Have you ever left a theater and felt like your perspective had completely shifted? That’s the power of storytelling through live theater, and it’s the kind of experience audiences won’t want to miss at Chance Theater’s upcoming regional premiere of The Chinese Lady by Lloyd Suh.
This mesmerizing play doesn’t just entertain: it challenges, reclaims, and reframes. It offers something that textbooks rarely do: a deeply personal lens into a moment in history that many have never heard of. And in doing so, it reminds us that representation in the arts isn’t just about who’s on stage – it’s about whose stories we choose to tell.
Who Was Afong Moy?
Afong Moy was the first known Chinese woman to arrive in America, brought to New York in 1834 at just 14 years old. She was placed on display as part of a traveling “exhibit” meant to showcase Chinese culture, but behind the veil of curiosity and performance, her humanity was overlooked.
The Chinese Lady imagines the inner life of Afong Moy with poignant poetry and quiet power, asking: What happens when someone becomes a symbol before they are ever seen as a person?
Storytelling That Reframes the Past
Theater has long been a tool for historical reflection. It doesn’t change the facts, but it does shift the spotlight, giving emotional weight to the names and faces that history left behind. Through intimate performances and purposeful direction, productions like The Chinese Lady invite us to experience the untold stories that shaped our country.
Lloyd Suh’s work is a masterclass in how dramatic storytelling can reclaim history. His use of humor, stillness, and repetition forces the audience to sit with the discomfort of a young woman being reduced to spectacle and then witness her quiet transformation into a symbol of endurance.
Theater as a Tool for Connection and Compassion
At its core, The Chinese Lady isn’t just about the past. It’s about the present moment – about what it means to see and be seen, to listen and be heard. It encourages all of us to rethink what we know, to confront what we don’t, and to embrace the stories that often go untold.
As we continue producing powerful and socially-conscious theater in Orange County, Chance Theater remains committed to uplifting stories that foster empathy and understanding. Because when we rewrite history with care, creativity, and compassion – we create space for everyone to belong.
Want to support more productions like this? Become a Chance Theater member and see it for free.
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