Archives for posts with tag: hadestown

Let’s get Netflix to spring for Warrior Season 4 – and other wins prove this coming Bway year is the most Asian ever (in a year with no shows set in Asia)

February 20, 2024 //

The Fairy Princess, as anyone who reads this blog knows, is a huge fan of the series, WARRIOR.

Why you ask? She loves a good martial arts series with Asian heritaged actors – some from England, some from Australia, Indonesia, Canada, and many from the Downtown NY Scene and from Broadway as well. In short – it is a series where both her Irish heritage and Chinese heritage come together and give her severe anxiety and yet, enjoyment.

TFP is complicated.

Now, WARRIOR has bounced around quite a bit – first Cinemax and then HBO and now…Netflix.

Netflix is going to bring about a huge global fan base for this show – much in the way that Peaky Blinders did to it’s cast. This series is a giant one for AAPI’s and that is because it comes from…the Bruce.

Yes, this is Bruce Lee‘s vision, as brought to life by his daughter, Shannon Lee. In this show we see the origin of the Chinese in America, but we also see mixed race people, because as we know, Bruce was Mixed Asian AND Mixed Asian people are always going to be around as long as different groups intertwine.

What is magical about this show is that they have built the ‘origin’ stories of the mixed race characters into the show, and then left it. Ah Sam, played by Andrew Koji, makes reference to his American Grandfather, and boom, there it is. Young Jun, played by Jason Tobin, is the result of a relationship his father, Father Jun, played by Perry Yung, had with a white prostitute. In fact, Mixed race Asians are a plot point all around, with Wang Chao’s daughter and supporting her, being a major plot point for the character played by Hoon Lee.

All of it makes dramatic sense as they go through the show. Now, there are three seasons already on Netflix, however fans NEED a fourth season – perhaps even a fifth, and there IS a way to get it. That way is interest. We need to get WARRIOR to Number 1 for a a few weeks. It is currently at #6.

So TFP is going to tell you her strategy – she also used this with The Brothers Sun on Netflix, and she is going to ask that you all follow suit. Why? Season 4 baby – the producers say it depends on how Netflix responds to the numbers for the show. If we can get it to Number 1 for say, a month – TFP is pretty sure a Season 4 will be ordered.

This is her strategy – she leaves the television on WARRIOR when she is at home at all times. Numbers cannot be faked – well they likely can but she does not know how as she is not a criminal, she just enjoys shows about criminals – and she is willing to give over her screen to a show that she has already watched. If you have more than one television/ipad/laptop you can devote to this, then great! And if you don’t, TFP appreciates your devotion.

Keeping on the theme of Bruce Lee, have you all realized that his goddaughter, Diana Lee Inosanto, has joined the Star Wars Universe on the cast of Ahsoka on Disney Plus?

She is making her rounds of all of the conventions right now, and seemingly having the best of all possible times. You can follow her on Insta – @therealdianaleeinosanto . She has also written a children’s book on autism with her son, Sebastian, as well as being the writer/director/star of the indie film, The Sensei.

In addition to Ahsoka, in her latest role, she voices Horse in The Tiger’s Apprentice, alongside Henry Golding, Lucy Liu, Sandra Oh, Brandon Soo Hoo, Michelle Yeoh, Bowen Yang, Leah Lewis, Deborah S. Craig, Sherry Cola, and Kheng Hua Tan.

The Tiger’s Apprentice is streaming on Paramount Plus.

Turning to Broadway, much mention must be made for the Broadway debut of Lola Tung, from The Summer I Turned Pretty, in Hadestown. She is playing Eurydice – the same part that was originated by Eva Noblezada (who is heading towards the opening of The Great Gatsby on Broadway with lightening speed). This image is from the Hadestown Insta account, and in terms of performance, TFP thinks it is best to let your ears do the listening.

She and Jordan Fisher nail it, it is quite exciting – so many congratulations to them, may it have an SRO.

Last but certainly not least – in anyone’s mind – is the upcoming Broadway debut of former Pussycat Doll, Nicole Scherzinger – just announced.

This looks entirely different from any other Sunset Blvd in recent memory – but in the best way – AND, this proves TFP‘s point that this coming season – that this year, the year of the Wooden Dragon – will be the MOST Asian Broadway has ever been in a season with no show set in Asia!

TFP out.

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Categories Diversity

Warrior Sisters of Wu opens at Pan Asian Rep, 1st Asian Orpheus in Hadestown, 1st AsAm Velma Kelly in Chicago

February 12, 2024 //

The Fairy Princess wishes you a Happy New Year – whether you call it Lunar, Chinese, Tet, or Seollal (Japan does not celebrate Lunar New Year since 1873) – have some noodles, dance with a lion, and let’s just be glad that pesky bunny is gone in favor of the Wood Dragon. TFP had an pretty awful 2023, so 2024 does not need to do any heavy lifting, per se – just not be as awful as 2023. The bar, as they say, is low.

Speaking of which, she is doing a concert at 54 Below on March 16 at 9:30pm- day before St. Patrick’s Day called Mom’s Night Out, where your favorite musical theater Mama’s dazzle audiences with their songs and stories about the journey that is motherhood. Megan Minutillo is the producing mama puttin’ it all together, so a thanks for the invite, and TFP will see you in March. (Use the code MOM5 for $ off your dining and bar tab) Tix here.

Now, there have been some kind of amazing things happening for AAPI’s in Musical Theater around the globe, as well as in Mid town Manhattan, and TFP wanted to discuss.

First off – Congratulations to Shannon Tyo, who won at the 67th OBIE Awards for Sustained Performance in Achievement for her role as Mora in Lloyd Suh‘s THE FAR COUNTRY at The Atlantic Theater Company.

Congrats on their OBIE to Hansol Jung for The Wolf Play, who won for playwriting here is their acceptance speech.

The King & I is playing in London for a limited time, and starring Darren Lee as The King!

He plays opposite Call The Midwife‘s star, Helen George – and frankly, TFP is down for it – reports from friends are great and reviews are better. Only for 6 weeks – if you are popping across the pond, here is your ticket link.

Let’s start with the most recent of events in New York City – last evening at HADESTOWN on Broadway, TIMOTHY H. LEE went on for Orpheus for the first time – meaning he is the FIRST Orpheus of Asian heritage to play the role.

TFP is including the Artist’s Instagram posts- these moments, though huge globally, remains personal.

Is this huge? Yes. Does TFP get tired of counting firsts? Also yes. When we stop needing to count in order to justify our existence on stage and screen TFP will be fully satisfied.

TFP extends hearty congratulations to Mr. Lee – who immigrated from Korea, and considers English to be his second language. This is an enormous accomplishment by any standard, and it is fitting, that Hadestown, which has always been an inclusive and diverse cast under the direction of Rachel Chavkin, crossed this barrier willingly.

Likewise attention must be turned to CHICAGO on Broadway where Kristen Faith Oei became the first Asian American to play Velma Kelly. She also goes on for Miss Katlin Hunyak in addition to covering the role of Velma. Currently CHICAGO has Lili Thomas playing Matron Mama Morton, and Fil-Am Red Concepciòn as Mr. Amos Hart aka Mr. Cellophane. They also had Japanese star Ryoko Yonekura as Roxie Hart in 2012. CHICAGO is combining ‘old’ Broadway with some much needed upgrades. Bravo!

Also, many salutations to Courtney Reed, who is currently starring as Satine in Moulin Rogue. You likely know her from her long running role as Princess Jasmine in ALADDIN on Broadway, and as one of the stars of Lauren Yee‘s CAMBODIAN ROCK BAND, but she has been holding down Satine first on tour in 2022, and now on Broadway since August of 2023. Go see her, she is delightful – and hey – Boy George is there too.

Some celebrate Lunar New Year by eating and hanging with family, while others take their families to see theater at Pan Asian Rep in New York City. (The others is TFP) Now in it’s almost unheard of 47th Season under the Artistic Direction of NY legend, Tisa Chang – they premiered their latest play – Warrior Sisters of Wu yesterday, Superbowl Sunday.

Adapted from “Romance of the Three Kingdoms’ one of the most famous Chinese classic tales, it has very few English language adaptations, which is of course, why Playwright Damon Chua chose it as his next project. (Why pick easy?) He paired that with a framework in his head of the English classic, Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.

The result is a Family friendly Rom Com from 200 A.D., with swords. TFP‘s son really enjoyed this – and as a parent, it is beyond a relief to be able to take him to the theater, have a genuine story be told, and to hear his responses, again, TFP wants to stress, her son really enjoyed this.

We follow the Qiao sisters, best known nowadays in their modern avatars as characters in the Dynasty Warriors video game series, as they fall in love and kick ass against the backdrop of impending war. Ably directed by LA staple, Jeff Liu paired with deft fight choreography by Michael G. Chin – it is one to see.

One only hopes that the impending snow storm takes it easy on New York so they get the crowd they deserve.

Pictured in the photo, Director Jeff Liu, Liam Kong, and Damon Chua.

It is hard, as a New York based actor, to truly have words about what the steadiness of Pan Asian Rep has done for the New York AAPI Actor. Much as East West Players in Los Angeles has been sometimes the lone flag waving in the distance to give us hope – Pan Asian has – for 47 seasons – been there. Telling AAPI stories, encouraging them, commissioning them, holding workshops, and helping shape the ways ‘we’ get to be seen. Over the years they have offered classes, mentorship, and hope – Tisa was on Broadway in a show, and used her own money to start Pan Asian – and 47 seasons later, she is still there.

(If this were a Marvel show, we’d be calling her The Hand of AAPI Theater. It is a compliment.)

Warrior Sisters of Wu is a specifically Chinese story, told entirely in English, with modern sensibilities. Many of the questions TFP‘s 11 year old whispered in her ear, were answered seconds later in the dialogue and actions – he was seeing part of his own story told on a stage in front of him for 100 minutes.

When TFP was a child, the best her parents were able to show her in terms of a Chinese story starring Asian people, was taking her to see a troupe of martial artists and acrobats from China.

Did she still love it? Of course. However we cannot underestimate the value of younger minds at the theater, seeing versions of themselves that are ‘allowed’ to play different characters who have just as much dignity and gravitas as is often only allowed with white stories.

All stories can be told specifically and deliberately- it is that which makes the understanding of it universal.

TFP really hopes that the story told, that of two woman warriors who battle gender norms, gets butts in the seats, and gets the Lortels to sit up and notice.

The show is playing at the A.R.T./NY Mezzanine Theater – 502 W. 53RD STREET – go see it – running until MARCH 10th.

Tix link here

Ok, ok, ok – go Lion Dance and watch some fireworks – Happy Year of the Wood Dragon!

Hope you get rich!

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Categories Diversity

Calling it – 2024 will be the most “Asian” season on Broadway without a show set in an Asian country! BRING THE ACTION!

January 17, 2024 //

The Fairy Princess got the news yesterday that The Great Gatsby is going to Broadway from Papermill Playhouse, and they are taking the lead players – Eva Noblezada (Miss Saigon, Hadestown) and Jeremy Jordan, with them.

This means that Broadway, for the first time ever in a season – without musicals set in Asia – will have an unprecedented, NINE possibly TEN new Asian heritaged PRINCIPAL roles in shows that are not revolving around the performer’s background. Shows opening in the 2024 season, we love the shows that have been holding up the sky for a while now, so TFP will list a few, but she is talking this year, 2024, Year of the Dragon.

We currently have Michael Maliakel and Sonya Balsara holding it down in Aladdin, for the ‘long running shows’ as well as Ruthie Ann Miles in Sweeney Todd. Lola Tung coming in to Hadestown as Eurydice on Feb 9 opposite Lilias White as Hermes and Jordan Fisher as Orpheus for a limited run. Chicago recently added Lili Thomas as Mama Morton and Red Concepción as Amos – so even long running shows can be inclusive. And….revivals – with Vishal Vaidya holding it down in Merrily We Roll Along.

In Hamilton, Stephanie Jae Park is Eliza, Marc Delacruz is the standby for several of the lead male roles, which he most recently was lauded in various publications for switching roles mid show. Jen Sese is there as standby for all the Schuyler sisters, and Eddy Lee and Preston Mui, round out the Ensemble.

Yes, you can go to a Broadway show and see people that you can find parts of yourself in – not carbon copies, but parts of yourself.

Add to that the wins for BEEF – EMMYS for the leading players Ali Wong and Steven Yeun, the Golden Globe nomination for Greta Lee for her performance in the feature Past Lives, this year is shaping up to be the BEST EVER!! Shout out to Sandra Oh and Akwafina for the win for Quiz Lady from the Critic’s Choice Award for Best Movie Made for TV? The inclusion of the film, The Queen of my Dreams at the Toronto International Film Festival, starring Ayana Manji as the young version of Azra, one of the main characters?

What is happening world?

TFP is thinking that both Casting and Agents need to wrap their heads around who to call in, and who is on the roster, and if you do not have AAPIs on your rosters – CAA, WMA, AAA, and others – best get to stepping. We are stepping in it.

Let’s begin with the announcements as they have come down the pike:

Eva Noblezada – The Great Gatsby as socialite Daisy Buchanan. With two Tony nominations under her belt for past performances in Hadestown and Miss Saigon, Eva has wasted no time in getting back on the boards, and this is a great thing.

(Shout out here to the musical film CHICAGO, which featured Lucy Liu also as a socialite in this era)

Ruthie Ann Miles – Currently in Sweeney Todd as the Beggar Woman, waiting for a theater to be confirmed – once it is, she will star alongside the remarkable Anna Zavelson as her daughter. TFP is including them in the tally, as there is more than a good chance the theater is on the verge of being announced.

Daniel Dae Kim – as DHH in Yellowface at The Roundabout – a play that deals with racial ambiguity and the need to attach to an idea, simply because one is seeking ‘representation’ so strongly. The rest of the cast has not been announced yet, however, TFP has seen this show done before, and usually the rest of the cast is within the AAPI spectrum with some exceptions.

Ramin Karimloo – this Persian ( aka Iranian aka Western Asian) Canadian has long been a Broadway and West End staple performer, (CHESS, Funny Girl, Anastasia, Les Miserables, This next one TFP is super excited for, as it is her FAVORITE Gilbert & Sullivan piece –The Pirates of Penzance, also at The Roundabout. David Hyde-Pierce is announced as Pirate King, so TFP is guessing Mr. Karimloo is the wandering Virgin apprenticed to a Pirate, Frederick.

(Update- Mr. K is the Pirate King and DHP is the Modern Major General- although the above is what the press announcement was.)

Jaygee Macapuguay – will play the role of Mollie Hay in the new musical by Shaina Taub, SUFFS, which also has in it Nadia Dandashi as Doris Stevens, Kim Blanck is playing Ruza Wenclawska and Christine Heesun Hwang in the ensemble.

Special note must be made because there are three principals of Asian heritage in a new show, and it would be unfair to highlight one over the other – but let TFP say, there are theater actors that time and time again have shown audiences what they are made of, and to see them make the leap to Principal contract is super special. She has known and admired them for years, so…

TFP is going to say a hearty congratulations to THE HEART OF ROCK AND ROLL, which just announced it’s opening and is kind of taking the mantle from Sweeney Todd & Hamilton has worn proudly of ‘most Asians in a show not about being Asian’, and here they are:

This last potential show – not confirmed yet, but COME FALL IN LOVE, the DDJ musical, which is directed by Aditya Chopra, book and lyrics by Nell Benjamin, and choreo by Rob Marshall, with Assoc Choreographer Shruti Merchant – would be a huge win for South Asian representation on Broadway, and Asians in general would be ‘slayed the house down’ if that came to pass in 2024.

IF that is true – no word on a theater yet – however TFP is still calling it –

2024 will be THE MOST ASIAN YEAR ON BROADWAY – and coincidentally – YEAR OF THE DRAGON!

So breathe some fire, set off some fireworks and clean your house, Broadway – the AAPIs are coming, and coming in HOT!

TFP out.

She excited, but she out – for now, and only for now. (If you get it, you get it)

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Categories Diversity