Chinoiserie

1994–1995
Music and Opera, Theater

About the Production

Chinoiserie is a music theatre work organized along an historic arc, beginning with the first encounter between Qianlong, the Celestial Emperor of China and Lord George MacCartney, the trade emissary from King George III of England in 1793. From there, Chinoiserie is collaged from the detritus of East-West relations including the events leading up to the Opium War, the European obsession/addiction to tea, the history of Chinese settlers in America, the murder of Vincent Chin in Detroit in 1983 and the continuing trade disputes between China and America. Chinoiserie features spoken text, live music, movement, Chinese opera movement, projections, and contemporary and traditional western and Chinese costumes.

Chinoiserie is the second work in Ping Chong’s East/West Quartet.

Production Team And Cast

Conceived and Directed by

Ping Chong

Written by

Ping Chong, in collaboration with Michael Matthews, Regine Anna Seckinger and Ric Oquita

Composer

Guy Klucevsek

Choreography

Shi-Zheng Chen

Music

Guy Klucevsek, Steve Elson and Bill Ruyle

Lighting Design

Thomas Hase

Costume Design

Byron Lars

Set and Projection Design

Jan Hartley

Sound Design

David Meschter

Dramaturg

Regine Anna Seckinger

Stage Manageanagerr

Courtney Golden

Cast

Ping Chong, Shi-Zheng Chen, Aleta Hayes, Michael Edo Keane and Ric Oquita

Performance History

Workshop

Yellow Springs Institute, Chester, PA (1994)

The Center for the Arts, SUNY Buffalo, Buffalo, NY (September 1995)

Premiere

Lied Center at University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE (September 1995)

Tours

Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN (November 1995)

Williams Center for the Arts, Lafayette College, Easton, PA (November 1995)

The Brooklyn Academy of Music’s Next Wave Festival, Harvey Theater, Brooklyn, NY (November 1995)

Partners

The Lied Center of the University of Nebraska at Lincoln

The Fine Arts Center at SUNY Buffalo

The Yellow Springs Institute, Lafayette College

The Walker Arts Center and the Brooklyn Academy of Music