‘Where Is My Maple Town’, a play incubated by Shanghai Theatre Academy, will debut Off- Broadway in TheatreRow from August 24th through September 2nd. This play is written by Rain Yuting He, directed by Xiaopeng Tang, produced by Genevieve Yiming Wang.

Playwriting Director: David H. Hwang, Shoucheng Li, Jun Lu Drama Art Director: Kaiqi Hu

Cast(in order of appearance): Jae Beum Woo (The Taoist Priest/Headmaster), Fang Du (Li Yufeng), Kaidi Li (Xue Ziyan), Theodore Lee (Xue Shouming), Shaotian Cai (The prime minister/butcher), Teddy Qin (Li Liangchen), Zoe Lau (Liu Xu), Rain Yuting He (Li Orchid/Ensemble).

Creative Team: Rain Yuting He (Playwright/Supervisor), Xiaopeng Teng (Director), Genevieve Yiming Wang (Producer), Blossom Johnson (Dramaturge), Kaidi Li (Choreographer), Ao Li (Set Designer), Samuel Chan (Lighting Designer), Yunzhu Zeng (Costume Designer), Xiao Ran (Musician), Johnny Wang (Stage Combat/Production Manager), Shirong Gu (Poster Designer), Lena Bai (Co-Poster Designer), Caitlyn Dominguez (Production Stage Manager), Xiaoyang Gu (China Regional Production Manager), Mengran Ding (Company Manager), Yue Xie (Creative PR Writer), Zhe Chen (Photographer), Elvin Hu (Photographer), Harry Zhang (Photographer), Hongying Zhu (Production Assistant).

Playwright Rain Yuting He, Columbia University Visiting Scholar from Shanghai Theatre Academy, said, “The play is inspired by my personal experience. It leads the audience to introspect which side we choose in our life, and the consequences of our desire and conviction. With the impact that the social climate casts on each one of us, how we can, cannot, and should have dealt with the influence.”

Tony Award winning playwright David H. Hwang comments on the play: “Where Is My Maple Town is a social drama set in ancient China which causes us to reflect on society today, and the price of our own success. This allegory illuminates the universality of human nature, across time and cultures.”

Director Xiaopeng Teng, PhD in Shanghai Theater Academy, currently a visiting scholar in CUNY Graduate Center under the mentorship of Marvin Carlson, said, “A part of the stage is built on a cube, which represents the multi-faced human nature. The Maple Town is also a metaphor of our home, both the geographic and spiritual origin of our dream and passion. At the end of the day, we have to face our best selves and our worst selves.”

Producer Genevieve Yiming Wang, based in New York/Shanghai, is an international theater professional. Her credits include Broadway Touring musicals: CATS, WICKED, GHOST China Regional Tour. “We are thrilled to add to the diverse culture spectrum in New York City theatre. As a team of young Chinese women, we aim to create platforms for Asian theater talents and to offer our own interpretations of ancient Chinese culture. I believe in Yuting’s play with Xiaopeng’s vision, and the universal theme within ancient Chinese drama,” she said in BroadwayWorld.

Photo Credit: Zhe Chen