Our new Artistic Leadership Team (PCC ALT), Nile Harris, Jane Jung, Talvin Wilks, Sara Zatz, will host an afternoon soiree  celebrating a new generation of performing arts leaders exploring legacy and transition on 

This interactive event will feature performances, food, and conversation that probes the complexities of artistic legacy and the future of new leadership in the New York City performance scene. Tickets are $10-25. 

The Artistic Leadership Team is rigorously exploring a vision for PCC's future as new directors are taking over the reins of various beloved New York City cultural institutions and arts organizations. For 

An Extra Ordinary Afternoon with Ping Chong and Company, 

we have brought together peers who are managing similar transitions for a generative conversation about the opportunities and challenges of their situations. 

a culinary studio that specializes in creating immersive food experiences and reimagining Caribbean cuisine.  

Please join us on Saturday, June 24th for this celebration of legacy, change, community and artistry!

An Extra Ordinary Afternoon with Ping Chong and Company, June 24 at La MaMa

We are seeking proposals from consultants or firms to provide services for the development and implementation of a 

With the retirement of Ping Chong and Bruce Allardice at the end of 2022, Ping Chong and Company is underway with an intentional three-year period during which we will explore and build towards the company’s transformation, guided by a board approved strategic plan. This process will require skilled communications, as it includes evaluating our organizational model, communications, audiences, and ultimately re-branding the Company under a new name. 

Our aim is to both re-imagine the company for this new moment, and create continuity as we are building on a 50 year legacy of generative artistic practice. The proposed project will communicate a new vision both during its development and upon its completion; to assure artists, audiences, and all of PCC’s communities that while things are changing, the answer to this question will always be innovative, relevant, and compelling. The results will be a new name, new brand, and the implementation of a strategic communications plan.  

The deadline for proposal submissions is June 1, 2023. 

Request for Proposals: Strategic Communications and Company Rebranding 

All Island Connect Underwater: A Celebration of Ping Chong and Bruce Allardice

Our tribute to Ping and Bruce and the artistic community that has been a part of their journey for fifty years was an experience beyond any other. As old and new friends gathered and an incredible lineup of performers and toasters shared the spotlights at the sold-out Chelsea Factory, we could feel the love and gratitude that filled the room.

Read all about the event and an interview with Ping, which was featured in the 

: "For A Pioneering Artist, the Joy of Having Done the Work His Way" by Laura Collins-Hughes. 

Here are some videos that we created for the occasion, tributes to Ping, Bruce and a glimpse of our future. These were edited by Satoko Sugiyama.

Ping Chong Tribute Video 

Bruce Allardice Tribute Video 

PCC: The Future

Thank you to Chinese Theatre Works, Fogo Azul, Muna Tseng, Meredith Monk, Jazz Passengers, and host Jessica Hagedorn for creating an evening beyond measure, and illustrating the transformative power of live performance; and to Mia Yoo, Melanie Joseph, Kim Chan, Amy Chin, Councilmember Gale Brewer for your tributes to Ping, Bruce and their partnership. 

Thank you to Chelsea Factory, our Production Team led by Bill Toles, Madison Lusby, Richie Clark, Alejandro Fajardo, Waymon Arnette, and our inimitable event producer Boo Froebel for creating a singular evening that encapsulated the spirit of PCC.

Thank you to our Board of Directors, our generous supporters, and all of you for showing your love and support for Bruce and Ping and our company.

We are entering the next chapter of Ping Chong and Company uplifted by your presence, energy and support. We can't wait to share all that's ahead with you.

s. 2nd from Top: Jane Jung. All Other Photos: Alexis Buatti-Ramos 

A Celebration of Ping Chong and Bruce Allardice! 

PCC and The New School’s Eugene Lang College and College of Performing Arts announce a 

 on February 3 and 4, 2023, celebrating the 30-year history of the company’s groundbreaking interview-based, community engaged, theater series 

 cast members, presenters, creative collaborators, producing partners and colleagues in the field of documentary theater to the university to lead courses, panels, and student workshops, culminating with an evening performance from a new work in progress, 

 is a series of interview-based theater productions by PCC that features local community members telling their own stories of place, identity, and belonging. Since 1992, over 65 

 productions have been made in communities across the country and around the world, exploring issues such as the experience of immigrants and refugees in the U.S., the experience of living with disability, Muslim American identity, and the experiences of survivors of sexual violence. Recent productions have looked at living with chronic illness and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on youth of color in New York City.

All events are free and open to the public. 

Click here for full schedule and more information. 

Real People, Real Lives, Real Theater: Celebrating 30 Years of Ping Chong and Company’s Undesirable Elements Symposium

Effective February 1, 2023, performer and director Nile Harris and playwright, director, and dramaturg Talvin Wilks—visionaries of different generations, both with multifaceted skill sets as artists, producers, and strategic thinkers—will join Managing Director Jane Jung and Associate Director Sara Zatz to lead our 

upon the retirement of Founder and Artistic Director Ping Chong and longtime Executive Director Bruce Allardice. In an exciting, new-to-us model of collaborative leadership, the Artistic Leadership Team will work together to develop and realize a vision for the future of the organization.

The establishment of this new Leadership Team represents a pivotal moment in our multi-year transition from a company identified with a single artist into one that supports a new generation of interdisciplinary artists. The transitional leadership structure is a reflection of this shift, and gives central roles to two artists with deep connections to the Company, alongside existing company leadership. Talvin has been a longtime collaborator of Ping Chong and Company since 1994. He has worked on multiple 

productions and co-wrote and directed the 

series with Ping Chong. Nile is a 2022 PCC Creative Fellow, through which he was in residence with the Company, engaging with the our archive and developing new work.

As they join the Artistic Leadership Team, Jane and Sara will retain their current managerial, administrative, and artistic roles, in addition to taking on new responsibilities. Christina Bixland will also continue to lead the company's Education programs.

“Ping Chong and Company is my life's work, but its future is now Talvin’s, Sara’s, Jane’s, and Nile’s to make.”

adds, “Talvin Wilks, Sara Zatz, and Jane Jung have contributed mightily to the success of Ping Chong and Company as artists and administrators in recent decades, and Nile will bring a fresh contemporary perspective to the mix. I’m confident the company will remain open and responsive to the evolving aesthetic and political conversations of our times, and will always value people first and foremost. I am filled with awe and gratitude as I step aside for new leadership. But I am aware of the challenges that remain ahead in this complicated time. I am fond of saying ‘There is no road until you make the road.’ I look forward to supporting my friends and colleagues at Ping Chong and Company as they boldly make their road.”

Amy Chin, President of the Ping Chong and Company Board

 says, “This moment is especially meaningful, as Ping Chong and Bruce Allardice hand over the reins of the Company to the next generation of artists and leaders—Nile Harris, Talvin Wilks, Jane Jung, and Sara Zatz—who will carry forward the ethos and values of Ping’s visionary work. Ping Chong and Company continues to inspire audiences to think deeply about the world and move beyond our personal cocoons. Through new work generation, support of artists, and the Undesirable Elements series, the organization is pushing back against the increasingly divided and antagonistic society we live in to build connection and seek common truth. The future is bright because we stand on the shoulders of giants like Ping and Bruce.”

The formation of the new leadership team is a key step in a three-year transition plan supported by $900,000 from the Mellon Foundation, which provided lead funding in a $1.5 million budget. We are is currently in the first year of the process, which is being led by the Board of Directors and a 

 consisting of Jane Jung, Sara Zatz, and PCC Board Members Kim Chan, Lillian Cho, and Cathy Barbash. The task force is managed by Boo Froebel with support from the consulting firm

“Through the years, Ping Chong and Company afforded Ping with an infrastructure that allowed him to pursue ambitious projects in multiple mediums over multiple decades. I know first-hand how transformative the company’s support is for younger artists in particular, and I’m excited now to be part of the team imagining new ways for Ping Chong and Company to provide similarly impactful opportunities to other artists, for years to come.” 

"Ping Chong and Company has been a place for discovery, mentoring, and expanded artistry for me since 1994, when I first worked with Ping on 

. I have grown and evolved and become a better artist—more visionary and more expansive—because of the opportunities provided by the company. Over a 50-year history, Ping and his many collaborators have built an incredible legacy that I’m excited to advance for future generations." 

“When faced with the decision to move forward as a Company after Ping's retirement, we were guided by the question: What would Ping Chong and Company look like if it launched anew at this moment in time? For 50 years, Ping Chong has worked with a clear worldview stemming from a complex understanding of history and identity, and has created a rich body of work guided by the values of artistry, precision, humanity, and social justice. As we move beyond Ping’s and Bruce’s retirement, our task is to transform legacy into practice by supporting the next generation of critically minded, socially engaged, experimental artists in working sustainably while pursuing their creative impulses with integrity. The most exciting thing about the future of the company are the artists we will be supporting, and the new work we will create together.” 

“To me, Ping Chong and Company means Art. Dialogue. Community. Listening. Change. Connection. I don’t know what exactly the future will bring, but I know we will continue to build and foster a holistic organization that is a truly welcoming home for artists—one that creates room for growth, risk, learning, and evolution. Talvin, Nile, Jane, and I will challenge and balance each other while asking, together, what stories need to be told, and imagining how we will make space for those stories in innovative new ways that evoke and honor Ping’s legacy while forging new paths forward. I feel grateful, hopeful, and honored to be part of this group, and to have Bruce and Ping’s blessing as we move, with thought, care, and intention, in new and unknown directions.”

 stages meditated confrontations between performer and audience that collage various modes of communication: choreography, reappropriated and scripted text, improvisation, spatial design, and clowning. His work has been presented at the Palais de Tokyo, The Watermill Center, New York Live Arts, Volksbühne Berlin, Prelude Festival, Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance, Otion Front Studio, Grace Exhibition Space, and Movement Research at Judson Church. As a performer, Harris has originated roles in works by Crackhead Barney, Jaamil Olawale Kosoko, 600 HIGHWAYMEN, Tina Satter, Robert Wilson, Young Boy Dancing Group, Nia Witherspoon, slowdanger, Lilleth Glimcher, Malcolm-x Betts, and Miles Greenberg. He is currently in rehearsals for the world premiere of Agnes Borinsky’s

, directed by Tina Satter and co-produced by Playwrights Horizons and Page 73, February 12–March 19.

, which commissions artists to create new work inspired by, and in response to, the Ping Chong and Company’s past works. The Public Theater, in association with PCC, will present his T

, a lecture and solo performance about “absence, abjection, and American nationalism,” January 19 & 22 as part of the 2023 Under the Radar Festival. Harris’s 

, a new work co-commissioned by PCC and building on the themes of 

 premieres at Abrons Art Center, July 14-16, 2023.


 is a playwright, director, and dramaturg based in Minneapolis and New York City. He has served as a co-writer/co-director/dramaturg for Ping Chong and Company’s ongoing 

Collidescope: Adventures in Pre- and Post-Racial America

. In 2022, Wilks directed the world premiere productions of 

by Harrison David Rivers at the History Theatre in Minneapolis, MN, 

 by Baba Israel, Grace Galu and Soul Unscribed at LaMama/Here Arts, and the three play saga, 

 by Ifa Bayeza at Mosaic Theatre in Washington, DC. Since 2014, some of his most acclaimed directorial work has been centered at Penumbra Theatre Company including

by Claudia Rankine. His critically acclaimed direction of 

 by Liza Jessie Peterson is featured in the documentary, 

by Cinque Northern which was recently short-listed for an Academy Award. He also served as dramaturg for Camille A. Brown’s Broadway Revival of 

for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf 

 by Somi at New York Theatre Workshop/National Black Theatre. Other dramaturgy credits include 

Scat!/Walkin’ with ‘Trane/Hep Hep Sweet Sweet 

ink/Black Girl: Linguistic Play/ Mr. TOL E. RanCE 

In a Rhythm/A History/Necessary Beauty/ Landing-Place/Verge

 (Bebe Miller Company). Wilks is an Associate Professor in the Theatre Arts and Dance Department, University of Minnesota/Twin Cities and is a 2020 McKnight Theater Artist Fellow and a 2022 McKnight Presidential Fellow.


 became Managing Director of Ping Chong and Company in 2019. She previously served as the company’s Director of Planning and Operations (2018-19) and as its General Manager (2010-14). From 2014-17, she was Managing Director of The Civilians, an investigative theater company based in Brooklyn, NY. She is a board member of Musical Theater Factory, Radical Evolution, and Network of Ensemble Theaters and was Producing Fellow for the Broadway musical 

. Jung is a graduate of the Yale School of Drama and Mount Holyoke College.


 joined Ping Chong and Company In 2002. As Associate Director, she leads the company’s community engagement and training programs and manages fundraising and development areas. Over the last 20 years, Zatz has been the lead artistic collaborator with Ping Chong on the 

 series, leading the creation of dozens of works in the series, working with partner organizations ranging from regional theaters to community-based arts organizations. Recent productions include 

, with individuals living with chronic illness (Profile Theatre), 

Inside/Out: Voices from the Disability Community 

 (national touring). She has spoken and presented workshops on community-engaged theater at many conferences and universities. She holds an M.Phil in Irish Theatre Studies from Trinity College, Dublin, and an AB from Bryn Mawr College.


Ping Chong and Company Announces New Leadership 

Today we announce a three-year leadership transition plan to support the next generation of interdisciplinary artists and expand the Company’s long standing 

 community specific program. This new vision is supported by $900,000 from the Mellon Foundation, which has provided lead funding for the $1.5 million transition budget.

Our beloved Founder and Artistic Director Ping Chong, and Executive Director Bruce Allardice announce their retirement from PCC at the end of 2022, as the organization looks to transform artistic legacy into practice for the next generation of artists.

PCC Managing Director Jane Jung and Associate Director Sara Zatz, alongside a to-be-announced Artistic Chair, will lead the organization through the strategic transition plan envisioned in collaboration with consulting firm 

The upcoming anniversary season will celebrate Ping Chong’s 50-year career as a leading Asian American artist and theatrical innovator; 30 years of the company’s series of community-specific, interview-based works known as the 

 series; and 35 years of artistic partnership between Chong and Allardice.


READ THE STRATEGIC PLAN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY HERE

Ping Chong and Bruce Allardice have worked tirelessly to achieve and hone PCC’s vision of aesthetically rich, socially probing interdisciplinary theater that explores the interconnectedness of cultures and multifaceted identities in the U.S. and across the globe.

 says of his retirement from the company, "What better way to carry the future of creating forward than to support the next generation of artists! It’s such a tough time for the young, especially in how prohibitive New York’s cost of living has become, how different the conditions are here than when I was beginning as an artist, and I believe the future belongs to the young people. I will always be an artist, but as I move away from leadership of the company, it’s great to see that we can create a space for them.”

 says, “I believe that the pandemic, technology and this political moment in New York and the world has had a  fundamental structural impact on our artistic community — and what is required to build back for the future is new approaches, new thoughts, new energy. Building new structures that work in our changed world—that’s for the next generation to do, and I want to support that fully. We have wonderful people who work with us, and this is a way to embrace the potential and opportunity of change. Ping and I will be around throughout the three-year transition, but we don’t want to be 

around—we don’t want to get in the way of that process.”

Amy Chin, Chair of the Ping Chong and Company Board

, says, “Ping Chong and Company has been crossing artistic boundaries for half a century with innovative and pioneering theater that speaks to a global human experience. The Board gratefully honors Ping Chong’s many decades of creativity and the inspired guidance of Bruce Allardice. The legacy of their work continues in the gifted artists and exceptional leaders they have nurtured. As we celebrate this anniversary milestone, we are also excited to lean into the Company’s next 50 years supported by a talented team and the generous support of Mellon Foundation and our PCC friends, family, and fans.”

 says, “The impact of Ping's singular vision and voice has rippled across so many individuals' lives and communities in powerful ways, fostering connection, compassion, and understanding across differences. Ping and Bruce made great art together. We can't wait to carry forth their legacy with a vision to support the next generation of interdisciplinary artists and their works. We’re grateful to the Mellon Foundation and the partnership of our Board and P.S. 314 who have thoughtfully guided us through this major transition moment, which is an exciting opportunity for growth and evolution.”

says, “As we enter into this period of transition and organizational transformation, we have a unique opportunity to center the voices and vision of a new generation of artists forging their own creative paths. Ping Chong and Company has fostered a space that is a truly welcoming home for artists and that creates room for growth and transformation, learning, and evolution. We are excited to honor Bruce and Ping’s legacies and contributions by continuing to incubate community connectedness, artistic risk-taking, and empathetic storytelling for many years to come.”

Ping and Bruce's long-time colleagues offer reflections on their work, and the company’s impact:

"Ping Chong forged new paths in multidisciplinary artmaking and contemporary theater practice and his work continues to expand our collective understandings of identity, otherness, and being. His lasting legacy is a testament to his expansive vision, deep intellect, and imagination; all attributes that he holds humbly, generously, and honestly," shares

 Emil Kang, program director for Arts and Culture at the Mellon Foundation

. “We are honored to support the next chapter for Ping Chong and Company as they honor the rich legacy of Ping Chong and Bruce Allardice while creating space for a new generation of creators."

 says, “The work of Ping Chong and Bruce Allardice has been transformative for our field. They have helped shape the legacy of La MaMa through the powerful artistry and the urgent community-engaged work we have been blessed to have on our stages. By examining the complexities of delving into Otherness and stories of the Other, ultimately the work has revealed our interconnectedness and shared humanity. Ping Chong and Company has influenced generations of artists, and their impact will reverberate for generations to come.”

Artistic Producer/Founder at The Foundry Theatre Melanie Joseph

, Appetite, History, Inclusion, Fluidity, Integrity, 

. Words that will ever hold the image of Ping and Bruce 

, that activated what they made, how they made it and who they shared it with for 50 years. They’re a beacon for anyone who strives to make great art, and then actually makes it. And they’re a rudder for those who seek to build theatres with transparency, experiment and tremendous care, that actually operate and evolve in that way.They were all of this, and then some, for me.I’m so glad that we found one another in this roiling cauldron that is our world, and grateful to have shared reasons to climb out, and get shit done (after a wee pause for a delicious meal.). I love you both, 

BAM Executive Producer Emeritus Joseph V. Melillo 

says, “I began working with Ping Chong in 1984 within the context of BAM’s annual Next Wave Festival and subsequently worked with him many times. Ping expanded my conception of what theater could be as a contemporary genre. His visionary and pioneering art has advanced our understanding of storytelling. His resourcefulness is boundless. His art is redolent of original ideas and highly imaginative techniques for delivering the inherent humanity that is the foundation of his creative artistry.”

Melillo adds, “Bruce is a man of sterling integrity. He has consistently demonstrated the exemplary principles of a manager supporting an artist through the vast myriad of challenges throughout the creative process of the development and producing of new work while growing an organization for that artist and his work. He was an exceptional professional partner throughout our working together to get Ping Chong’s art to its desired opening night for the originating artist, his collaborators and performers.”

Celebrating 50 Years of Visionary Work by Ping Chong and Our Vital Next Chapter  

Welcome JU-EH and Nile Harris, Ping Chong and Company’s 2022 Creative Fellows!

The PC+C Creative Fellowship seeks to establish continuity and foster an ongoing artistic conversation between Ping Chong and Company’s archival body of work, and a new generation of interdisciplinary artists working at the intersection of experimentation and community engagement.

JU-EH and Nile will be in residence from May to December 2022, where they will be a part of the staff and be commissioned to create new work inspired by, and in response to, the Company’s past works embodied in its archive. By engaging specifically with the PC+C archives, Fellows will participate in a learning and creation opportunity while receiving support and guidance around building an ongoing and sustainable practice from the Company. Fellows will join PC+C at a pivotal moment as the Company marks the 50th anniversary of Ping Chong’s career as an artist.

JU-EH and Nile bring new perspectives to PC+C and the Fellowship. Read more about their artistic pursuits and inspirations below.

Announcing 2022 Creative Fellows: JU-EH and Nile Harris

Delve into Ping Chong’s latest conversations on his artistic legacy!

, Ping reflects on his personal and artistic journey. Ping shares about his childhood in New York City’s Chinatown, the beginning of a long history of collaboration with Meredith Monk, the idea of “otherness” in his works, and his preparations for retirement. The episode is titled “Ping Chong: Intents and Purposes,” and delves into Ping’s intents and purposes in his art and in his life. See the full segment at Articulate website 

. You can also find stations and air times in your area for Articulate 

Ping Chong: Intents and Purposes

Articulate is a show created in 2015 by radio journalist and broadcaster, Jim Cotter, telling human stories of creative thinkers.

The Lost Conversation: Interviews with an Enduring Avant-Garde

, edited by Sara Farrington and published by 53rd State Press. The book includes conversations with artistic voices working in the New York avant-garde over the past 50 years, including Ping Chong, Joanne Akalaitis, Anne Bogart, and many others. The conversations explore the life of the artists behind their arts, their evolution and persistence through the process of creating art in NYC. Pre-order the book 

Ping Chong featured in PBS show “Articulate” and a new book, "The Lost Conversation"

Ping Chong and Company Call for Creative Fellows 2022

Fellowship Period: May 1 – December 31, 2022

Ping Chong and Company seeks two Creative Fellows to be artists-in-residence. Fellowships are opportunities for artists of color from traditionally underrepresented communities to be part of the Company and be commissioned to create new work inspired by, and in response to, the Company’s past works embodied in its archive. 

This is a good opportunity for early career artists who have a track record of at least two previously generated interdisciplinary works that have been shared publicly and created outside of an undergraduate program. Fellows will join PCC at a pivotal moment as we mark the 50th anniversary of Ping Chong’s career as an artist.

Fellowships run from May 1 to December 31, 2022. Fellows receive total financial support of $28,000: a monthly $2,500 stipend over eight months, a $3,000 commission fee, and a $5000 development budget to go toward creation of new work.

To apply, complete and submit the application form by March 31, 2022 , 11:59pm. 

Call for Creative Fellows 2022

We are thrilled to kick off 2022 by co-producing the world premiere production of 

 with Dixon Place and Free Rein Projects, from January 27 - February 19, 2022.

Written by former PCC Creative Fellow Jaime Sunwoo and Co-directed by Sunwoo and Karim Muasher, this new multimedia theater work investigates the legacy of SPAM, its significance in the Asia-Pacific, and its influence on Asian cuisine, unraveling the stories of three generations of women in Sunwoo’s family.

Through a narrative collage of oral history, video, music, and shadowplay, SPAM becomes a powerful symbol of colonization, immigration, assimilation, American dreams, and disillusionment, inviting us to examine the memories we hold onto and those we leave behind. 

 oscillates wildly between absurd humor and sober tragedy as it unpacks the ambivalent connotations of one of America’s most misunderstood foods.

This is the first major interdisciplinary performance PCC has co-produced at this scale that wasn’t created by Ping Chong—signaling our company’s expanding commitment to incubating and supporting work from emerging voices.

“Many Asian Americans including myself have a strong emotional connection with SPAM because it is a stigmatized food that is simultaneously associated with home and nostalgia—a food that connects us to our families and links us to shared histories within the Asian diaspora.” 

Specially Processed American Me 2022 Promo Reel 

 will be performed at Dixon Place, 161 Chrystie Street, New York, NY from January 27 - February 19, 2022, with performances Thursday - Saturday at 7:30pm. 


Masks are required, which can only briefly be removed if you're having a drink from the Dixon Place cocktail lounge. We strongly recommend K95 or N95 masks. A proof of vaccination AND your personal ID are also mandatory. A CDC Vax Card or your NY Excelsior Pass on mobile devices,along with your ID, must be shown upon arrival. If you have Covid-19 symptoms or have been exposed, please stay home! Refunds will be issued by emailing: 

. Please note that these protocols may be updated based on the evolving situation.

Adrianna Mateo (Performer - Hormel Girl/Ensemble), Vanessa Rappa (Performer - Hormel Girl/Ensemble), Juella Baltonado (Performer - Hormel Girl/Ensemble), Monica Goff (Performer - Hormel Girl/Ensemble), Sarah Shin (Performer - Jaime), Eunji Lim (Performer - Grandma/Ensemble), Nathaniel Basch-Gould (Performer - Jay Hormel/Ensemble), Grace Hwoang (Performer - Understudy), Nadia Kim (Performer - Understudy). 

Jaime Sunwoo (Playwright/Co-Director/Prop, Puppet, and Costume Designer/Projection Graphic Illustrator), Karim Muasher (Co-Director), Matt Chilton (Composer/Lyricist/ Sound Designer), Sarah Lurie (Lighting Designer), Cinthia Chen (Projection Designer), Aoife Hough (Stage Manager), Samm Lynch (Assistant Stage Manager and Covid Compliance Officer), Justin Perkins (Technical Director), Alex Lee (Dramaturg), and Adrianna Mateo (Music Director).

Specially Processed American Me Premieres January 27 - February 19 

PCC Artist-Scholars were on the ground in Alaska in December 2021

One of the exciting educational ventures Ping Chong and Company undertook in the past year was the development of a brand-new 9th grade social studies curriculum entitled 

, rooted in our interdisciplinary theatrical production of 

. This curriculum explores the stories, histories, cultures, and contemporary identities of Alaska, and integrates with interdisciplinary arts activities.

Created in partnership with the Lower Kuskokwim School District in Bethel, Alaska, the course has been piloted in November and December 2021 by educators and students in three 9th grade classrooms in Bethel as well as two remote village schools in Napaskiak and Tuntutuliak.


The nine-week course fulfills Alaska History content standards, Alaska Arts Standards, and Alaska Cultural Standards through an arts-based approach. Each unit features video excerpts from ALAXSXA | ALASKA, provided as part of curriculum materials, and the course invites learners to explore their own personal stories, and the stories of their families and communities, in response to cultural and academic content, ultimately creating artistic expressions that acknowledge and celebrate their lived experiences as integral parts of Alaska history. The journey of the course culminates with a viewing of the full production of ALAXSXA | ALASKA, followed by dialogue and reflection. The curriculum is also linked to EncountersAlaska.org, a web archive of real contemporary Alaska stories created by Ryan Conarro and Ping Chong.

In December 2021, members of our curriculum development team and the cast/creators of ALAXSXA | ALASKA were on the ground (in -19 degree weather!) for a curriculum revision retreat, gathering feedback from participating educators and students, and working together to revise and refine the curriculum for future wider use in Alaskan high schools. One partner teacher shared that "The connections this course makes to modern-day concerns in Alaska are really strong…and the art projects demand deeper critical thinking of our students. The course has already changed how I teach history!”

Throughout the week, our team has been visiting each participating pilot classroom to meet students and teachers, and to help students workshop their final course projects. In addition, a recording of our production of ALAXSXA | ALASKA was screened for school and public audiences on Wednesday and Thursday nights, followed by vigorous Q&A sessions with the cast and creative team members. Ping Chong and Company is grateful for the opportunity to engage in such meaningful community-based education work at the intersection of place, partnership, and pedagogy.

Passages Alaska was created in partnership with the Lower Kuskokwim School District by Ping Chong and Company artist-scholars Ryan Conarro, Asia Freeman, Nita Yurrliq Rearden, and Jennifer Tungatuq Romer, with review by Gary Upaayuilnguq Beaver, Christina Bixland, Nadia Kim, and Justin Perkins.

Passages Alaska: A new educational curriculum inspired by ALAXSXA | ALASKA

 series that shares the experiences of New York City BIPOC Teens during the pandemic, will premiere this Friday, November 5th at the New Victory Theater. This piece shares the real-life experiences of NYC teens as they reflect on the last year and a half and the impact of the pandemic and systemic inequality. 

Generation Rise Trailer 

Written and directed by Sara Zatz and Kirya Traber, 

 was created in collaboration with the storytellers: Johanni, Kenroy, Kilhah, Nathaniel, Sanaa and Serena and features additional performers: Kayla Bennett performing for Sanaa; Manny Dunn performing for Kenroy; and Matthew Martinez performing for Nathaniel. Lighting Design is by Marika Kent; Sound Design is by Megumi Katayama; and Stage Management is by Caren Celine Morris. 

Performances are from Friday, November 5 - Sunday November 14, 2021 at The New Victory Theater.

 All tickets are $25. Tickets and the full performance schedule are available 

 was created in Spring 2021 in partnership with 

, and will be available to rent on demand on the

Photo of Kilhah and Matthew by Alexis Buatti-Ramos, courtesy of New 42.
Video Courtesy of New 42. 

Generation Rise Premieres This Week at the New Victory Theater

Ping Chong and Company and Free Rein Projects are co-producing a 

, a new play by former Creative Fellow Jaime Sunwoo that uses SPAM, the canned meat, as a portal into her Asian American upbringing and her family's experiences of the Korean War.  It investigates SPAM's legacy in the military, its significance in the Asia-Pacific, and its influence on Asian cuisine through music, shadowplay, and cooking. Oscillating wildly between absurd humor and sober tragedy, 

is a thought-provoking exploration of one of America's most misunderstood foods. 

is written by Jaime Sunwoo and co-directed by Jaime Sunwoo and Karim Muasher. Music, Lyrics and Sound Design are by Matt Chilton; Lighting Design by Sarah Lurie; Prop/Puppet/Costume/Projection Graphic Ilustration by Jaime Sunwoo; Projection Design by Cinthia Chen; Music Direction by Adrianna Mateo; Technical Direction by Justin Perkins; Stage Management by Zoe-Eve Rhinehart; and Dramaturgy by Alex Lee. The cast features Adrianna Mateo, Vanessa Rappa, Juella Baltonado, Monica Goff, Sarah Shin, Eunji Lim, and Nathaniel Basch-Gould. 

This two week BRIClab residency will culminate with a work-in-progress presentation on October 7th and 8th at 7pm.

Read more about the project and presentation here. 

In addition to performances, Specially Processed American Me holds food history and storytelling workshops. On Saturday, October 9th from 3-4pm, Jaime Sunwoo and Ping Chong will be at hosting a casual community conversation about food and storytelling at 

 on Avenue B between 8th and 9th Streets. Stop by to share your story and to participate in performances and workshops with other Lower East Side artists.

Specially Processed American Me at BRIClab 

will kick off the New 42/New Victory Theater’s 2021-22 season on November 5 and will run through November 14. 

Presented by Ping Chong and Company in association with New 42/New Victory, this new work was originally developed as a 

in Spring 2021, in collaboration with Urban Word NYC, and inspired by the critically acclaimed 

e is an interview-based production featuring Black, Latinx and Asian American teens from New York City telling their own stories and reflecting on their lives before, during and after 2020—a year of crisis and transformation. 

Click here to learn more and purchase tickets

Art by Andrew Bannecker courtesy of New Victory / New 42.

Generation Rise to Premiere at the New Victory Theater on November 5

During the 2020/21 season, we were lucky to have Johnnie Cruise Mercer and Jaime Sunwoo in residence with the company as Creative Fellows . 

The Creative Fellowship launched in 2019 and invites early career multidisciplinary artists with a commitment to social justice to engage with PCC's archival body of work and methodologies; and receive mentorship and guidance on their career and creative goals. 

Each Creative Fellow received support to create a new work inspired by the PCC archive. 

Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, this year's Fellowship took place almost entirely remotely, until the last few weeks in June 2021, when it became safer to gather in person again. At the end of the Fellowship, Artistic Director Ping Chong, Managing Director Jane Jung, and Creative Fellows Jaime Sunwoo and Johnnie Cruise Mercer met at at the Ping Chong and Company office, to hear culminating reflections from Jaime and Johnnie, and to have a conversation about their time with the company. 

Creative Fellowship 2021 | Culminating Reflections and Conversation

Creative Fellowship 2021: Culminating Reflections and Conversation 


With summer well underway, we take a moment to reflect back on the 2020-21 school year. The year demanded massive amounts of flexibility in navigating shifts in virtual learning, hybrid schedules, and in-person cohorts. We’ve been inspired by the adaptability, resourcefulness, and dedication with which students, teachers, administrators, and PCC’s 20 innovative teaching artists responded to the circumstances, creating meaningful forums for expression, creativity, and connection in a time of isolation for NYC’s students!

Ping Chong and Company’s education team rose to the challenge, reimagining our 

Secret Histories theatrical storytelling residencies 

across 16 classrooms to match the unique circumstances of each partner school.  As a result, 3rd-8th grade students at PS191, PS84, MS247, PS102Q, and PS91 worked virtually with teams of inspiring teaching artists to explore identity, culture, and sense of belonging and connection.  Whether at home or in the classroom, students built bonds and collaborated to transform their stories into original visual, film, audio, and virtual theater performances.

 Secret Histories Program Highlights 


This spring our education team piloted Ping Chong and Company’s first-ever Creative Aging program - a theatrical storytelling workshop series for older adults entitled 

Artful Storytelling: Our Meaningful Histories

 Offered in collaboration with the NYC Educational Alliance and three senior centers on the Lower East Side, and made possible by the Catalyzing Creative Aging Seed Grant from the National Guild for Community Arts Education, the program was designed to enhance quality of life for elders 55+ through creative expression, social connectivity, and making meaning of our personal & community histories.  Participants mounted a moving and meaningful live virtual performance on May 22, and the pilot’s success will be shared as a case study nationally during this July’s 

 hosted by the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies.

Artful Storytelling: Our Meaningful Histories - "Fromings and Goings"


Our education team developed two unique theatrical storytelling curricula for educators this year:

, was created in partnership with New 42/New Victory Theater, inspired by our production of Generation NYZ which premiered there in 2018.  The resource guide, fully adaptable to virtual or in-person learning spaces, offers educators and caregivers tools for inspiring youth to develop community and unleash their powerful voices to the world!  Request access to the guide 

A second curriculum is in development inspired by our 2017  interdisciplinary theater production 

.  Created by PCC creative team members and Alaskan educators and culture bearers, in collaboration with the Lower Kuskokwim School District, the curriculum will offer social studies educators in Alaska a unique approach to studying the region’s histories through student creation of artistic expressions that acknowledge and celebrate their lived experiences as integral parts of Alaska’s evolving history.

As we grapple with recovery and re-emergence from COVID-19,  we look ahead to 21-22 and ask ourselves what role we can play in meeting school and community needs for healing, expression, and reconnection, no matter the age of our students.

Through these and other Ping Chong and Company programs, we remain committed to amplifying learner voices, holding space for community building, and using the tools of arts education to work toward more justice and equity in our learning and community spaces.