YELLOW FACE

OVERVIEW

A biting new comedy from David Henry Hwang, Tony Award-winning author of M. Butterfly.

 

“WICKEDLY FUNNY…a brilliant play that gives a fine actor [Hoon Lee] a once-in-a-lifetime showcase…”

Laurence Vittes, The Hollywood Reporter (full review online)

 

A wild satire about cultural identity involves family politics, international intrigue and Senate investigators – all in pursuit of the ever-elusive truth.  After inadvertently casting a white actor in the Asian lead role, the author finds himself in an embarrassing, ironic and hilarious position that takes the PC out of PC.

Los Angeles-born playwright David Henry Hwang received the Tony Award for his Broadway debut, M. Butterfly, co-wrote the book for Elton John and Tim Rice’s musical Aida, and wrote the book for Disney’s Broadway musical Tarzan.  His adaptation of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Flower Drum Song premiered at the Mark Taper Forum in 2001.

 

“…Hwang's most intellectually resonant [play] since his Tony-winning ‘M. Butterfly.’  …the questions it puts forth about who we are as people cut to the heart of America’s promise.”

Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times (full review online)

 

“A PUNGENT PLAY OF IDEAS WITH A BIG HEART.
  Leigh Silverman elicits full-out performances of each storyline and character, starting with the remarkable Hoon Lee…Kathryn A. Layng evokes the essence of glamorous celebs…And aud favorite Tzi Ma hilariously delivers…”

Bob Verini,  Variety (not available online)

 

“GO.   It’s a beautiful and truthful slice of theatrical philosophy about illusion and delusion…”

Steven Leigh Morris, LA Weekly (full review online)

 

FEATURE ARTICLE

David Henry Hwang: About Face

By ELAINE DUTKA

Native Angeleno David Henry Hwang became the first—and only—Asian American playwright to reach Broadway when his 1988 Tony Award®- winning M. Butterfly took off. read more online...

 

Online feature at Los Angeles Times' calendarlive.com

PLAYWRIGHTS ON WRITING

True stories and other modern-day fantasies

In a world where fact and fiction blur, sometimes
invention is the shortest route to truth.

By David Henry Hwang, Special to The Times

We live in a time when reality has evidently trumped fiction. The novel loses readers, as narrative nonfiction and memoirs gain in popularity. Reality television, once derided as a fad, is apparently here to stay. Young people abandon the so-called old media to post anecdotes from their lives and videos of their activities online. In theater, docudramas, in which quotes from real people are dramatized, have become more present on our stages. Today, truth is not only stranger than fiction, it also seems to be more popular. Read more online at calendarlive.com

 

Presented by Center Theatre Group and The Public Theater in association with East West Players.

CREDITS

PUBLICATIONS

• Yellow Face: Discovery Guide
  ( pdf | 2.8Mb )
• Yellow Face: Teaching Instructions
  ( pdf | 0.7Mb )

PRESS RELEASES