From the East meets West, Communist vs. Capitalist, Olympics-crazy world of 2008 Beijing, nothing is as it seems... A magician's tricks might end up being the only thing that's real!
Joker's Game is an original musical developed and produced in China with the hope of becoming the first Chinese tuner to successfully run on Broadway. It opened at the Dongguan International Musical Theatre Festival in December 2011 winning two awards -- Best Loved By the Audience and Best Production.
The "magical musical" is inspired by the real experiences of a Chinese Canadian magician. The idea was conceived in 2008, shortly after Beijing hosted the Olympic Games for the first time in history, where modern China finally emerged as an infinitely fascinating place.
Much of the show pays homage to the Great White Way. The magician's grand illusions set the backdrop to old-school Broadway style ballads. A Chorus Line of eccentric characters sings karaoke on a knock-off 42nd street set, and a million RMB quartet of massage girls vocalize the importance of guanxi to costumers and their wicked business deal. Even a quantum physicist belts an unexpected show-stopper before pulling the trigger on her lover. These are just a few tricks up the sleeves in this metaphoric shirt of plot for this east side story.
A Broadway-style musical is not without its Oriental elements. Traditional Chinese percussion welcomes the show, and is then replaced by Chinese Hip-hop numbers performed by the four twerking "Hot Hot Girls."
The show's Book is by Kemin Zhang,
Anthony Stimac and
James Racheff; Music by
Louis St. Louis; Additional songs by
Mark Allen; Lyrics by
James Racheff in English and Kemin Zhang in Chinese from its original production.
Since the Dongguan run, the creative team spent the last few years refining Joker's Game. They will now test their rewrites in English with a nearly all Asian-American cast, many whom have Broadway, off-Broadway and West End credits like Miss Saigon, The King and I, Avenue Q, Anything Goes, and Chinglish.
The reading will take place today, February 25th at noon at the Ripley Grier Studios, 520 8th Avenue, Studio 16Q. Seating is limited. Please RSVP wdtsf333@gmail.com before Feb. 23rd to book a seat.
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