Hart House Theatre Presents YELLOW FACE 3/4-12

Hart House Theatre is delighted to present Tony Award-winner David Henry Hwang's semi-autibiographical comedy, Yellow Face. This show is a co-production with fu-GEN Asian Canadian Theatre Company, and marks the second partnership between the two theatre companies, the first being the hugely succesful Banana Boys in 2009.

Yellow Face is directed by the multi-talented Esther Jun. Ms. Jun originally trained as an actor in New York City, has directed short films that have appeared in multiple International Film Festivals and studied Theatre directing in the UK. She is ecstatic to be working on Yellow Face here at Hart House theatre. "This play takes an unprecedented dive into the psyche of one of North America's biggest playwrights. David Henry Hwang has made himself the subject of his own expose into the racial politics of America. He takes no prisoners as he sends up the famous, the infamous and most unapologetically, himself. What starts off as a seemingly simple farce of mistaken racial identity, turns into a bittersweet memoir of a man struggling with his own success, identity and the loss of his father." In telling this remarkable story on the stage, Esther is perhaps most energized by her actors, "I'm very excited about my cast, which spans all decades and experiences."

This hilarious and bright cast led by the formidable Esther Jun brings the story of Yellow Face to life on a simple yet intricate set designed by Akiva Romer-Segal, showcasing the juxtaposition of old Asian style meeting modern American society.

Everyone will relate to this cheeky tale of one person trying find their own identify in this mixed-up, politically correct world.

Yellow Face
By David Henry Hwang
Directed by Esther Jun
Dramaturgy by Andrew Cheng
Set Design by Akiva Romer-Segal
Lighting Design by Paphavee Limkul
Costume Design by Ming Wong
Sound Design by Kevin Centero

Featuring:

Ben Wong as DHH
For Hart House: Debut
Credits include: Ben in pppeeeaaaccceee (Downstage Theatre - Calgary), Skelly in The Rimers Of Eldritch and Mike in The Bar Off Melrose (Rogues Theatre - Calgary).
Ben has appeared in numerous TV and film productions in Alberta including CBC's Heartland and a pile of corporate video and commercials.
Ben has recently moved to Toronto and loves the city so much, he's open to embracing the Leafs. Born and raised in Alberta, Ben studied acting in Calgary where he completed masterclass programs in the Uta Hagen and Meisner Techniques. He's also studied Improvisation at the Loose Moose Theatre. Ben was a television producer in Calgary and was accepted into the National Screen Institute's Totally Television program last fall. He'll soon be hawking a new TV episodic to a broadcaster near you.

Emily OpAl Smith as Jane
This is Emily's debut on the Hart House stage.
Selected Credits: The Nurse in Romeo and Juliet, Momma in Wreckage, The Actress in La Ronde, The Fair Witch in Dark of the Moon (Phoenix Theatre), Boyet in Love's Labour's Lost (Somnambulist Productions), The Flood in the Vagina Monologues (Phoenix Theatre Studio), Tilly in the Radio Play of It's a Wonderful Life (Blue Bridge Repertory Theatre) and Mama in Z-Day (Bring Back Pluto Productions). Emily holds a BFA in acting from the University of Victoria.

YELLOW FACE
"A tempest in an Oriental teapot"

March 4 - 12, 2011

2 Week Run
Week 1: Fri and Sat @ 8pm
Week 2: Wed to Sat @ 8pm + Sat @ 2PM

Tickets:
Adults $25
Students & Seniors $15
$10 Student Tickets every Wednesday Night!

SPECIAL EVENTS:
Tuesday March 8, 2011
U of T Arts Council Presents:
Speakers in the Arts Series, 2011
A Conversation with David Henry Hwang
7PM, Hart House Theatre
Interview conducted by David Yee, Artistic Director, Fu-GEN
Tickets $10 Adults / $5 Students and Seniors

Wednesday March 9, 2011
After the performance there will be a Talk-back with David Henry Hwang and the company of Yellow Face.

BOX OFFICE: www.uofttix.ca / 416 978 8849

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