Cathay: Three Tales of China at New Victory Theater
Ping Chong's Cathay: Three Tales of China at the New Victory Theater in New York, Oct. 28-Nov. 13, 2005
The New Victory Theater presents Ping Chong's Cathay: Three Tales of China in New York through November 13, 2005. Commissioned by the Kennedy Center for the 2005 Festival of China, Chong joined forces with puppet artists of Chinas Shaanxi Folk Art Theatre on this new production which takes audiences on a journey through Chinas tumultuous history with a unique blend of theatrical puppetry and thrilling special effects.
Incorporating the use of traditional rod, shadow and full-size puppets, Ping Chongs triptych travels from an opulent Tang Dynasty palace to the WWII ravaged fields of mainland China to the center of a bustling hotel in modern, downtown Xian. Ornately designed rod puppets bring to life the first story, The Lady and the Emperor, in which the heart of a powerful ruler is captured by one of Chinas four legendary beauties, resulting in the corruption of the court, insurrection of the people and a decision between love and honor. Little Worm, set in the turbulent 1940s, relies on shadow puppetry and video animation to illustrate the hardships and nightmarish images witnessed by a young boy during the Japanese occupation of China (based on first-hand accounts of Chongs sister and Uncle). The third tale, New, connects Chinas history with its 21st Century reemergence as a global economic force. Staged within a modern day, luxury hotel, New features life size figurines that portray businessmen, rap stars and tourists with mysterious links to the first two tales.
Chong is an award-winning theater director, choreographer, video and installation artist. He began his theatrical career as a member of Meredith Monks The House Foundation. In 1972, he mounted his first independent theater work, Lazarus. Since then, he has created over fifty major works for the stage including Humboldts Current (Obie Award, 1977), A.M./A.M. The Articulated Man (Villager Award, 1982), Nosferatu (Maharam Design Award, 1985), Angels of Swedenborg (1985), Kind Ness (USA Playwrights Award, 1988), Brightness (two 1990 Bessie Awards), The East-West Quartet: Deshima, Chinoiserie, After Sorrow and Pojagi. His two full-length puppet theater works, Obon and Kwaidan (presented at The New Victory Theater in 2000 and the winner of a Citation of Excellence in the Art of Puppetry from UNIMA-USA), have toured nationally and internationally to critical and popular success. His work has been performed at such major New York venues as The Brooklyn Academy of Musics Next Wave Festival, Joyce Theater, La Mama E.T.C., St. Clements Theater as well as at major museums, theaters and festivals in North America, Europe and Asia.
In recent years, he expanded the range of his explorations to include visual art installations, and he has created over 25 original works in his Undesirable Elements project, an ongoing series of community-specific oral history works exploring the effects of history, culture and identity on the lives of individuals. In 2005, Theatre Communications Group published Ping Chongs first collection of plays, The East-West Quartet.
Based in Xian, China, the Shaanxi Folk Art Theatre was established in 1960 to promote the art of puppetry and folk art traditions of the Shaanxi province of Northern China. Over the past 40 years, the company has conceived and presented more than one hundred productions and has toured to numerous countries including Thailand, Switzerland, Germany, Holland, France, Sweden, Brazil, Iran, Singapore, Japan, Malta, Serbia and Hong Kong.
The design team for Cathay: Three Tales of China includes Stephen Kaplin, Puppet Designer; Wang Bo, Puppet Co-Designer; Randy Ward, Scenic and Lighting Designer; Stefani Mar, Costume Designer; Rupert Bohle, Projection Designer; and Christopher Walker, Sound Designer.
The show's performance schedule is: Friday, October 28 at 7:00 pm, Saturday, October 29 at 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm, Sunday, October 30 at 12:00 pm & 5:00 pm, Thursday, November 3 at 7:00 pm, Friday, November 4 at 7:00 pm, Saturday, November 5 at 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm, Sunday, November 6 at 12:00 pm (VicTeens) and 5:00 pm, Thursday, November 10 at 7:00 pm, Friday, November 11 at 7:00 pm, Saturday, November 12 at 2:00 pm & 7:00 pm, Sunday, November 13, and 12:00 pm and 5:00 pm. The November 5th (at 7 PM) and 10th performances will feature a talk-back with the performers, and the November 10th will also be a signed performance.
VICTEENS
VicTeens is a teens-only program that provides pre- and post-show events in addition to workshops and other fun activities. For only $10, on Sunday, November 6 at 12pm, teens get to watch Cathay: Three Tales of China from a teens-only section of The New Victory Theater and engage in a private, post-show Talk Back with the cast and other theater professionals. VicTeens ticket prices vary by event and can be purchased by calling 646.223.3065 or visiting www.newvictory.org.
Tickets for CATHAY: THREE TALES OF CHINA are $10, $20 and $30 and can be ordered by visiting Telecharge.com or by calling 212.239.6200. Tickets are also on sale at the New Victory box office (209 West 42nd Street, just west of Broadway), Sunday and Monday, 11am5pm, Tuesday Saturday, 12pm7pm.