Lia Chang: Goodman Theatre World Premiere of David Henry Hwang’s Broadway Bound “Chinglish” Scores 5 Jeff Award Nods

David Henry Hwang Photo by Lia Chang

The Goodman Theatre world premiere of David Henry Hwang’s Broadway bound new play “Chinglish” – which showcases an American businessman as he negotiates Chinese language and culture and is lost in translation – scored 5 Jeff Awards nominations for Tony-award winning and two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist playwright David Henry Hwang (New Work-Play), OBIE Award winning director Leigh Silverman (Director-Play), actress Jennifer Lim (Actress in a Principal Role), scenic designer David Korins (Scenic Design-Large) and the Goodman Theatre (Production-Play-Large).

“Chinglish” will begin previews on Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at the Longacre Theatre, 220 West 48th Street in New York.

(L-R) James Waterston (Daniel) and Jennifer Lim (Xu Yan) rehearsing a scene of David Henry Hwang’s Chinglish in the Healy Room of the Goodman Theatre in Chicago on June 5, 2011. © 2011 Lia Chang

In addition to the 5 nods for “Chinglish,” the Goodman Theatre topped the list of all theatres with 17 nominations, 1 for “The Trinity River Plays,” 3 for the Robert Falls’ helmed production of Anton Chekhov’s “The Seagull,” 8 honors, the most for any production, for the new Mary Zimmerman and Doug Peck adaptation of Bernstein’s epic journey “Candide,” co-produced with Shakespeare Theatre Company.

Chinglish director Leigh Silverman © Lia Chang

The 43rd Annual Jeff Awards ceremony honoring excellence in professional theatre produced within the immediate Chicago area will be held on Monday, November 7, at Drury Lane Oakbrook, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace. Pre-show Appetizers and Cash Bar will run from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and the Awards Ceremony, directed by Michael Weber, will begin at 7:30 p.m., with a Buffet and Reception immediately following. Musical numbers featuring cast members from nominated musicals and video segments from nominated plays will highlight the Jeff Awards ceremony. Advance purchase tickets, which include the ceremony and buffets, are $75 ($55 for members of Actors’ Equity Association, United Scenic Artists, Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, Stage Managers’ Association, and The Dramatists Guild of America). The evening is black tie optional and the public is cordially invited to attend. To purchase tickets, visit the Jeff Awards website at http://www.jeffawards.org. For more information, contact Equity Chair Diane Hires at equitywing@jeffawards.org.

Xu Yan (Jennifer Lim) meets with Daniel (James Waterston) to further discuss his business proposal. credit: Eric Y. Exit

The Jeff Awards has been honoring outstanding theatre artists annually since it was established in 1968. With up to 50 members representing a wide variety of backgrounds in theatre, the Jeff Awards is committed to celebrating the vitality of Chicago area theatre by recognizing excellence through its recommendations, awards, and honors. The Jeff Awards fosters the artistic growth of area theatres and theatre artists and promotes educational opportunities, audience appreciation, and civic pride in the achievements of the theatre community. Each year the Jeff Awards evaluates over 250 theatrical productions and holds two awards ceremonies. Originally chartered to recognize only Equity productions, the Jeff Awards established the Non-Equity Wing in 1973 to celebrate outstanding achievement in non-union theatre.

BELOW IS A LIST OF ALL OF THE 2011 EQUITY JEFF AWARD NOMINEES
PRODUCTION – PLAY – LARGE
“Chinglish” – Goodman Theatre
“Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
“Heartbreak House” – Writers’ Theatre
“The Madness of George III” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
“The Outgoing Tide” – Northlight Theatre
“The Seagull” – Goodman Theatre
“Travels with My Aunt” – Writers’ Theatre

PRODUCTION – PLAY – MIDSIZE
“The Big Meal” – American Theater Company
“Frost/Nixon” – TimeLine Theatre Company
“Edward Albee’s The Goat or, Who is Sylvia?” – Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
“The Importance of Being Earnest” – Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
“Scorched” – Silk Road Theatre Project
“To Master the Art” – TimeLine Theatre Company

PRODUCTION – MUSICAL – LARGE
“42nd Street” – Marriott Theatre
“Candide” – Goodman Theatre and Shakespeare Theatre Company
“A Chorus Line” – Marriott Theatre
“The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess” – Court Theatre
“Monty Python’s Spamalot” – Drury Lane Productions

PRODUCTION – MUSICAL – MIDSIZE
“The King and I” – Porchlight Music Theatre
“Merrily We Roll Along” – The Music Theatre Company
“The Original Grease” – American Theater Company

PRODUCTION – REVUE
“Shout!” – Marriott Theatre
“Sky’s the Limit (Weather Permitting)” – The Second City e.t.c.

DIRECTOR – PLAY
James Bohnen – “Edward Albee’s The Goat or, Who is Sylvia?” – Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
Dexter Bullard – “The Big Meal” – American Theater Company
Stuart Carden – “Travels with My Aunt” – Writers’ Theatre
Louis Contey – “Frost/Nixon” – TimeLine Theatre Company
Robert Falls – “The Seagull” – Goodman Theatre
BJ Jones – “The Outgoing Tide” – Northlight Theatre
Pam MacKinnon – “Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Penny Metropulos – “The Madness of George III” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Leigh Silverman – “Chinglish” – Goodman Theatre

DIRECTOR – MUSICAL
David H. Bell – “Hot Mikado” – Drury Lane Productions
Gary Griffin – “Meredith Willson’s The Music Man” – Marriott Theatre
Michael Halberstam – “She Loves Me” – Writers’ Theatre
Mark Lococo – “A Chorus Line” – Marriott Theatre
Charles Newell – “The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess” – Court Theatre
William Osetek – “Monty Python’s Spamalot” – Drury Lane Productions
Rachel Rockwell – “42nd Street” – Marriott Theatre
Mary Zimmerman – “Candide” – Goodman Theatre and Shakespeare Theatre Company

ENSEMBLE
“The Big Meal” – American Theater Company
“A Chorus Line” – Marriott Theatre
“Float” – About Face Theatre
“The Front Page” – TimeLine Theatre Company
“The Seagull” – Goodman Theatre
“Sky’s the Limit (Weather Permitting)” – The Second City e.t.c.
“Travels with My Aunt” – Writers’ Theatre

ACTOR IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – PLAY
Brad Armacost (C.S. Lewis) – “Shadowlands” – Provision Theater
Brad Armacost (Jack) – “The Weir” – Seanachaí Theatre Company
Harry Groener (George III) – “The Madness of George III” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Terry Hamilton (Richard Nixon) – “Frost/Nixon” – TimeLine Theatre Company
Tracy Letts (George) – “Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
John Mahoney (Gunner) – “The Outgoing Tide” – Northlight Theatre
Nick Sandys (Martin) – “Edward Albee’s The Goat or, Who is Sylvia?” – Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
Nick Sandys (Charles Condomine) – “Blithe Spirit” – First Folio Theatre

ACTOR IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – MUSICAL
Joe Kinosian (The Suspects) – “Murder for Two – A Killer Musical” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Michael Mahler (Freddy Benson) – “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” – Theatre at the Center
Geoff Packard (Candide) – “Candide” – Goodman Theatre and Shakespeare Theatre Company
Stephen Schellhardt (Ko Ko) – “Hot Mikado” – Drury Lane Productions
Alan Schmuckler (Officer Marcus Moscowicz) – “Murder for Two – A Killer Musical” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater

ACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – PLAY
Karen Aldridge (Iris) – “The Trinity River Plays” – Goodman Theatre
Annabel Armour (Stevie) – “Edward Albee’s The Goat or, Who is Sylvia?” – Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
Jennifer Lim (Xu Yan) – “Chinglish” – Goodman Theatre
Lois Markle (A) – “Edward Albee’s Three Tall Women” – Court Theatre
Sandra Marquez (Beatriz) – “26 Miles” – Teatro Vista and Rivendell Theatre Ensemble
Rondi Reed (Peg) – “The Outgoing Tide” – Northlight Theatre
Kathy Scambiatterra (Princess Kosmonopolis) – “Sweet Bird of Youth” – The Artistic Home
Mary Ann Thebus (Mrs. K) – “The Piano Teacher” – Next Theatre Company
Karen Janes Woditsch (Julia Child) – “To Master the Art” – TimeLine Theatre Company

ACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – MUSICAL
Brianna Borger (Anna Leonowens) – “The King and I” – Porchlight Music Theatre
Elizabeth Lanza (Ann) – “Meet John Doe” – Porchlight Music Theatre
Megan McGinnis (Jerusha Abbott) – “Daddy Long Legs” – Northlight Theatre, Cinicinnati Playhouse in the Park, Rubicon Theatre Company, TheatreWorks, David Elzer and Executive Producer Michael Jackowitz
Jessie Mueller (Miss Adelaide) – “Guys and Dolls” – Marriott Theatre
Jessie Mueller (Amalia Balash) – “She Loves Me” – Writers’ Theatre

ACTOR OR ACTRESS IN A REVUE
Tim Baltz – “Sky’s the Limit (Weather Permitting)” – The Second City e.t.c.
Tammy Mader – “Shout!” – Marriott Theatre
Sam Richardson – “South Side of Heaven” – The Second City

SOLO PERFORMANCE
Barbara Robertson (Alice Conroy) – “The Detective’s Wife” – Writers’ Theatre

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – PLAY
Ira Amyx (Noel) – “That Was Then” – Seanachaí Theatre Company
Lance Baker (Charlie Fox) – “Speed-the-Plow” – American Theater Company
Marc Grapey (Jerry) – “Edward Albee’s At Home at the Zoo” – Victory Gardens Theater
Francis Guinan (Gary) – “Rantoul and Die” – American Blues Theater i/a/w Stephen Eich, Don Foster, Stuart Ditsky/Adam Ditsky
Mike Nussbaum (Ben) – “Broadway Bound” – Drury Lane Productions
John Reeger (Captain Shotover) – “Heartbreak House” – Writers’ Theatre

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – MUSICAL
Sean Blake (Sporting Life) – “The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess” – Court Theatre
Matthew Crowle (Patsy, Mayor, Guard 2) – “Monty Python’s Spamalot” – Drury Lane Productions
James Earl Jones II (Uncle Henry, Lion) – “The Wiz” – Theatre at the Center
Ted Louis Levy (The Mikado) – “Hot Mikado” – Drury Lane Productions
Larry Yando (Pangloss and others) – “Candide” – Goodman Theatre and Shakespeare Theatre Company

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – PLAY
Annabel Armour (Ann) – “Edward Albee’s At Home at the Zoo” – Victory Gardens Theater
Tracey N. Bonner (Woman 2) – “Home” – Court Theatre
Mary Beth Fisher (B) – “Edward Albee’s Three Tall Women” – Court Theatre
Diane Kondrat (Bea Ball) – “The Gospel According to James” – Victory Gardens Theater
Elizabeth Ledo (Tam) – “The Homosexuals” – About Face Theatre
Diana Simonzadeh (Old Nawal, Nazira) – “Scorched” – Silk Road Theatre Project

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – MUSICAL
Kate Garassino (Lady Thiang) – “The King and I” – Porchlight Music Theatre
Heidi Kettenring (Ilona Ritter) – “She Loves Me” – Writers’ Theatre
Gina Milo (The Lady of the Lake) -”Monty Python’s Spamalot” – Drury Lane Productions
Hollis Resnik (Old Lady) – “Candide” – Goodman Theatre and Shakespeare Theatre Company
Bethany Thomas (Serena) – “The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess” – Court Theatre

NEW WORK – PLAY
William Brown and Doug Frew – “To Master the Art” – TimeLine Theatre Company
Darren Canady – “Brothers of the Dust” – Congo Square Theatre Company
Philip Dawkins – “The Homosexuals” – About Face Theatre
Bruce Graham – “The Outgoing Tide” – Northlight Theatre
David Henry Hwang – “Chinglish” – Goodman Theatre
Patricia Kane – “Float” – About Face Theatre
Dan LeFranc – “The Big Meal” – American Theater Company
Caitlin Montanye Parrish with Erica Weiss – “A Twist of Water” – Route 66 Theatre Company

NEW WORK – MUSICAL OR REVUE
Tim Baltz, Aidy Bryant, Matt Hovde, Brendan Jennings, Jessica Joy, Michael Lehrer, and Mary Sohn – “Sky’s the Limit (Weather Permitting)” – The Second City e.t.c.
Edgar Blackmon, Billy Bungeroth, Holly Laurent, Timothy Edward Mason, Katie Rich, Sam Richardson, and Tim Robinson – “South Side of Heaven” – The Second City
Joe Kinosian and Kellen Blair – “Murder for Two – A Killer Musical” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Robert Morris, Steven Morris, Joe Shane and Matte O’Brien – “White Noise” – Holly Way, Jay Strommen, Jimmy Mack, Deborah Taylor/Chris Bensinger, Tom Leonardis and Whoopi Goldberg

NEW ADAPTATION – PLAY OR MUSICAL
Amanda Dehnert – “Peter Pan (A Play)” – Lookingglass Theatre Company
Laura Eason – “Ethan Frome” – Lookingglass Theatre Company
Sean Graney -”The Comedy of Errors” – Court Theatre
Jon Jory – “Sense and Sensibility” – Northlight Theatre
Stephen Schwartz and Nina Faso – “Working” – Jed Bernstein, Dianne Fraser and Sheila Simon Geltzer
Mary Zimmerman -”Candide” – Goodman Theatre and Shakespeare Theatre Company

CHOREOGRAPHY
David H. Bell – “Hot Mikado” – Drury Lane Productions
Tammy Mader – “42nd Street” – Marriott Theatre
Tammy Mader – “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” – Drury Lane Productions
Matt Raftery – “Meredith Willson’s The Music Man” – Marriott Theatre
Rachel Rockwell – “A Chorus Line” – Marriott Theatre

ORIGINAL INCIDENTAL MUSIC
Jenny Giering – “As You Like It” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Andrew Hansen – “In Darfur” – TimeLine Theatre Company
Andrew Hansen – “To Master the Art” – TimeLine Theatre Company
Lindsay Jones – “Romeo and Juliet” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater

MUSIC DIRECTION
Roberta Duchak – “Monty Python’s Spamalot” – Drury Lane Productions
David Kreppel – “Meredith Willson’s The Music Man” – Marriott Theatre
Michael Mahler – “Hot Mikado” – Drury Lane Productions
Ryan T. Nelson – “A Chorus Line” – Marriott Theatre
Doug Peck – “42nd Street” – Marriott Theatre
Doug Peck – “Candide” – Goodman Theatre and Shakespeare Theatre Company
Doug Peck – “The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess” – Court Theatre

SCENIC DESIGN – LARGE
David Korins – “Chinglish” – Goodman Theatre
Jaqueline and Richard Penrod – “The Last Act of Lilka Kadison” – Lookingglass Theatre Company
Keith Pitts – “Heartbreak House” – Writers’ Theatre
Collette Pollard – “Broadway Bound” – Drury Lane Productions
Todd Rosenthal – “Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company

SCENIC DESIGN – MIDSIZE
Robert Groth & Jenniffer J. Thusing – “The Weir” – Seanachaí Theatre Company
Tim Morrison – “Edward Albee’s The Goat or, Who is Sylvia?” – Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
John Musial – “Float” – About Face Theatre
Jaqueline and Richard Penrod – “The Importance of Being Earnest” – Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
Collette Pollard – “The Front Page” – TimeLine Theatre Company

LIGHTING DESIGN – LARGE
Christopher Akerlind – “As You Like It” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
John Culbert – “Romeo and Juliet” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Jesse Klug – “Monty Python’s Spamalot” – Drury Lane Productions
Jason Lyons – “White Noise” – Holly Way, Jay Strommen, Jimmy Mack, Deborah Taylor/Chris Bensinger, Tom Leonardis and Whoopi Goldberg
Jaymi Lee Smith – “Virginia Woolf’s Orlando” – Court Theatre

LIGHTING DESIGN – MIDSIZE
Brian Sidney Bembridge – “The Big Meal” – American Theater Company
Jeff Glass – “Sweet Bird of Youth” – The Artistic Home
Sarah Hughey – “Scorched” – Silk Road Theatre Project
Nic Jones and Jesse Klug – “In Darfur” – TimeLine Theatre Company
Keith Parham – “Frost/Nixon” -TimeLine Theatre Company

COSTUME DESIGN – LARGE
Mara Blumenfeld – “Candide” – Goodman Theatre and Shakespeare Theatre Company
Jacqueline Firkins – “The Comedy of Errors” – Court Theatre
Jeremy W. Floyd – “Hot Mikado” – Drury Lane Productions
Susan E. Mickey – “The Madness of George III” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Nancy Missimi – “42nd Street” – Marriott Theatre

COSTUME DESIGN – MIDSIZE
Mina Hyun-Ok Hong – “Sunday in the Park with George” – Porchlight Music Theatre
Rachel Lambert – “Romeo and Juliet” – First Folio Theatre
Bill Morey – “The King and I” – Porchlight Music Theatre
Lindsey Pate – “The Front Page” – TimeLine Theatre Company
Melissa Torchia – “The Importance of Being Earnest” – Remy Bumppo Theatre Company

SOUND DESIGN – LARGE
Mikhail Fiksel – “Travels with My Aunt” – Writers’ Theatre
Andrew Hansen – “Heartbreak House” – Writers’ Theatre
Andrew Hansen – “The Outgoing Tide” – Northlight Theatre
Andre Pluess – “Virginia Woolf’s Orlando” – Court Theatre
James Savage – “Murder for Two – A Killer Musical” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater

SOUND DESIGN – MIDSIZE
Barry Bennett – “Hickorydickory” – Chicago Dramatists
Joseph Fosco – “The New Electric Ballroom” – A Red Orchid Theatre
Andrew Hansen – “In Darfur” – TimeLine Theatre Company
Andrew Hansen – “To Master the Art” – TimeLine Theatre Company
Peter J. Storms – “Scorched” – Silk Road Theatre Project

FIGHT / MOVEMENT DIRECTION
Matt Hawkins – “Peter Pan (A Play)” – Lookingglass Theatre Company
Nick Sandys – “Romeo and Juliet” – First Folio Theatre
Rick Sordelet – “Romeo and Juliet” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater

PROJECTIONS / VIDEO DESIGN
John Boesche – “A Twist of Water” – Route 66 Theatre Company
Raj Kapoor – “White Noise” – Holly Way, Jay Strommen, Jimmy Mack, Deborah Taylor/Chris Bensinger, Tom Leonardis and Whoopi Goldberg
Aaron Rhyne – “Working” – Jed Bernstein, Dianne Fraser and Sheila Simon Geltzer
Mike Tutaj – “The Detective’s Wife” – Writers’ Theatre
Mike Tutaj – “Frost/Nixon” – TimeLine Theatre Company
Mike Tutaj – “In Darfur” – TimeLine Theatre Company

ARTISTIC SPECIALIZATION
Tracy Otwell – Toy Theatre Design – “The Last Act of Lilka Kadison” – Lookingglass Theatre Company
Melissa Veal – Wig and Make-up Design – “The Madness of George III” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater

“In Rehearsal”: Lia Chang Theater Portfolio at Library of Congress Articles
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
broadwayworld.com: Chinglish in Rehearsal
“In Rehearsal”: Lia Chang Theater Portfolio Features Rehearsal Photos of David Henry Hwang’s Broadway Bound Chinglish and Samrat Chakrabarti and Sanjiv Jhaveri’s “Bakwas Bumbug! on View in the Asian Division Reading Room at Library of Congress through 8/2
asiancemagazine.com: New Anthology of Asian American Plays Book Talk
Photos: Playwright David Henry Hwang in rehearsal at the Goodman Theatre for World Premiere of Chinglish
David Henry Hwang’s Chinglish is Broadway Bound this Fall; Goodman Theatre Photo Feature
Photos: Christmas in June w/ Samrat Chakrabarti and Sanjiv Jhaveri’s “Bakwas Bumbug” at The Wild Project in NY

Other Articles on David Henry Hwang
OCA Awards Gala Photos: David Henry Hwang, Tamlyn Tomita, BD Wong, Dr. Bobby Fong & Tammy Duckworth
Judges for 2010-2011 Village Voice Obie Awards include Feingold, Soloski, Als, Hwang, Yionoulis and Propst; Ceremony on 5/16
Yellow Face Reading & Book Signing w/ David Henry Hwang, Kathryn Layng, Francis Jue, w/ guest Edward Albee David Henry Hwang, Francis Jue, Kathryn Layng and Edward Albee: YELLOW FACE Reading Book Signing at The Drama Book Shop on 12/10
Multimedia: George Takei, Nancy Kwan, Lisa Lu and Tsai Chin attend Hollywood Chinese: The Arthur Dong Collection Exhibition Opening Night
The Chinese American Museum partners with Academy award nominated filmmaker Arthur Dong on a groundbreaking exhibition about Hollywood’s forgotten past
David Henry Hwang’s YELLOW FACE Starring Francis Jue, Pub Bandu and Thomas Azar at Theatreworks through 9/20
In Arthur Dong’s Hollywood Chinese, Chinese Tinseltown Tales told by Asian Silver Screen Icons
David Henry Hwang, Kathryn Layng and BD Wong at the Asian American Writers Workshop Literary Awards
Nothing is Sacred in David Henry Hwang’s Comedy of Mistaken Racial Identity
Francis Jue, At Home on the Stage

Lia Chang: Jarlath Conroy Leads Cast of Pinter’s The Homecoming at Centerstage in Baltimore

Jarlath Conroy Photo by Lia Chang

Harold Pinter’s darkly comedic family drama, The Homecoming, helmed by Irene Lewis, CENTERSTAGE’s Artistic Director, kicks off previews on Wednesday, January 26, 2011, in The Pearlstone Theater at CENTERSTAGE, 700 North Calvert St., Baltimore, Maryland. Opening night is Wednesday, February 2, and the show runs through Sunday, February 20. Tickets are $10-$55, and can be purchased by calling the box office at 410.332.0033 or by at www.centerstage.org.
Broadway and film veteran Jarlath Conroy leads the cast in the role of Max, the family patriarch. Steven Epps, who has appeared Off Broadway and across the country from Theatre de la Jeune Lune to the Guthrie portrays the prodigal son, Teddy. Accompanying him as the mysterious and sensual woman at the center of the family drama, Felicity Jones returns to Baltimore, last seen at CENTERSTAGE in the 2008-09 production of ’Tis Pity She’s a Whore. Trent Dawson, a day-time television staple for many years as Henry Coleman in “As the World Turns”, returns to CENTERSTAGE after previously performing in several productions, including Misalliance and Lady Windermere’s Fan. Rounding out the cast are CENTERSTAGE Associate Artist Laurence O’Dwyer as Sam, the live-in uncle, and CENTERSTAGE newcomer Sebastian Naskaris as youngest brother Joey.

Jarlath Conroy and Felicity Jones in CENTERSTAGE's production of The Homecoming by Harold Pinter, Directed by Irene Lewis. Photo by Richard Anderson

The production team for The Homecoming includes Tony Award winning costume designer, Catherine Zuber, scenic designer Riccardo Hernández, sound designer David Budries and lighting designer Matthew McCullough.

The last weekend of November, I had a double feature of Jarlath Conroy, first at an advance screening of the Oscar nominated “True Grit”, directed by The Coen Brothers, in which he plays the grim undertaker opposite Hailee Steinfeld’s Mattie Ross, and then onstage in the Off-Broadway run of Nick Jones’s The Coward, at The Duke, the latest production from Lincoln Center Theater’s LCT3 program. The award winning actor’s nuanced portrayals of four different characters prompted Charles Isherwood of The New York Times to write, “Perhaps best of all is Jarlath Conroy, who looks (and acts) as if he has just sprung from a Hogarth etching, in roles ranging from a doddering old man who inadvertently offends Lucidus, setting the plot in motion, to a loyal servant whose poker face belies a sympathetic heart.”

Jarlath Conroy, Felicity Jones, and Sebastian Naskaris in CENTERSTAGE's production of The Homecoming by Harold Pinter, Directed by Irene Lewis. Photo by Richard Anderson

Conroy previously appeared at CENTERSTAGE in The Triumph of Love. His work on Broadway includes The Seagull with Kristin Scott Thomas, The Weir, The Iceman Cometh, On The Waterfront, Ghetto, Philadelphia, Here I Come!, The Visit, Comedians. Off-Broadway: The Coward, Finn, A Man of No Importance, Our Lady of Sligo, A Life, Gardenia, Translations, The Matchmaker. His regional credits include Catchpenny Twist (directed by Irene Lewis), The Steward of Christendom (Barrymore Award), Juno and the Paycock (Helen Hayes Award, Henry V (Helen Hayes Award nomination), Faith Healer, Twelfth Night, Ah, Wilderness!, Inherit the Wind, A Christmas Carol. Internationally, he has appeared in Royal Court, Cromwell and Hamlet. Film and television audiences may be familiar with Conroy from his work in “Day of the Dead”, “Across the Universe”, “Kinsey”, “Stay”, “Day of the Dead”, “Heaven’s Gate”, “Law & Order”, “NYPD Blue”, “Summer”, “A Marriage”,”O’Keeffe and Stieglitz”. The Indie film “Homework”, currently in competition at the Sundance Film Festival, has been picked up by Fox Searchlight Films and will be released this summer. His directing credits include True West and Human Resources.

After seeing Conroy in The Coward, we popped into Un Deux Trois for a quick bite and to chat about his experience of working with The Coen Brothers on “True Grit”. Check back for my interview with him.

Laurence O'Dwyer, Steven Epp, Felicity Jones, Trent Dawson, and Jarlath Conroy in CENTERSTAGE's production of The Homecoming by Harold Pinter, Directed by Irene Lewis. Photo by Richard Anderson.

Performance Schedule for The Homecoming:
Tuesday at 8pm,
Wednesday at 1pm
Wednesday at 8pm
Thursday at 7pm
Friday at 8pm
Saturday at 2pm
Saturday at 8pm
Sunday at 2pm
Tickets are $10-$55, and can be purchased by calling the box office at 410.332.0033 or at www.centerstage.org. CENTERSTAGE is located at 700 North Calvert St, Baltimore, Maryland.

Other Articles by Lia Chang:
Jarlath Conroy in The SEAGULL
Photos: Chinese New Year Festival at The Huntington in San Marino
A.B. Cruz III of Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc., Lillian Kimura To Receive 2011 Justice in Action Awards
Photos:The Working Theater’s Off-Broadway production of HONEY BROWN EYES by Stefanie Zadravec at The Clurman
Andy Warhol, Romare Bearden, Alexander Calder, Lia Chang in Art & Healing Exhibit at Snug Harbor on SI
Photos: David Duchovny, John Earl Jelks, Amanda Peet,Tracee Chimo opening night of Neil LaBute’s The Break of Noon
André De Shields leads cast of Charles Smith’s Knock Me A Kiss at Abrons Arts Center
STORIES FROM CHINESE AMERICA: The Arthur Dong Collection, Vol. 2 as 4 disc DVD Box Set
Photos & Video Disney’s The Lion King Las Vegas-In the Makeup Chair with Thom Sesma
Photo Call: BD Wong and the Cast of Heading East at the Asia Society
Multimedia: Promises, Promises’ Stars Kristin Chenoweth and Sean Hayes at Lord & Taylor Fifth Ave
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive.

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 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 will become part of 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, VIBE, 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. Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive.

Lia Chang: NAATCO’s All-Asian American cast for The Seagull features Marcus Ho, Mia Katigbak and Orville Mendoza

Orville Mendoza © Lia Chang

The National Asian American Theatre Company’s (NAATCO) new adaptation of Chekhov’s THE SEAGULL, has a limited engagement at Theater for the New City, 155 First Ave in New York through October 17. The all-Asian-American cast features Rajesh Bose, Cindy Cheung, Jojo Gonzalez, Marcus Ho, Peter Kim, Lavrenti Lopes, Mia Katigbak, Orville Mendoza, Andrew Pang, Sophia Skiles, and Tiffany Villarin. Helmed by Gia Forakis, the play kicks off NAATCO’s 20th season and is part of the 2nd National Asian American Theatre Festival lineup in New York.

Taking a cue from Chekhov’s subtitle: “A Comedy in 4 Acts,” director Forakis excavates the vaudevillian sense of humor in the play and couples it with the bitter despair of Chekhov’s characters to provoke what she calls “comedy’s wicked step-cousin, the grotesque,” where tragedy and comedy live alongside one another.

(left to right): Tiffany Villarin and Marcus Ho in the National Asian American Theatre Company production of THE SEAGULL. Photo Credit: William P. Steele

With set design by Lee Savage, lighting design by Stephen Petrilli, costume design by Alixandra Gage Englund, video production by S. Katy Tucker and sound design and original music by Robert Murphy.

(left to right): Orville Mendoza and Peter Kim in the National Asian American Theatre Company production of THE SEAGULL. Photo Credit: William P. Steele

Performances of THE SEAGULL run Mondays through Saturdays at 7:00pm, with a Wednesday matinee performance at 1:00pm on October 14. Tickets are $15-20, and available online at TheaterMania.com or by calling TheaterMania at 212-352-3101. For additional details, visit www.naatco.org

(left to right): (counterclockwise from top left) Rajesh Bose, Tiffany Villarin, Cindy Cheung, Orville Mendoza and Andrew Pang in the National Asian American Theatre Company production of THE SEAGULL. Photo Credit: William P. Steele

Lia Chang is an actor, performance and fine art botanical photographer, and a multimedia journalist. 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. She is currently working on several botanical portrait commissions for the New York City Health and Hospital Corporation Art Collection and on a book of portraits of her favorite Asian American men in the arts and space. The former syndicated KYODO News columnist is the New York Bureau Chief for AsianConnections.com.
Related Articles:
National Asian American Theatre Festival runs October 13-18 in New YorkNAATCO’s LOVE! VALOUR! COMPASSION with special guest Terrence McNally
NAATCO’s pitch perfect Falsettoland hits all the right notes
David Henry Hwang’s Yellow Face starring Francis Jue, Pun Bandu and Thomas Azar at TheatreWorks through 9/20Nothing is Sacred in David Henry Hwang’s Comedy of Mistaken Racial Identity
Francis Jue, At Home on the Stage
Flower Drum Song: An American Story
Hollywood Chinese “The Arthur Dong Collection” on view at the Chinese American Museum in Los Angeles in October
Samrat Chakrabarti is featured in Claire McCarthy’s The Waiting City, which screens at the Toronto International Film Festival
ONE Musical stars Paolo Montalban, Manu Narayan, Pearl Sun and Michael Winther
The Bacchae Opening Night photos: Andre De Shields, Jonathan Groff and Anthony Mackie
Herringbone is BD Wong’s Tour de Force
2009 National Black Theatre Festival NBTF Lineup
AAIFF 09 Closing Night Awards and H.P. Mendoza’s Fruit Fly
AAIFF Karma Calling, You Don’t Know Jack and Children of Invention
Jeff Adachi’s You Don’t Know Jack and Tzi Chun’s Children of Invention Screen at AAIFF 09
Multimedia: AAIFF 09 Opening Night Screening of Claustrophobia
Schedule at a Glance: Asian American International Film Festival AAIFF 2009
Transcending: The Wat Misaka Story Screens at Rhode Island International Film Festival on 8/8
Japan Cuts Festival of New Japanese Film
BD Wong Stars in La Jolla Production of Herringbone 8/1-8/30
Asian American International Film Festival 09 runs 7/23-7/26
Andre De Shields, Ted Lange, Woodie King Jr., Kim Brockington and Dr. Maya Angelou at the National Black Theatre Festival
Photo Call: Derek Walcott’s Marie Laveau
Photo Call: Archbishop Supreme Tartuffe Opening Night Party Photos
Photo Call: Archbishop Supreme Tartuffe
Playbill.com: Photo Call: De Shields and Lange Star in Off Broadway’s Archbishop Supreme Tartuffe
André De Shields Stars in Archbishop Supreme Tartuffe
In Arthur Dong’s Hollywood Chinese, Chinese Tinseltown Tales told by Asian Silver Screen Icons
Multimedia: Asian Pacific American Month Celebration at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Hanami Daiko at Drom
Wat Misaka, First Person of Color Drafted in NBA
BD Wong Performs in Symphony Space’s Wall to Wall Broadway
Thom Sesma Stars as Scar in Disney’s The Lion King at Mandalay Bay
Review: HBO’s China’s Unnatural Disaster the Tears of Sichuan Province
BD Wong Performs in Symphony Space’s Wall to Wall Broadway
Different Keys: Japanese Women Pianists and Photos by George Hirose at Drom
Tarell Alvin McCraney’s Brother/Sister Plays has World Premiere at McCarter Theatre
Eisa Davis’ Angela’s Mixtape New Georges and Hip Hop Theatre Festival at the Ohio
Eisa Davis Tells Story of Activist Angela Davis in Angela’s Mixtape
Dionne Warwick and Woodie King Jr. honored by AMAS Musical Theatre in New York
Zooman and The Sign Opening Night Party
Charles Fuller’s Zooman and The Sign at Signature Theatre through 4/26
Celebrating Woodie King
Matsuri Sawagi at Drom
On Ensemble, Kenny Endo and Kaoru Watanabe in Taiko x2 at Cerritos Center
Alex Nguyen and the Jazz Conceptions Orchestra
Exordium Quartet at Drom
Envisioning Diaspora: Asian American Visual Arts Collectives book talk and art conversation with author Alexandra Chang
Charles Busch’s THIRD STORY benefit for the Actor’s Fund of America
AAJA member Lia Chang’s RED photographic exhibit part of Chinese New Year celebration
RED opening reception at Gouverneur Healthcare Services
Amuse-Bouche with BD Wong
David Henry Hwang, Kathryn Layng and BD Wong at the Asian American Writers Workshop Literary Awards
Thom Sesma, Peter Kim, Andrew Cristi Star in Durango
BD Wong is a Tour de Force in Herringbone
Amuse Bouche with Manu Narayan
The Romance of Magno Rubio

Spotlight on Shanghai Moon’s Thom Sesma