Northlight Theatre presents the World Premiere of
Kenneth Lin's
Po Boy Tango
Directed by Chay Yew
World premiere play developed at Northlight blends traditional Chinese cuisine and African American "Soul Food"
Northlight Theatre continues its 2008-2009 Season with the World Premiere of Po Boy Tango by Kenneth Lin, directed by Chay Yew. The production, featuring Ken Narasaki, Jeanne Sakata and Jacqueline Williams, runs January 7-February 15, 2009 at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd in Skokie.
A celebration of the human spirit and the joy of cooking, Po Boy Tango tells the story of Richie Po, a Taiwanese immigrant who turns to his estranged friend Gloria to help him recreate his mother's "Great Banquet." Despite the challenges of shark fin soup, duck po boy sandwiches and underlying cultural tensions, Richie and Gloria find common ground through their shared humor and the blending of traditional Chinese cuisine and African-American "Soul Food." Helped by lessons from Po Mama's television cooking show, the two discover a deeper understanding of food, culture and the nature of friendship.
Po Boy Tango comes to the Northlight stage for a full production after a successful workshop and reading as a part of the Northlight Interplay series-the third production to make such a transition (Lady, Better Late).
"Po Boy Tango was another of our Interplay readings that piqued our interest because of its fresh themes, unique characters, and unusual theatricality. I don't ever remember reading anything like Po Boy. The fact that it dealt with diverse cultures facing each other's prejudices and differences made it an interesting choice for our audience" says BJ Jones. "The need for nourishment, not just of the body but of the spirit and the soul, is central to Po Boy, and it celebrates The Commonality of all people and all cultures. The taking of a meal allows us to reach out to friends, affect rapprochement with adversaries, or simply settle into the silence that allows us to gather our strength "
Po Boy Tango is a recipient of The Edgerton Foundation New American Plays Award. The funding supports an extension of the rehearsal period, with the goal of achieving a stronger first production, thereby increasing the chances of a continued life for the play.
Po Boy Tango is also the first installment of a three-year American Experience Series, generously underwritten by the Lehman Family. The American Experience Series is designed to present work that fully integrates both contemporary and historically significant events, bringing to life The Common desire to accomplish the dreams of disparate people. Social justice, tolerance, inclusion, and freedom, both religious and political, are the key factors in selecting work that speak to the ideals of the American Experience.
Po Boy Tango is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts' "Access to Artistic Excellence" program; the program encourages and supports artistic creativity, preserves our diverse cultural heritage, and makes the arts more widely available in communities throughout the country.
The design team includes Brian Sidney Bembridge (Set), Rachel Laritz (Costume), Keith Parham (Lighting), and Andre Pluess (Sound). Lauren Hickman is the stage manager and the dramaturg is Meghan Beals McCarthy.
Kenneth Lin's (playwright) plays said Saїd, Agency, Sun Is The New Apollo, Po Boy Tango, Dovetail, and The Lynching of a White Man in Rural, CA have been produced, developed and/or commissioned by the ALLIANCE THEATRE, South Coast Rep, Williamstown Theatre Festival, The Wilma Theatre, P73 Productions, NY Stage & Film and Arena Stage. He is the winner of the Princess Grace Award, the L. Arnold Weissberger Award and the Kendeda Graduate Playwriting Competition. Lin is an alumnus of Cornell University, the U.S. Fulbright Scholarship Program and the Yale School of Drama, where he was awarded the ASCAP Cole Porter Prize for Excellence in Playwriting.
