Black Lab Theatre and Asia Society Texas Center Open CHINGLISH Tonight

The regional premiere of the Broadway hit comedy "CHINGLISH," by Tony Award winner and Pulitzer Prize finalist David Henry Hwang (M. Butterfly) opens tonight, May 9^th at the Asia Society Texas Center's Brown Foundation Performing Arts Theater. The famous comedy about the challenges of Americans doing business in China will be presented by Black Lab Theatre in collaboration with Asia Society Texas Center and feature a member of the original Broadway and international cast. CHINGLISH will open tonight, May 9, 2013 and run through May 26, 2013.

"I couldn't be happier that CHINGLISH will be coming to Houston, an international and multicultural City deeply engaged in today's cross-cultural business world," says Playwright David Henry Hwang. "An important plot twist involves a news story which Houston knows very well, so I hope its residents will find this play particularly relevant."

Black Lab Theatre's production of CHINGLISH will be directed by Troy Scheid. Vivian Chiu, who was an understudy for the Broadway production and member of the international cast, will portray Vice Minister Xi Yan. She is joined by Mike Yager as Daniel Cavanaugh, John Dunn as Peter Timms, Xin Jian as Minister Cai Guoliang, Janice Pai-Martindale as Miss Qian/Prosecutor Li, William Wu as Bing/Judge Geming, and Andrea Huang as Zhao.

"CHINGLISH" is a sexy and romantic tale of a Midwestern American businessman looking to score a lucrative contact for his family's sign-making firm in a bustling Chinese province, only to find love instead. The play is performed in both English and Mandarin (with English subtitles). "The play zeroes in on the potential perils of cross-cultural communication in an amazingly entertaining fashion," insists Jaffe. "The use of projected subtitles really enhances the linguistical aspect of the comedy, which makes this play both unique and simply hilarious."

Of the first extended-run theatrical production to be mounted in Asia Society Texas Center's stunning new Yoshio Taniguchi-designed building, Sabrina Lynn Motley, Director of Programs and Exhibitions says, "Chinglish wonderfully amplifies Asia Society Texas Center's belief that creative expression is key to preparing individuals and institutions in the U.S. and Asia for a shared future." Motley continues, "As we open our doors to the public, the opportunity to host the work of David Henry Hwang and collaborate with Black Lab Theatre signals our commitment to the presentation of high quality programs that are simultaneously engaging, challenging, and accessible."

General admission tickets are now available for $35 per person. Senior citizen and group discounts are available. Tickets may be purchased from Asia Society Texas Center, located at 1370 Southmore Bvld., Houston, TX, at the door, by phone or via http://asiasociety.org/texas/chinglish. Box office number: 713.496.9901.

Black Lab Theatre's 2012-2013 season has been praised for welcoming "challenging and pertinent productions" to Houston. The selection of "CHINGLISH", Jaffe notes, is aimed to appeal to Houston's young adult and adult audiences who have more global lifestyles and sensibilities. Founded in 2011 by Rice University graduate Jordan Jaffe, Black Lab Theatre focuses on bringing newer, socially conscious shows to audiences in fresh and innovative ways.

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