Swan Soong | A Play featuring the Famous Sisters of Shanghai
Mao famously said of the Soong sisters: “One loved money, one loved power and one loved her country.”
“Swan Soong” is a family drama based upon the lives of China’s Soong sisters and their biographer, American writer Emily (Mickey) Hahn. During the Japanese occupation, and then World War 2, the Soong sisters struggle to govern a divided China, and their divided family. Despite their good intentions, they fall prey to power, wealth and deception.
Notorious for her cigar smoking feminism and for her marriage with Chinese poet Sinmay Zau, Emily Hahn tells of the struggles of these brilliant and powerful women to unite and build a new China, and family. The primarily Asian-American cast brings to life smart, resourceful and tough 1940’s-style characters. And they also bring into focus, the struggles of women in power, and how they can be lost in history.
Doors Open: 2pm
Performance of Staged Reading: 2:30pm
Q&A following performance addressing the play and diversity in theater with the primarily Asian cast. Please note: there is a donation of $5 at the door that includes entrance to the museum exhibits.
Please Note: This is a staged reading so actors will be reading from the script with limited scene blocking and costumes.
The location of the reading at the Chinese American Museum is an apt setting for the reading of the play due to their mission to “advance the appreciation of Chinese American culture through exhibitions, education, and research and to preserve the past, present, and future of Chinese Americans primarily in the Midwest."
For Asian-American actors, the dearth of opportunities compounds itself. “An Asian person who is competing against white people, for an audience of white people, has to train for that opportunity like it’s the Olympics. An incredibly talented Asian actor might be considered for a leading role maybe once or twice in a lifetime. That’s a highly pressured situation.” Constance Wu of Crazy Rich Asians ~ New York Times
Directed by Marc Rita and starring Lina Jean Fritz as Ai-ling Soong, Shana Dagny as Ching-ling Soong, Mary Ann De La Cruz as May-ling Soong, Flavia Pallozzi as Mickey Hahn, Leo Zhu as Sinmay Zau & Generalissimo and Van Ferro as T.V. Soong and Big Eared Tu.
Jyl Bonaguro, the playwright and sculptor, creates plays that focus on history and women with the desire to create strong female characters that explore the nuances of male and female relationships.
The staged reading of Swan Soong is made possible thru the generous support of Mabel Menard, Ben Lau and the Chinese American Museum of Chicago. It is dedicated to the memory of Chesley Adler, friend and gifted designer, 1967-2018.
Mao famously said of the Soong sisters: “One loved money, one loved power and one loved her country.”
“Swan Soong” is a family drama based upon the lives of China’s Soong sisters and their biographer, American writer Emily (Mickey) Hahn. During the Japanese occupation, and then World War 2, the Soong sisters struggle to govern a divided China, and their divided family. Despite their good intentions, they fall prey to power, wealth and deception.
Notorious for her cigar smoking feminism and for her marriage with Chinese poet Sinmay Zau, Emily Hahn tells of the struggles of these brilliant and powerful women to unite and build a new China, and family. The primarily Asian-American cast brings to life smart, resourceful and tough 1940’s-style characters. And they also bring into focus, the struggles of women in power, and how they can be lost in history.
Doors Open: 2pm
Performance of Staged Reading: 2:30pm
Q&A following performance addressing the play and diversity in theater with the primarily Asian cast. Please note: there is a donation of $5 at the door that includes entrance to the museum exhibits.
Please Note: This is a staged reading so actors will be reading from the script with limited scene blocking and costumes.
The location of the reading at the Chinese American Museum is an apt setting for the reading of the play due to their mission to “advance the appreciation of Chinese American culture through exhibitions, education, and research and to preserve the past, present, and future of Chinese Americans primarily in the Midwest."
For Asian-American actors, the dearth of opportunities compounds itself. “An Asian person who is competing against white people, for an audience of white people, has to train for that opportunity like it’s the Olympics. An incredibly talented Asian actor might be considered for a leading role maybe once or twice in a lifetime. That’s a highly pressured situation.” Constance Wu of Crazy Rich Asians ~ New York Times
Directed by Marc Rita and starring Lina Jean Fritz as Ai-ling Soong, Shana Dagny as Ching-ling Soong, Mary Ann De La Cruz as May-ling Soong, Flavia Pallozzi as Mickey Hahn, Leo Zhu as Sinmay Zau & Generalissimo and Van Ferro as T.V. Soong and Big Eared Tu.
Jyl Bonaguro, the playwright and sculptor, creates plays that focus on history and women with the desire to create strong female characters that explore the nuances of male and female relationships.
The staged reading of Swan Soong is made possible thru the generous support of Mabel Menard, Ben Lau and the Chinese American Museum of Chicago. It is dedicated to the memory of Chesley Adler, friend and gifted designer, 1967-2018.