Scene taken from TWO MILE HOLLOW, by Leah Nanako Winklr. ©2018 RICHRYAN
Continuing her work writing dynamic and bold plays, local playwright May Lee-Yang is commissioned to write a family show, Dandelion Girl. Season highlights also include a historic co-production with Penumbra Theatre, Leah Nanako Winkler’s wildly charming Hot Asian Doctor Husband, and a Theater Mu rebrand with a commitment to move Asian American theater forward
(Minneapolis/Saint Paul) – Theater Mu announces its 27th season, Being Extraordinary, which includes DANDELION GIRL, a family show and world premiere by May Lee-Yang; the first ever co-production between Theater Mu and Penumbra Theatre with Prince Gomolvilas’ THE BROTHERS PARANORMAL; and the world premiere of HOT ASIAN DOCTOR HUSBAND, a biting romantic comedy by Leah Nanako Winkler.
Full season subscriptions start at $75 and are now on sale through www.theatermu.org/season or by calling 612.789.1012.
As Mu Performing Arts returns to Theater Mu, the company rebrands itself, bringing forth a new logo and design. “It is so exciting to be able to reveal our new logo and announce our season at the same time!” said Artistic Director Randy Reyes. “Big thank you to our branding friends at Treat and Company, who took us through a thoughtful and in-depth process that allowed us to articulate who we are and who we want to be, and then expressed all of that in this dynamic, forward-moving design.”
The Princess’ Nightingale. ©2018 RICHRYAN
The rebrand pairs beautifully with a season titled Being Extraordinary. “Growing up Asian in America, it isn’t enough to be average or ordinary,” said Reyes. “You simply wouldn’t be able to succeed. You have to be extraordinary. This season, Mu celebrates extraordinary Asian American writers who have given us extraordinary characters in extraordinary circumstances doing extraordinary things.”
Theater Mu’s season begins with a holiday extravaganza, A VERY ASIAN XMAS: THE NOTCRACKER (Saturday, November 24, 2018) at North Garden Theater in St. Paul. The night will feature Jasmine (Reyes’ fun-loving alter ego) and Mu’s favorite musical theater artists as they turn the classic holiday ballet into a frolicking cabaret. Tickets are $40 and include food to enjoy with the show!
Next, in a co-production with SteppingStone Theatre, Mu continues its commitment to family programming by once again presenting the work of local playwright May Lee-Yang. Lee-Yang’s world premiere of THE KOREAN DRAMA ADDICT’S GUIDE TO LOSING YOUR VIRGINITY enjoyed a completely sold out run in August 2018. Her next world premiere, DANDELION GIRL (March 21 – April 7, 2019), tells the story of 8 year-old Payton, a Hmong-American girl who is called a dandelion by a bully. Her dad shares his own experience growing up in the United States as a first generation refugee. Back in his day, Dad taught himself martial arts by watching and practicing Kung Fu. But Payton doesn’t care for Kung Fu and must learn how to face bullies without fists.
The next production in the season marks history as the first ever co-production between Theater Mu and Penumbra Theatre, two powerhouse theaters of color. This co-production, hosted at Penumbra Theatre, will be the regional premiere of Prince Gomolvilas’ THE BROTHERS PARANORMAL (May 2 – May 26, 2019), a haunting story depicting the human toll of displacement. In response to a nationwide increase in sightings of “Asian-looking ghosts,” two entrepreneurial Thai-American brothers launch a ghost-hunting business. When the siblings investigate the home of an African American couple displaced by Hurricane Katrina, what’s real and what’s fantasy clash against a shocking truth.
The third and final production of the season welcomes Leah Nanako Winkler back to the Twin Cities after her critically acclaimed TWO MILE HOLLOW for the world premiere of her newest biting romantic comedy HOT ASIAN DOCTOR HUSBAND (August 16 – September 1, 2019) at Mixed Blood Theatre. Following the sudden death of her Japanese mother – Emi, a twentysomething biracial woman – begins to urgently question her own legacy. Afraid that she is whitewashing her Asian culture for which she is now solely responsible, she dumps her perfect white boyfriend of three years in pursuit of a hot Asian doctor husband. But nobody is what they seem to be in this highly theatrical comedy that asks the question: is love truly blind? Or are our relationships just a carefully curated conglomeration of our own racial bias?
The season also features Theater Mu’s annual New Eyes Festival — its longest running program celebrating new works by Asian American playwrights — as well as its annual Gala. More details to come as the year progresses.
TICKET INFORMATION
Theater Mu 2018-19 season subscriptions are now on sale. Season ticket packages are $75 and include one ticket to each of the three mainstage productions, complimentary tickets for family and friends, a discount to A Very Asian Xmas: The Not-Cracker, discounts to theater partners and Twin Cities Theaters of Color Coalition shows, and invitations to Mu events.
Single tickets are also now on sale. For DANDELION GIRL and HOT ASIAN DOCTOR HUSBAND, Theater Mu will continue its Pay As You Are pricing. Mu strives to voice the stories of the Asian American community, and in order to bring performances to those communities whose stories they tell, Mu is committed to make them as accessible as possible. Pay As You Are pricing asks those who routinely pay $35 for theater tickets to choose to pay that; it is the actual fair market value of the ticket. If an audience member needs to pay less, they can choose to pay less – as little as $5 per ticket.
For more information or to purchase tickets or season subscriptions visit www.theatermu.org or call 612.789.1012.
THEATER MU is the largest Asian American performing arts organization in the Midwest. Founded in 1992, Mu tells untold stories from the heart of the Asian American experience,presenting a fusion of traditional and contemporary artistic influences, which range from classics to up-and-coming voices in our community. Mu’s continuing goal to give voice to the Asian American experience through theater is achieved through mainstage productions, emerging artist support, and educational outreach programs. Theater Mu is a proud member of the Twin Cities Theatres of Color Coalition — along with New Native Theatre, Pangea World Theater, Penumbra Theatre, Teatro Del Pueblo — and the Consortium of Asian American Theaters & Artists.
THEATER MU 2018-2019 SEASON
A Very Asian Xmas: The Not-Cracker
by various Mu artists, featuring Jasmine
Saturday, November 24, 2018
Dandelion Girl
by May Lee-Yang
directed by Randy Reyes
March 21 – April 7, 2019
The Brothers Paranormal
by Prince Gomolvilas
directed by Randy Reyes
May 2 – May 26, 2019
Hot Asian Doctor Husband
by Leah Nanako Winkler
directed by Randy Reyes
August 16 – September 1, 2019
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