ARTICLE
For Immediate Release Imagination Stage PRESENTS THE Ballad Of Mu Lan Inspired by Beijing Opera, this International Tale of Honor, Family, and Girl-Power Will Delight Families this Summer June 29, 2019 - August 11, 2019 BETHESDA, MD (June 12, 2019). This summer, Imagination Stage presents a new take on the timeless Chinese folk tale, The Ballad of Mu Lan. Written and directed by Alvin Chan, this new production uses elements of Beijing Opera to create a show that introduces young audiences and their families to China’s culture and tradition. In honor of the 40th Anniversary of China-U.S. diplomatic relations, Imagination Stage is proud to present a show that celebrates the two countries’ shared values of family, courage, honor, and pride in one’s homeland. In her quest to protect her father, Mu Lan proves that girls can do anything – including saving a nation. This partnership production with the Honolulu Theatre for Youth features live music by Matthew Mazzella, pageantry, martial arts, and humor. “As I began to envision the world of Mu Lan, Jingju (Beijing Opera) seemed to be the perfect form for this adaptation. Mu Lan comes from a world of rigid rules, where men and women are taught to behave in very precise ways and to adhere to centuries of tradition. Mu Lan, against all odds, is able to find her own way through a world that has been bogged down by gender expectations,” said Director Alvin Chan. “Sometimes, revisiting the world of old traditions is what allows us to look at our present. Just as the old have much knowledge to impart upon the young, the young have much to teach the old. But we must be willing to listen.” The Ballad of Mu Lan, written and directed by Alvin Chan with music by Matt Mazzella, is best for ages 4+ and runs from June 29 to August 11, 2019 in Imagination Stage’s Annette M. and Theodore N. Lerner Family Theatre. Tickets are $15-35 and may be purchased online at www.imaginationstage.org, at the Imagination Stage box office, or via phone at 301-280-1660. Group rates are available. The opening night and press performance is June 29 at 7:00 p.m. Press tickets and photos are available upon request. Contact [email protected] for more information. ABOUT THE CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM The Ballad of Mu Lan features a cast of acclaimed local actors. Justine "Icy" Moral – a local star who was recently seen in Into the Woods and Ragtime at Ford’s Theatre – brings girl power center stage in the role of Mu Lan. Rafael Sebastian (Macbeth at Folger Theatre, Paper Dolls at Mosaic Theatre Company) plays the Emperor and the soldier Jin Yong. This is the second time working with Director Alvin Chan for both Ryan Sellers, playing General Fei, and Jacob Yeh, who plays Mu Lan’s father Huan Hu and the warrior Xiu Qi. Sellers and Yeh both worked with Chan on Anime Momotaro (Helen Hayes Award, Outstanding Production-Theatre for Young Audiences) at Imagination Stage in 2013. Daniel Glenn Westbrook (Assassins at NextStop Theatre) plays the Xi Xia King, and Jordan D. Moral (The Happy Time at Signature Theatre) and Andres Alejandro Ponce (Hands on a Hardbody at The Keegan Theatre) round out the cast as the Chinese villagers and Xi Xia soldiers. Playwright and Director Alvin Chan also serves as Costume Designer. The rest of the creative team for The Ballad of Mu Lan consists of Video Designer Chesley Cannon, Scenic and Prop Designer Joseph D. Dodd, and Lighting Designer Zachary Gilbert. Music composed and performed by Matthew Mazzella. The Ballad of Mu Lan is stage managed by Julia Singer. LOCATION 4908 Auburn Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814 Parking: Metered parking in the adjacent public parking garage; parking is free on weekends Metro: Red Line/Bethesda Station ABOUT IMAGINATION STAGE Founded in 1979, Imagination Stage is a 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to inspire creativity through theatre and arts education programs that nurture, challenge, and empower young people of all abilities. It offers year-round professional theatre for young audiences and classes in creative drama/acting, musical theatre, dance, and filmmaking for ages 1-18. www.imaginationstage.org ###
For Immediate Release
Imagination Stage PRESENTS THE Ballad Of Mu Lan
Inspired by Beijing Opera, this International Tale of Honor, Family, and Girl-Power Will Delight Families this Summer
June 29, 2019 - August 11, 2019
BETHESDA, MD (June 12, 2019). This summer, Imagination Stage presents a new take on the timeless Chinese folk tale, The Ballad of Mu Lan. Written and directed by Alvin Chan, this new production uses elements of Beijing Opera to create a show that introduces young audiences and their families to China’s culture and tradition. In honor of the 40th Anniversary of China-U.S. diplomatic relations, Imagination Stage is proud to present a show that celebrates the two countries’ shared values of family, courage, honor, and pride in one’s homeland. In her quest to protect her father, Mu Lan proves that girls can do anything – including saving a nation. This partnership production with the Honolulu Theatre for Youth features live music by Matthew Mazzella, pageantry, martial arts, and humor.
“As I began to envision the world of Mu Lan, Jingju (Beijing Opera) seemed to be the perfect form for this adaptation. Mu Lan comes from a world of rigid rules, where men and women are taught to behave in very precise ways and to adhere to centuries of tradition. Mu Lan, against all odds, is able to find her own way through a world that has been bogged down by gender expectations,” said Director Alvin Chan. “Sometimes, revisiting the world of old traditions is what allows us to look at our present. Just as the old have much knowledge to impart upon the young, the young have much to teach the old. But we must be willing to listen.”
The Ballad of Mu Lan, written and directed by Alvin Chan with music by Matt Mazzella, is best for ages 4+ and runs from June 29 to August 11, 2019 in Imagination Stage’s Annette M. and Theodore N. Lerner Family Theatre. Tickets are $15-35 and may be purchased online at www.imaginationstage.org, at the Imagination Stage box office, or via phone at 301-280-1660. Group rates are available.
The opening night and press performance is June 29 at 7:00 p.m. Press tickets and photos are available upon request.
Contact [email protected] for more information.
ABOUT THE CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM
The Ballad of Mu Lan features a cast of acclaimed local actors. Justine "Icy" Moral – a local star who was recently seen in Into the Woods and Ragtime at Ford’s Theatre – brings girl power center stage in the role of Mu Lan. Rafael Sebastian (Macbeth at Folger Theatre, Paper Dolls at Mosaic Theatre Company) plays the Emperor and the soldier Jin Yong. This is the second time working with Director Alvin Chan for both Ryan Sellers, playing General Fei, and Jacob Yeh, who plays Mu Lan’s father Huan Hu and the warrior Xiu Qi. Sellers and Yeh both worked with Chan on Anime Momotaro (Helen Hayes Award, Outstanding Production-Theatre for Young Audiences) at Imagination Stage in 2013. Daniel Glenn Westbrook (Assassins at NextStop Theatre) plays the Xi Xia King, and Jordan D. Moral (The Happy Time at Signature Theatre) and Andres Alejandro Ponce (Hands on a Hardbody at The Keegan Theatre) round out the cast as the Chinese villagers and Xi Xia soldiers.
Playwright and Director Alvin Chan also serves as Costume Designer. The rest of the creative team for The Ballad of Mu Lan consists of Video Designer Chesley Cannon, Scenic and Prop Designer Joseph D. Dodd, and Lighting Designer Zachary Gilbert. Music composed and performed by Matthew Mazzella. The Ballad of Mu Lan is stage managed by Julia Singer.
LOCATION
4908 Auburn Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814
Parking: Metered parking in the adjacent public parking garage; parking is free on weekends
Metro: Red Line/Bethesda Station
ABOUT IMAGINATION STAGE
Founded in 1979, Imagination Stage is a 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to inspire creativity through theatre and arts education programs that nurture, challenge, and empower young people of all abilities. It offers year-round professional theatre for young audiences and classes in creative drama/acting, musical theatre, dance, and filmmaking for ages 1-18.
www.imaginationstage.org
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