AN AMERICAN SOLDIER--music by Huang Ruo and libretto by David Henry Hwang, directed by Matthew Ozawa--opens at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis (OTSL) on June 3, with performances through June 22, part of OTSL's New Works, Old Voices series. The opera asks the powerful question: What does it mean to be an American? It is based on the true story of a young Chinese American from New York, who enlisted in the Army during the war in Afghanistan and was deployed to Kandahar, where he became the victim of military hazing that leads to his suicide.
A Soldier Died After Racist Hazing. Now His Story Is an Opera. /
When she visits St. Louis this weekend to see the life and death of her only child transformed into an opera, Su Zhen Chen will be seated near an aisle, and an exit.
“If I can endure, I will watch the whole opera,” Mrs. Chen said in a phone interview this week before leaving her home in New York. “If I don’t feel like I can bear it, I’ll leave midway.”
It will be understandably difficult to watch. The opera, “An American Soldier,” by the composer Huang Ruo and the playwright David Henry Hwang, which is having its premiere in a newly expanded version at the Opera Theater of St. Louis on Sunday, tells the story of her son, Danny Chen, a native New Yorker who enlisted in the Army and was deployed to Afghanistan.
Summer's Top 40 /
Soft Power: Through June 10 at the Ahmanson Theatre
Tony Award-winning playwright David Henry Hwang is back with a world premiere, a self-described “play with a musical” that taps into modern international and domestic politics. Soft Power follows a Chinese executive in the U.S. during the 2016 election, trying to develop a show with a writer named… David Henry Hwang.
'An American Soldier' at OTSL explores what it is to be an American /
“An American Soldier,” which opens June 3 at Opera Theatre of St. Louis , is based on the true story of Pvt. Danny Chen. The American-born son of Chinese immigrants, he joined the U.S. Army in 2011 rather than accept a college scholarship: He wanted to prove that he was a real American, a real part of the community.
Instead, stationed in Kandahar, Afghanistan, he was brutally hazed in a blatantly racist manner. Later that year, after beatings and harassment, Danny shot himself . On his arm, he’d written, “Tell my parents I’m sorry.”
Read more at Saint Louis Post-Dispatch
‘POWER’ PLAY: David Henry Hwang offers a witty musical-drama for the Trump era. /
“So that happened … ” said David Henry Hwang, speaking of an incident that put the award-winning playwright in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
On Nov. 29, 2016, Hwang was walking down the street near his home in Brooklyn, when he felt a pain in the back of his neck, as if he had been struck.
Feeling unsteady, he placed his hand on his neck and only then realized he had been stabbed — an unknown assailant had severed his vertebral artery. From his days in Boy Scouts as a Chinese American kid growing up in San Gabriel, he knew to put pressure on the wound, and, after leaving a note at home for his wife and daughter, walked himself to the hospital. He lost nearly a third of his blood and drifted in and out of consciousness.
A TV Pilot, A Stabbing And A Musical Dream: China's Soft Power Inspires Bold New American Theater /
As the world’s preeminent Asian American playwright, David Henry Hwang (M. Butterfly) is no stranger to invitations to work in China. But working with China on creative endeavors can be a unique challenge, even for a Tony winner with strong ties to the Middle Kingdom.
2018 Obie Awards /
Emmy and Obie-winning actor John Leguizamo hosted this year’s ceremony, celebrating Off-Broadway and Off-Off-Broadway theatre. Unlike most theatre awards, the Obies do not announce formal nominees or categories, instead recognizing all works and artists deemed worthy of distinction by a panel chaired by Village Voice critic Michael Feingold.
Presenters included Tony winners Matthew Broderick, David Henry Hwang, Natasha Katz, William Ivey Long, Rebecca Taichman, and David Zinn.
The Stars Align Backstage at the 2018 Obie Awards! /
The American Theatre Wing (Heather Hitchens, President and CEO) and The Village Voice (Peter Barbey, President and CEO) announced the winners of the 63rd Annual Obie Awards® last night, May 21 at Terminal 5. Presenters included: Tony Award and three-time Obie Award winner David Henry Hwang.
Playwright David Henry Hwang examines culture and politics in ‘Soft Power’ /
China’s growing influence and the state of American politics are providing the backdrop for a new production called “Soft Power”.
It comes from the mind of playwright David Henry Hwang. He’s the first Asian-American to win a Tony award.
CGTN’s May Lee spoke to him about the show and his prolific career.
‘Soft Power’s’ Hwang, Tesori talk about their hit musical at SF Asian film fest /
Seeing David Henry Hwang and Jeanine Tesori jaywalk across Geary Street unencumbered by an entourage, you might not peg them as the creators of the most anticipated new show on the West Coast. Their play, “Soft Power,” opened the night before in Los Angeles to raves, and the two seemed giddy at this affirmation of four years of toil, with Hwang supplying the book and lyrics and Tesori the music.
David Henry Hwang: Backward and Forward /
Ask any Asian-American what their favorite problematic musical is and they are likely to name one of these three: The King and I, Miss Saigon, or Flower Drum Song. For me—and I feel some shame admitting it—it’s The King and I. I swooned when I saw the recent revival at Lincoln Center, directed by Bartlett Sher, featuring Kelli O’Hara’s soaring soprano and Ken Watanabe’s sexiness. As soon as the boat carrying Anna Leonowens sailed onstage (literally), I was hooked despite myself.
So was playwright and diversity advocate David Henry Hwang.
David Henry Hwang Hopes Hillary Clinton Will See ‘Soft Power’ /
The world premiere of David Henry Hwang's musical play “Soft Power” brought droves of Asian-Americans to the Ahmanson in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday.
Ming-Na Wen; Jeff Yang, his son Hudson and his fellow “Fresh Off the Boat” cast members, Forrest Wheeler, Evan Chen and Lucille Soong; “Silicon Valley’s” Tzi Ma; and Parvesh Cheema were among guests at the opening.
With a tip of the hat to “The King and I,” “Soft Power,” with music by Jeanine Tesori, is a bit of a fantasy that shifts the balance of global power from the U.S. to China after Hillary Clinton loses the 2016 presidential election.
Conrad Ricamora Explains Why ‘Soft Power’ Could Change The Game For Asians In Theater /
Throughout his career as an actor and a singer, Conrad Ricamora says, he has always aimed to “combine my American-ness with my Asian-ness.” It wasn’t until he began work on his latest project, however, that he felt like he’d fully succeeded.
The “How to Get Away With Murder” star returns to the stage in “Soft Power,” which opened Wednesday at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles. Billed as a “play with a musical,” the satirical show features the Tony Award-winning talents of playwright David Henry Hwang and composer Jeanine Tesori.
After 28 years, ‘M. Butterfly’ to beguile Manila once again /
Raymond Francisco (then known in theater circles as RS Francisco) became the toast of the Manila theater scene in 1990 when he portrayed the role of Song Liling in David Henry Hwang’s Tony Award-winning play, “M. Butterfly,” in a production by Dulaang Unibersidad ng Pilipinas. The role of the French diplomat Gallimard was played by the late firebrand director Behn Cervantes.
Photo Flash: David Henry Hwang and Jeanine Tesori's SOFT POWER Celebrates Opening Night /
The world premiere of "Soft Power" by David Henry Hwang (play and lyrics) and Jeanine Tesori opened last night at the Ahmanson Theatre. Check out photos from opening night below!
This play with a musical, produced by Center Theatre Group, directed by Leigh Silverman and choreographed by Sam Pinkleton, is currently in previews and continues through June 10, 2018. Following its run at the Ahmanson, "Soft Power" will play San Francisco's Curran from June 20 through July 8, 2018.
How David Henry Hwang’s 'Soft Power' morphed into a musical — and dealt with the 2016 election /
Playwright David Henry Hwang won a Tony Award in 1988 for his play, “M. Butterfly.” Composer Jeanine Tesori won a Tony in 2015 for writing the music for “Fun Home.”
They are two of the most respected and sought-after theater artists working today. And now they’ve collaborated on a new show called “Soft Power.”
The San Gabriel-raised playwright David Henry Hwang is open about his deep love for Rodgers and Hammerstein. /
Yet there was there was something about their musical “The King and I” that had rankled him for years — and he knew he wanted to do something about it.
Two and a half years ago, Mr. Hwang, the only Asian-American playwright to win a Tony, approached another Tony winner, the composer Jeanine Tesori, with an idea. (Mr. Hwang won for “M. Butterfly,” and Ms. Tesori won for “Fun Home.”)
Conrad Ricamora, on the provocative, political 'Soft Power' /
He's a heavy breather, he snuffles like a piglet and he's an incorrigible face-licker. His name is Wilbur, and he's actor Conrad Ricamora's French bulldog. He's also a regular presence on set during rehearsals for Ricamora's show "Soft Power," which opens Wednesday at the Ahmanson Theatre.
The hair and make-up department keeps treats for Wilbur, and the cast and crew have come to rely on him for emotional support and comic relief. Workshopping a new musical from a powerhouse creative team at L.A.'s highest profile theater is not exactly easy.
Passion and Politics in a Musical Hybrid: Soft Power /
The 2016 Election, China and Romance Come Together in David Henry Hwang’s World Premiere ‘Soft Power’
DTLA - The 1951 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The King and I is known for lavish dance numbers and heartbreaking songs, such as “Shall We Dance,” about the burgeoning romance between Western tutor Anna and the King of Siam. In the decades since its debut, however, it’s been criticized for patronizing, Western-centric politics and a history of casting white actors as Asian figures.
Arts Pop: Opera Theatre ready to begin 2018 season /
ST. LOUIS - Opera Theatre St. Louis continues to make opera fun and approachable to all. There are pre-show picnics and post-show cocktails with the casts. Plus, the 2018 Festival Season includes the world premiere of the two-act version of Huang Ruo and David Henry Hwang’s "An American Soldier."