarke)
12. Choosing Sides from Please Don’t Eat the Daisies (Orville)
13. Much Like You from Heading East (BD, Cindy)
14. Just So from Chinese Hell (Cindy, Orville)
15. Where To? from Please Don’t Eat the Daisies (Clarke, Anastasia, Company)

After the show, I caught up with Marcus Ho, Lavrenti Lopes and Peter Kim, who recently appeared in NAATCO’s The Seagull at Theater for the New City, and had come out to support their fellow castmates Cindy Cheung and Orville Mendoza, on this fun-filled musical night.

Cindy Cheung, Peter Kim, BD Wong, Marcus Ho, Lavrenti Lopes and Orville Mendoza (c) Lia Chang

For more information on the music of Lee and Ko, check out www.chinesehell.com
www.rattlestick.org

All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2011 Lia Chang Multimedia. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at liachang@hotmail.com.

Lia Chang Photo by Brianne Michelle Photography

Lia Chang is an actor, performance and fine art botanical photographer, and an award-winning multimedia journalist.

As a photographer and videographer, Lia collaborates with artists, organizations and companies in establishing their documentary photo archive and social media presence. She has been documenting her colleagues and contemporaries in the arts, fashion and journalism since making her stage debut as Liat in the National Tour of South Pacific, with Robert Goulet and Barbara Eden.

Selections of Lia’s archive of Asian Pacific Americans in the arts, fashion, journalism, politics and space are now in the newly created LIA CHANG THEATER PHOTOGRAPHY PORTFOLIO in the ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN PERFORMING ARTS COLLECTION housed in the Library of Congress Asian Division’s Asian American Pacific Islander Collection.

Lia’s portraits and performance photos have appeared in Vanity Fair, Gourmet, German Elle, Women’s Wear Daily, The Paris Review, TV Guide, Daily Variety, Interior Design, American Theatre, Broadwayworld.com, Life & Style, OUT, New York Magazine, InStyle, Timeout.com, Villagevoice.com, Playbill.com, Theatermania.com, thelmagazine.com, The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, USA Today, The Boston Globe, New York Times and Washington Post. A former syndicated arts and entertainment columnist for KYODO News, Lia is the New York Bureau Chief for AsianConnections.com. She writes about culture, style and Asian American issues for a variety of publications and this Backstage Pass with Lia Chang blog.

Other Articles by Lia Chang
Ruby Dee, Alicia Keys, Sidney Poitier among honorees at Woodie King, Jr.’s New Federal Theatre’s 40th Anniversary Gala at Edison Ballroom on May 22
André De Shields stars in Chicago Premiere of Charles Smith’s The Gospel According to James at Victory Gardens 5/14-6/12
32nd Annual Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Festival at Union Square Park in NYC on May 8, 2011
Vikas Khanna’s Holy Kitchens Karma to Nirvana premieres at New York Indian Film Festival on 5/7 at Tribeca Cinemas
11th Annual New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF), May 4-8, 2011
Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s 30th Annual Sakura Matsuri Cherry Blossom Festival: April 30 and May 1, 2011
Duke Ellington Week 2011 Events in NY, April 25-30
Foremost American Taiko Artist, Kenny Endo, to perform in Tokyo on April 24 and April 30
Up Close and Personal with Darren Pettie, Star of The Milk Train Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore
House of Payne’s Denise Burse on the 2011 NAACP Image Awards & Season 7; “Shout Out” Episode airs April 20
Video: Denise Burse as Claretha Jenkins on House of Payne
Marva Hicks and the Columbus Jazz Orchestra light up the Southern Theatre with a “A Night at the Apollo”
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive.