Forbidden City West at Theater for the New City

The Yangtze Repertory Theatre of America presents Forbidden City West, score by Gregory Frederick, with book and lyrics by Joanna Chan, opening at Theater for the New City on 18 Jun 2008, following previews from 14 Jun and running through to 2 Jul 2008.

Forbidden City West: 100 years of Chinese-American Experience through the life and times of legendary entertainer Jadin Wong. Wong's colorful life includes: jumping off a small military plane over the Black Forest, being found and brought to safety a few hours later, then going on stage to entertain two thousand American G.I.s in Austria; running away from home at age 14 to take dancing lessons; creating the 'dragon lady' image with the aid of her English dance teacher; and trying to restart her career as a stand-up comic. The fiesty young woman proved to be a peerless survivor, outlasting three husbands and braving the male-orientated Chinese community that condemned and ignored her.

Directed by Joanna Chan, with choreography for David ChienHui Shen, Forbidden City West features Micahel-David Gordon, Nolan Kennedy, Sarah Merkel, Patrena Murry, Scarlet Rivera, Damen Scranton, Welland Scripps and Lindsey Vrab.

The creative team comprises Martin Andrew Orlowicz (set design), HouJian Xu (costume) and Kathleen Dobbins (lighting.