Rolling World Premiere of COLONIALISM IS TERRIBLE, BUT PHO IS DELICIOUS Begins This Month at Likelihood Theater
Likelihood Theater, Anaheim’s official resident theater firm, has introduced the Rolling World Premiere of “Colonialism is Horrible, However Phở is Scrumptious.” Written by Dustin H. Chinn and directed by Oánh Nguyễn, this thrilling new comedy will preview from March 31 by means of April 7, with common performances being April 8 by means of April 30 on the Cripe Stage at Likelihood Theater @ Bette Aitken theater arts Middle.
Dustin Chinn’s “Colonialism is Horrible, However Phở is Scrumptious” took its inspiration from two viral incidents round cultural appropriation and meals. [Chef Tyler Akin did a how-to video for Bon Appetit, “PSA: This is How You Should Be Eating Pho,” and Dan Pashman of The Sporkful suggested you could improve bibimbap using a bundt pan.] Chinn says he “adopted the rabbit gap” and wrote what he dubs “a triptych in regards to the possession and authorship of meals following the journey of Vietnamese noodle soup.”
This biting comedy spans centuries, continents, and cultures in a compelling three-part vignette construction. Starting in Eighteen Eighties French Indochina, a headstrong Vietnamese cook dinner finds herself within the kitchen of aristocratic French settlers. Then in 1999 Vietnam, American vacationers get their first style of the native delicacies. Lastly, in present-day, gentrifying Brooklyn, the simmering conflict round tradition, possession, and authenticity involves a roaring boil.
The story of bringing “Colonialism is Horrible, However Phở is Scrumptious” to the stage began throughout the pandemic shutdown. Likelihood Theater partnered with Aurora Theatre Firm to current a digital studying of the present in February 2021. The viewers response mixed with the fruitful partnership between playwright Dustin H. Chinn and director Oánh Nguyễn mixed with the overwhelmingly optimistic response from audiences motivated each corporations to pursue a full manufacturing.
Likelihood Theater’s manufacturing is the second a part of a three-theater rolling world premiere, all to be directed by Nguyễn. The primary half was at Aurora Theatre Firm final November. That manufacturing was met with crucial acclaim, being referred to as “a biting and delicious three-part deal with of a play… a layered comedy melange with ingenious insights, glorious appearing, and positive course” by Berkeleyside and praised by Mercury Information as “A humorous, thought-provoking and well-crafted play… Like every well-crafted dish, the play affords an entire lot to savor.” The manufacturing was finally named as Better of 2022 by Marin Unbiased. Following Likelihood Theater’s manufacturing, Oregon Modern Theatre can be presenting the ultimate a part of the rolling world premiere from Might 19 – June 4.
Dustin H. Chinn (Playwright) is an NYC-based Seattle native who’s developed work with Ars Nova’s Play Group, A.C.T.’s New Strands Competition, the College of Washington by way of a Mellon Artistic Fellowship, UC Berkeley, SPACE on Ryder Farm, UMass at Amherst New Play Lab, and Vampire Cowboys. Proud product of the Ma-Yi Writers Lab, the biggest collective of Asian American playwrights within the historical past of recorded time. Everlasting gratitude to Madeleine Oldham and Floor Ground at Berkeley Rep for taking a shot when it was merely a blurb and handful of pages, Mei Ann Teo, Ken Savage, and the 2018 Bay Space Playwrights Competition for its additional evolution.
Oánh Nguyễn (Director) has been serving as Likelihood Theater’s founding Creative Director since 1999. Oanh is a recipient of TCG’s New Generations Grant and the TCG Nathan Cummings Younger Leaders of Colour Fellowship. He was awarded the Excellent Artist Award by Arts Orange County, profiled in Orange County Register’s “Most Influential Folks” sequence and OC Weekly’s Folks Challenge, inducted into Anaheim Excessive College’s Corridor of Fame and was a graduation speaker for Chapman College School of Performing Arts. Oanh was Producing Affiliate at South Coast Repertory for 3 years. He additionally served on the advisory board of the Anaheim Excessive College Performing Arts Conservatory, the board of Community of Ensemble Theatres, LA’s 99-seat Transitional Committee, and OC Theatre Guild, in addition to panels and committees for Stage Administrators and Choreographers Society, Different Theatre Los Angeles, Nationwide Endowment for the Arts and Theatre Communications Group. His directing credit embody productions at Likelihood Theater, East West Gamers, the J. Paul Getty Museum, Segerstrom Middle for the Arts, South Coast Repertory, Aurora Theatre Firm, Oregon Modern Theatre, Chapman College, Azusa Pacific College, AMDA, CSU Fullerton, and served because the Affiliate Director for the worldwide tour of David Henry Hwang’s “Chinglish” (Berkeley Repertory, South Coast Repertory, Hong Kong Arts Competition). His chosen movie credit embody “Two Brothers” directed by Jean-Jacques Annaude, “Rush Hour 3” directed by Brett Ratner, and “Lonely Boy” directed by Dale Fabrigar (Greatest First Function Grand Jury Prize on the 2013 Louisiana Worldwide Movie Competition and Viewers Award Winner on the 2013 BolderLife Competition).
Becoming a member of Nguyễn on the design staff are scenic designer Avery Tăng (Likelihood debut), costume designer Maggie Whitaker (Likelihood debut), lighting designer Kara Ramlow (“The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity”), sound designer James Ard (Likelihood debut), dramaturg Natalia Duong (Likelihood debut), dialect coach Glenda Morgan Brown (“The Secret Backyard”), and stage supervisor Jordan Jones (“Little Girls – The Broadway Musical”).
The forged of “Colonialism is Horrible, However Phở is Scrumptious” options Hannah Mariah (Likelihood debut) as Thúy/Mùi/Danielle, Dustin Vuong Nguyen (“A Refrain Line”) as Nguyên/Quang/Sam, Chloe Homosexual Brewer as Madame Gagnier/Rose/Julie, and Sam Bullington (“Skylight”) as Guillaume/Hugh/Chris.
Laurie Smits Staude is the Govt Producer for this manufacturing and Susan Bowman & Freddie Greenfield are the Affiliate Producers. Bette & Wylie Aitken are producers for the whole 2023 Season and The Household of Mary Kay Fyda-Mar are this season’s affiliate producers. The media sponsor is Viet Q Media and the group companions are Viet Creatives Collective, Viet Rainbow of Orange County, and Vietnamese American Arts & Letters Affiliation (VAALA).
ABOUT CHANCE THEATER
Proud to be one of many main ensemble-driven theatre corporations in Southern California, CHANCE THEATER has acquired the Nationwide Theatre Firm grant from American Theatre Wing for “nurturing a group of artists in ways in which strengthen and show the standard, range, and dynamism of American theatre.” The Likelihood was just lately nominated for 47 OCTG Theatre Awards, together with 4 for Excellent Manufacturing (for Subsequent to Regular, Cry It Out, Inexperienced Day’s American Fool, and Little Girls – The Broadway Musical). Beforehand, Likelihood Theater has gained eight OCTG Theatre Awards, together with Outstand Manufacturing of a Musical for its intimate revival of Enjoyable House, eight Ovation Awards, together with 4 for Greatest Manufacturing of a Musical (Intimate Theatre), and 4 LADCC Awards, together with the Polly Warfield Award for Excellent Season. The Anaheim Metropolis Council named Likelihood Theater “the Official Resident Theater Firm of Anaheim” in 2014, and Arts Orange County has twice named the Likelihood as “Excellent Arts Group.” Identified for utilizing daring and private storytelling to advertise dialogue and connection inside the Southern California theatrical panorama, the Likelihood is dedicated to contributing to a extra compassionate, related and artistic group. As a constituent member of Theatre Communications Group, The Theatrical Producers League of Los Angeles, and OC Theatre Guild, Likelihood Theater continues to convey nationwide consideration to the Southern California and Orange County theater scenes.
