Ma-Yi Theater to Present WONG KIDS at La MaMa, Begin. 1/28

La MaMa in association with The Ma-Yi Theater Company, now in its 25th anniversary season, will present the New York premiere of THE WONG KIDS IN THE SECRET OF THE SPACE CHUPACABRA GO! Tuesday, January 28 - Sunday, February 16, 2014 at La MaMa's Ellen Stewart Theater (66 East 4th Street - between Bowery and 2nd Ave). Opening night is set for Friday, January 31.

Written by Lloyd Suh - whose previous productions with Ma-Yi include AMERICAN HWANGAP and JESUS IN INDIA Off-Broadway and who is a member of Ma-Yi's celebrated Writers Lab - THE WONG KIDS IN THE SECRET OF THE SPACE CHUPACABRA GO! is helmed by Ma-Yi's artistic director Ralph B. Peña (director of the company's production of MICROCRISIS, along with CENTAUR BATTLE OF SAN JACINTO) with Jack Tamburri. The Wong Kids marks Ma-Yi's first production of a new work fully suitable for family audiences of all ages. This exciting first-time collaboration between Ma-Yi Theater Company in New York and Children's Theatre Company in Minneapolis is also notable for its rare depiction of young Asian-American characters as "heroes" of an adventure tale. The producers liken the sensibility and humor of THE WONG KIDS to that of the popular TV series PHINEAS AND FERB.

THE WONG KIDS uses time-honored stage magic - a mix of intelligent and fun action-driven storytelling, puppetry, and visual effects - as it transports its audience into the far reaches of the galaxy. Violet and Bruce Wong just don't fit in with the other Earth kids. Sure, they have superpowers, they're just not very good ones. But when an evil beast called the Space Chupacabra appears, intent on universal destruction, The Wong Kids must travel to outer space in order to stop it... if they can only stop bickering. Violet and Bruce ultimately realize that being different isn't just okay, it might just be the most important thing like ever.

When THE WONG KIDS opened in Minneapolis earlier this year, the theater critic for the Pioneer Press called the play "A sci-fi satire fun and meaningful for all. One of the funniest, most-enjoyable productions I've seen this year."

The cast of THE WONG KIDS at La MaMa includes Alton Alburo, Curran Connor, Sasha Diamond, Ethan Hova, Kate Marley, Matthew Gunn Park. The design team includes Meredith Ries (set), Becky Bodurtha (costumes), Paul Whitaker (lighting), Shane Rettig (original music & sound), David Parkinson Valentine (puppets). Jennifer Delac choreographs.

Ticket price is $25 (during previews); $30 (regular), $20 (seniors/students), $10 (children under age 10).
For tickets, visit www.ma-yitheatre.org or call the La MaMa Box Office at 212.475.7710.

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