Ma-Yi Theater Company to Debut Two New Plays at Theatre Row

Ma-Yi Theater Company will present two new plays to be performed in repertory at Theatre Row's Clurman Theatre this fall. The double bill will include the U.S. premiere of Carlos Celdran's Livin' La Vida Imelda — adapted for the New York stage by Ralph B. Peña and Carlos Celdran from the play's site-specific performances in the Philippines — along with the world premiere of Han Ong’s Chairs and a Long Table. The limited off-Broadway engagement will run from October 28-November 23. The official opening for Livin' La Vida Imelda will be Wednesday, November 5. The opening for Chair and a Long Table will take place on Friday, November 7.

"The two exciting and provocative works respond to our prevailing assumptions about colorblind casting, the quest for equality in the arts, along with the eccentricities of Imelda Marcos and the remixing of a dictator's dubious legacy into an innocuous disco party," said Ma-Yi Artistic Director Ralph B. Peña. "The 'myths' referred to in the play are myths about post-racial America, myths about shoes and jewelry and myths about historical and cultural authenticity."

Chairs and a Long Table, directed by Linsay Firman, follows a group of Asian-American actors in New York City as they prepare to attend a conference in Los Angeles addressing racial discrimination in the casting of a classic Chinese play, where the two lead characters have been cast with non-Asian actors. The cast will feature Ron Domingo, Julie Fitzpatrick, Julienne Kim, Moses Villarama, and Jeena Yi.

Livin' La Vida Imelda offers an inside look at the life of the controversial former First Lady of the Philippines, with a solo show created and performed by Carlos Celdran. Ralph B. Peña directs.

The design team for both plays includes Nick Francone (scenic design), Yi Zhao (lighting design), and Becky Bodurtha (costume design), with Imelda sound design by Fabian Obispo, Chairs sound design by Nick Borisjuk, and Imelda projection design by Hanna Wasileski.

For tickets to Livin' La Vida Imelda, click here.

For tickets to Chairs and a Long Table, click here.