Queens Theatre Presents The Monkey King: A Kung Fu Musical
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3 Queens Theatre Thanks Its Major Funders Queens Theatre’s year-round programming and operations are made possible through the generous support of Howard Gilman Foundation, the Lily Auchincloss Foundation, the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, and by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. These contributors provide Queens Theatre with a consistent foundation that allows us to bring artistically and culturally significant programs and performances to the Queens community. A special thanks to Robert and Charlotte Miller and Dusty Rhoades for support of The Monkey King: A Kung Fu Musical Theater programming is funded, in part, by The Shubert Foundation and the Jerome Robbins Foundation. Dance programming is funded, in part, by the Mertz Gilmore Foundation. Additional programmatic support provided by: ADCO Electrical Corporation Association for a Better New York (ABNY) CDML Computer Services, Ltd. Con Edison Crystal Window and Door Systems Delta Air Lines Eileen Foy Farrell Fritz Frances A. Resheske
4 Gary and Marcie Kesner Ginsburg & Misk Hardesty & Hanover, LLC Kaufman Astoria Studios Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP Kupferberg Foundation Mark and Dina Misk ME Engineers Metro Management Development Michael James Industries, Inc. Michael Lou Group NYC & Company Plaxall, Inc. Queens County Savings Bank The Dramatist Guild Foundation
5 Queens Theatre presents The Monkey King: A Kung Fu Musical February 9-13, 2023 By Jonathan Fadner & Kimbirdlee Fadner Directed by Steven Eng Musical Direction and Composition by Jonathan Fadner Featuring Sarah Chiu,* Kimbirdlee Fadner,* Ellis Gage,* Brian Jose,* Charles Pang,* Gage Thomas,* Bella Villanueva,* Annie Yamamoto* Production Stage Manager Kelly Ruth Cole* Understudies Max Boone, Pearl Matteson *Denotes members of Actors Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
6 Projection Design I-Chen Wang Scenic Design Madeline Goddard Costume Design Erin Black Lighting Design Jonah Bobilin Choreographer Max B. Ehrlich The Monkey King was originally commissioned by Main Street Theatre and Dance Alliance in 2018. Taking pictures and/or making visual or sound recordings is expressly forbidden. Please check houseboards for any program changes. Cover Image Photo Credit: Irina Hage/Irina Island Images
7 CAST LIST (in alphabetical order) Sarah Chiu* (Guan Yin/Others, u/s Ganjuwai & Demon) Kimbirdlee Fadner* (The Monkey King) Ellis Gage* (Jade Emperor/Others) Brian Jose* (Demon of Havoc/Others) Charles Pang* (Immortal Teacher/Herald/Shrimp/Others) Gage Thomas* (Dragon King/Others) Bella Villanueva* (Jogo/Others) Annie Yamamoto* (Ganjuwai/Others) Understudies: Max Boone, Pearl Matteson CREATIVE AND PRODUCTION TEAM Jasmine Canjura, Assistant Costume Design Gage Thomas, Assistant Stage Manager Bella Villanueva, Dance Captain QUEENS THEATRE PRODUCTION STAFF Victor Catano, Production Manager Jay Rogers, General Manager Steve Wolf, Lighting Supervisor Jerry Rodriguez, Sound Supervisor Jeannmarie Conley, Technical Director The Monkey King: A Kung Fu Musical is a professional production employing members of Actors’ Equity Association. Equity members are denoted with an asterisk.
8 A Note from the Creators Artist Statement: Thank you for joining this epic kung-fu musical adventure with us and the coolest Monkey Tribe in the universe—our incredible creative team, family, Queens Theatre community and especially our 100% Asian cast! Being the Monkey King has taught me to fight for what I want this world to be - not violently fight, but stand up for myself, a Chinese American female actor in America, and speak out for others to make a positive change toward diversity, equity and inclusion in the arts and hopefully beyond. It’s an honor to celebrate Lunar New Year 2023 and share this popular ancient Chinese legend with an original fun feminist twist in the most diverse neighborhood in the world with an audience of all ages and backgrounds. In the words of legendary Michelle Yeoh, “let’s keep ninjakicking that glass ceiling!” Enjoy the show! —Kimbirdlee Fadner This show is one of our babies, and we try to raise our babies to do the right thing in the world. I hope people love this show and after they see it want to be like the monkey king and fight for what they want this world to be. I want this world to be a place where everyone sees themselves in the superheros they look up to and realizes that with some work they too can be just like their heroes. It is a dream come true to have our show on the stage and our children in the audience at the same time. I am a lucky person. —Jonathan Fadner
9 About the Cast (in alphabetical order) BRIAN JOSE* (Demon of Havoc/Others) is a New York City based actor, director, and producer. You may have seen him being killed as “Thuy” or scheming as the “Engineer” in Miss Saigon. Or maybe folding laundry as “Bun Foo” in Thoroughly Modern Millie. Or perhaps as a nurse, doctor, cop, or waiter on shows like “Law & Order,” “Chappelle’s Show,” and “Gossip Girl.” But he would like to be remembered as the cofounder of Broadway Barkada, an organization whose aim is to support and celebrate our Filipino artists. With Broadway Barkada, he has had the distinct pleasure of performing in some of the most distinguished venues… Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, and The White House. Broadway Barkada members can be found on stages throughout the country, on TV and film, from coast to coast. For more information, visit broadwaybarkada.com. SARAH CHIU* [She/Her] (Guan Yin, Others, Understudy: Ganjuwai & Demon). Sarah just finished her run at the Stages St. Louis production of A Chorus Line (Connie u/s Bebe) National Tour: A Charlie Brown Christmas 2021 (Frieda). Off-Broadway- The Giant Hoax (Beth). A huge thank you to the cast, crew, and her friends and family for all the love and support! @sarahchiu sarahchiu.webnode.com KIMBIRDLEE FADNER* (The Monkey King; Co-Writer) AEA & SAG/ AFTRA, Acting Credits: Theatre – NAAP’s The Pajama Game (Gladys) & Into the Woods (Florinda), Magis Theatre Co’s The Alcestiad, Monkey King (NAAP, QT, MSTDA), Richard II (Queen Isabel), 1776 (John Adams), Christmas Carol (Ghost Xmas Past), Marin Shakes’s Tempest (Ariel), Ghosts All Around You; TV/Film – “Law & Order SVU,” “OC,” “Gossip Girl,” “Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “And Just Like That,” “Full Circle” and more. Directing credits: MSTDA Children’s Theatre - The Monkey King, Beauty & The Beast, The Wind In The Willows, Into The Woods, The Descendants. Kimbirdlee is also Artistic Director of Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance - a Manhattan performing arts non-profit *Denotes members of Actors Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
10 with a dedication toward producing new works for underrepresented populations, providing opportunities for everyone regardless of cultural, socio-economic, ethnic background or age. @kimbirdlee @monkeykingthemusical @youmanagement_usa ELLIS GAGE* (Jade Emperor/Others). Growing up, Ellis appeared in the original production of James & the Giant Peach (Goodspeed Musicals), Dani Girl (Cherry Lane Theatre), Phyllis Newman’s Peter Pan (AOP Lincoln Center), The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T (Seuss Enterprises Workshop), Rumpelstiltskin (WorkShop Theatre), & won an IRNE for his performance in The King & I (North Shore MT). He was known as Seth Rudetsky’s “kid with the big belt” on SiriusXM & sang roles at the Metropolitan/NYC Opera. Recently, Ellis starred in the Far From Canterbury world premiere (Barnstormers Theatre), has been seen in FlyBoys (1st Nat’l Tour), Imaginary Boy (Kennedy Center/NTAA), Happily (GLSEN/NYMF), Into The Woods (Arden Theatre), Niagara (Carriage House Theatre), Richard Maltby’s Noble Family, & will appear in the NYC transfer of Tokyo’s Poupelle of ChimneyTown. Other credits include Prospect Theatre, Bay Street Theatre, Huntington Theatre, Boston Lyric Opera, American Theatre For Actors, Passage Theatre, & Wheelock Theatre. www.ellisgage.com @ellis_gage CHARLES PANG* (Immortal Teacher/Herald/Shrimp/Others) was born and raised in Hong Kong and is thrilled to return to The Monkey King! Maggie Flanigan Studio & AMDA Alum. Selected theatre credits: The Monkey King: A Modern Musical (NAAP/Actors Temple Theater), A Christmas Story: The Musical (National Tour), Made in China (Wakka Wakka Productions/59E59), Sans Me (The Tank), Tiananmen Requiem (The Players Theater), Romance of the Western Chamber (TADA! Theater), The Story of Yu-Huan (Yangtze Rep/Theater for the New City), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (The Vainglory Theatre Team). Film: The 25th Filial Exemplar, Wronged, June Mama. Workshop: American Eclipse.” Many thanks to Kimbirdlee, Jonathan and Steven! www.charlespang.com *Denotes members of Actors Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
11 GAGE THOMAS* [He/Him] (Dragon King/Others) is thrilled to make his debut at the Queens Theatre in The Monkey King. A recent graduate of the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa with a Master’s in Asian and Oceanic Performance, Gage also holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from NYU’s Tisch Drama. Fresh off his portrayal of the Emcee in Mānoa Valley Theatre’s Cabaret, Gage is excited to join the Actors’ Equity Association through this production. He expresses gratitude to his loved ones and especially his partner for their unwavering support. @gage.thomas BELLA VILLANUEVA* (Jogo/Dance Captain) is ecstatic to be a part of The Monkey King! Recent NYU Tisch alum. Previous credits: A Chorus Line International Tour (Connie Wong Standby), Breathe (Bunny/Surge), Hecuba (Cassandra), Head Over Heels (Mopsa). Special thanks to Jonathan Fadner, Kimbirdlee Fadner, Steven Eng, Max Ehrlich, Kelly Ruth Cole, and Queens Theatre. IG: @belnueva ANNIE YAMAMOTO* (Ganjuwai/Others) is very excited to be a part of The Monkey King at Queens Theatre! She recently moved from the Chicago area and has been enjoying her new life in New York City. Annie is truly grateful to be a part of this all-Asian cast and thanks the cast and crew for making her New York debut so incredibly special. She would also like to thank her parents for always supporting her dreams and aspirations. Enjoy the show! #FightLikeAGirl @annieyamamoto KELLY RUTH COLE* (Production Stage Manager) Previous credits include The Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes & The New York Spectacular [Radio City Music Hall]; Raisin [Skylight Music Theatre]; A Marvelous Order [Developmental Opera]; Atomic [Theater Row]; How Deep is the Ocean? [NYMF]; The Inexplicable Redemption of Agent G [MaYi/Vampire Cowboys]; Geek [Vampire Cowboys]; The Sluts of Sutton Drive [Ensemble Studio Theatre]; Cut [The Management]; My Heart in a Suitcase [National Tour]; Tommy [Baystreet Theatre]. PEARL MATTESON (u/s Monkey King, Guan Yin, and Jogo) is excited to be making her Queens Theatre Debut in The Monkey King! Matteson *Denotes members of Actors Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
12 was last seen on stage in Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood (Deorwynn and Others, Fight Captain) and Shrek The Musical! (Humpty Dumpty/ Blind Mouse/ Others) with Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre. Recently, she also made her television debut on “Law and Order: SVU” alongside Margaret Cho. Some past Regional credits include A Chorus Line, Men on Boats, If We Were Birds, and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Visit her website: [www.pearlmatteson.com], or connect with her on Instagram @pearl.matteson. MAX BOONE (u/s Dragon King, Jade Emporer, and Immortal Teacher) is so thrilled to be a part of this lovely show, and get a chance to connect with NYC’s incredible community of Asian artists! He was most recently seen splashing across the country in the National tour of Baby Shark Live! Other past credits include: Shrek (Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre), The Wizard of Oz (Prather Productions), and Mamma Mia! (New Bedford Festival Theatre). Huge thanks to Steven, Jonathan, Kimbirdlee and Queens Theatre (with a shoutout to Timothy Huang) for this opportunity! And as always, endless appreciation for Mom, Dad, Julia, Cindy, Ross and Brian, his agent (@hellskitchenagency on social media). Instagram: @monkeiiboy
13 About the Production Team (in alphabetical order) ERIN BLACK (Costume Designer) has costumed such celebrities as Antonio Banderas, Justin Timberlake, and Big Bird. Her career includes costuming for theater, television, film, and commercial styling work. Erin’s work with the Jim Henson Company has garnered four Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Costume Design on Sesame Street. She holds an M.F.A. from UT-Austin and a B.A. from Marquette University. Erin currently serves as an Assistant Arts Professor at New York University and lives in Queens with her husband and four amazing children. JONAH BOBILIN (Lighting Designer) is a theatrical lighting designer originally from O‘ahu, Hawai‘i. He is fascinated by the spectator/ performer encounter and the way that scenographic gestures can support and flavor this interaction. In particular, they enjoy working on productions which examine the important issues and contradictions of our society, and which induce the audience to enact meaningful change after leaving the theatre. Some recent credits include Ho‘oilina (Kennedy Theatre), Kalani Pe’a May Day is Lei Day Concert (Hawaii Theatre), Florence & Mojo (Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey), and The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Mānoa Valley Theatre). Jonah is on the Executive Board of Design Action, an intergenerational coalition of BIPOC and white designers working to end racial inequities in the North American Theater. Jonah has received two Po‘okela Awards for Excellence in Lighting Design from the Hawai‘i State Theatre Council. STEVEN ENG (Director) is thrilled to join this production of The Monkey King and re-team with Jonathan and Kimbirdlee Fadner. Recent directing credits include The Ghosts All Around You and The Comedy of Errors. He has directed numerous productions with MSTDA, National Asian Artists Project (NAAP), and NYU. As an actor, he has performed OffBroadway (Lucille Lortel nomination), on London’s West End, throughout the U.S. (Independent Reviewers of New England nomination), and in Europe. He is a proud co-founder of NAAP and on the faculty of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.
14 MAX B. EHRLICH (Choreographer) This is Max’s choreography debut! He competed in wushu (Chinese martial arts) and kickboxing nationally and internationally achieving world champion titles as a junior and national titles as an adult. Broadway performance credits: Aladdin; National tours: Aladdin; Miss Saigon; The King and I; Mamma Mia!; Regional: Vanya… Spike (Company of Fools), Seven Brides… (Dog Stuff). Enjoys being a nerd/weirdo. For all those weirdos out there: be yourself! Humongous thanks to DGRW, my family, the VCU fam and Big O. @ikaika.ehrlich JONATHAN FADNER (Co-Writer, Composer, Musical Director) is beyond happy to see The Monkey King: A Kung Fu Musical on Queens Theatre’s main stage. His works for the theatre have been produced with the National Asian Artists Project, Common Man Musicals, Mr. Finn’s Cabaret at Barrington Stage Company, 23 Elephants Theatre Company, and Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance. His musical The Unspeakable Act (Book by Steven Hess, Lyrics/Music by Jonathan Fadner) won “Best of Fringe” in the San Francisco Fringe Festival. Jonathan’s musical The Monkey King, co-written with his wife Kimbirdlee Fadner, has been performed at the Queens Theatre, The Actor’s Temple in NYC, Flushing Library, and Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance (MSTDA) Roosevelt Island. As a Junior version, The Monkey King has been performed multiple times in New York and California. Jonathan’s musical The Ghosts All Around You, is an annual tradition on Roosevelt Island and was funded by the New York State Council on the Arts and the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs. Infinite gratitude to my family and the monkey tribe! MADELINE GODDARD (she/her) (Set Designer) is a Set Designer and Visual Artist based in NYC, originally from Berlin, VT. She is a 2020 graduate from NYU Tisch’s Production & Design Studio and is passionate about exploring ways in which color, texture and form contribute to storytelling both onstage and in other media. She is thrilled to work with such a collaborative and talented team on The Monkey King, a story that will bring joy and inspiration to local youth! @madeline_goddard
15 I-CHEN WANG (she/they) (Projection Designer) is an international stage director and projection designer based in NYC. She creates through various forms, including new plays, experimental operas, and video/ graphic design. She holds a BA from the National Taiwan University of Arts (NTUA) and an MFA in directing from the New School of Drama. Her most recent work includes stage directing for Tell Tale Heart at Opera Modesto (2023), projection design for The Ghost All Around You at MSTDA (2022), and concept and graphic design for one of the Little Amal Walks NYC events: Embrace the tangle in Chinatown (2022). Learn more about her at i-chenwang.com Actors’ Equity Association (“Equity”), founded in 1913, is the U.S. labor union that represents more than 51,000 professional Actors and Stage Managers. Equity fosters the art of live theatre as an essential component of society and advances the careers of its members by negotiating wages, improving working conditions and providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans. Actors’ Equity is a member of the AFL-CIO and is affiliated with FIA, an international organization of performing arts unions. #EquityWorks
16 Queens Theatre Board of Directors Officers Gary Kesner, President The MBS Group Tracy Capune, Vice President Kaufman Astoria Studios Bruce D. Levine, Treasurer Real Estate and Finance Consultant Mark Misk, Secretary Nash Builders, Inc. Alfonso Quiroz Con Edison Members Jennifer Bai Barclays Georgiana Benatti New York Community Bank Steve Chen Crystal Window and Door Systems, Ltd. Salvatore DiMartino New York Community Bancorp, Inc. Cameron R. Hernandez Mount Sinai Queens Susan B. Lipsky Kepco, Inc. Irene Zoupaniotis Farrell Fritz
17 Ex- Officio Members The Honorable Eric Adams Mayor of the City of New York The Honorable Donovan Richards Queens Borough President Laurie Cumbo, Commissioner NYC Department of Cultural Affairs Sue Donoghue, Commissioner New York City Department of Parks and Recreation Frances A. Resheske, President Emeritus Con Edison
18 Queens Theatre Staff Taryn Sacramone, Executive Director Community Dominic D’Andrea, Director of Community Engagement Development Bernadette Ott, Development Manager Education Richard Hinojosa, Director of Education Finance Angelica Rodriguez, Finance Manager James Cooke, Senior Financial Advisor Programming Rob Urbinati, Theatre Associate Operations Jay Rogers, Director of Operations Connie Baker, Rentals & Events Manager Anthony Lackram, Operations Assistant Charles Bennett, Jorge Toro & William Smith, Building Attendants Front of House Willy Mosquera, House Manager Gabriel Rodriguez, Box Office Supervisor Vasilios Leon, Box Office Assistant Jordi Toro, Box Office Assistant Robert Lavin, Shuttle Service
19 Production Victor Catano, Production Manager Steve Wolf, Assistant Production Manager/Lighting Supervisor Jerry Rodriguez, Sound Associate Jeanmarie Conley, Technical Director
20 14 United Nations Avenue South Flushing Meadows Corona Park Corona, NY 11368 Box Office: (718) 760-0064 • www.QueensTheatre.org