Extended to March 24: David Henry Hwang's The Dance and the Railroad at the Signature Theatre & Lark Play Development Center

New York City

Signature Theatre (James Houghton, Founding Artistic Director; Erika Mallin, Executive Director) and Lark Play Development Center (John Clinton Eisner, Artistic Director; Michael Robertson, Managing Director) are presenting the Contemporary Chinese Playwriting Series, curated by Signature’s Residency One Playwright David Henry Hwang, whose play THE DANCE AND THE RAILROAD, directed by May Adrales, opened at Signature on Monday, February 25, 2013 and has been extended until March 24, 2013.

David Henry Hwang. Photo by Lia Chang

 

The two theatre companies also hosted a group of distinguished playwrights, directors, translators, adaptors, and actors in a cross-cultural dialogue through the development and presentation of English-language versions of four contemporary Chinese plays. The play translations—co-commissioned by the companies—were presented in readings as part of the translation development process on March 15, 16 and 17 in the Studio Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues).

A vital component of David Henry Hwang’s residency at Signature, and an extension of Hwang’s many international collaborations at the Lark Play Development Center, the Contemporary Chinese Playwriting Series is aimed at exposing U.S. audiences to the diverse, dynamic world of contemporary Chinese playwriting while fostering a conversation between Chinese and U.S. artists.. The four contemporary Chinese plays include:

PLAYING THE VIOLIN
by Wei-Jan Chi, literal translation by Cheng-Han Wu, adaptation by Madeleine George, directed by Daniel Jaquez
Reading on Friday, March 15 at 7:00 p.m.
Summary: The death of Liu San’s best friend starts him on a wild ride through hidden memories and alternate realities.

THE CAPTAIN
by Nick Yu, literal translation and adaptation by Zhao Binghao, directed by Josh Hecht
Reading on Saturday, March 16 at 2:30 p.m.
Summary: Sixty years after being rescued from drowning by the captain of a fishing vessel, a fisherman living with Alzheimer’s receives a mysterious visitor from the sea.

PUNKS’ CARNIVAL
by Meng Jinghui, literal translation by Nick Frisch, adaptation by Lloyd Suh, directed by Victor Maog
Reading on Saturday, March 16 at 7:30 p.m.
Summary: A gritty exploration of Beijing’s underground punk scene, complete with songs and slapstick.

WILD BOAR
by Candace Chong, literal translation by Joanna Lee and Ken Smith, Adaptation by David Henry Hwang, directed by Lisa Peterson
Reading on Sunday, March 17 at 2:30 p.m.
Summary: In a thinly disguised Hong Kong, an editor investigates the disappearance of a socially-conscious historian, and unwittingly lands a role in creating the Perfect City.

The readings are free to the general public and each presentation will be followed by a moderated talkback. Reservations are required and can be made by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Contemporary Chinese Playwriting Series is generously supported by the Henry Luce Foundation and the Asian Cultural Council.

Signature Theatre Company is a participant in the Global Connections-ON the ROAD program, funded by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and administered by Theatre Communications Group, the national organization for the professional not-for-profit American theatre.