The Chinese American Museum of Chicago (CAMOC) is excited to sponsor a reading of Marie Yuen’s Ye-Xian: The Chinese Cinderella adaptation, titled C2, in celebration of the eve of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Please join us for an afternoon of theater at the Museum!
This reading is presented by Fiery Seahorse Productions and is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.
About the Adaptation
Quite possibly the oldest version of Cinderella in the world, this adaptation of the story of Ye-Xian (which predates the French version by about a thousand years) is about strength and kindness and fun and friendship – and magic! Meet Ye-Xian, daughter of Chief Wu who is made to be a maid-of-all-work for her Stepmother and whose only friend is Jin-Yu, a talking fish. Now a talking fish is magical enough — but when Jin-Yu goes missing, Ye-Xian learns from a kindly Old Sage what to do and to provide for herself – especially when she’s prevented from going to the Festival by Stepmother. See what happens when Ye-Xian is recognized at the Festival. Learn what becomes of a lost golden slipper. And see that when Ye-Xian meets the King of Tuo Han for the first, second and third time that she is loved for who she is at the end.
About the Writer
A prolific writer, Marie Yuen has about 18 other pieces in various stages of development, including musicals, one-acts, scenes, and shorter pieces. She also has written poetry. Yuen is a 2022 recipient of an Illinois Arts Council Agency – Individual Artist Support grant in the area of Theatre.
About the Director
Ginger Leopoldo is an actress, director, producer, educator and community organizer. She is a proud founding member of Pintig Cultural Group, now celebrating its 30th Anniversary and the Founding Artistic Director of the Center for Immigrant Resources and Community Arts (CIRCA). Leopoldo received her Bachelor of Arts degree and Master of Arts degree in theater from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She is an adjunct instructor at the University of the Potomac.
About the Cast
Victoria Li (Cinderella) is a newcomer to the Chicago theatre scene. Her role in this reading is her professional Chicago theatre debut. Li had the opportunity to study improv at The Second City. She has performed both virtually and in front of a live audience. While studying at Dartmouth College, Li took an acting course and performed on stage in “Vagina Monologues”. As a flautist, Li has played with the Chicago City Wide Symphony Orchestra, a community orchestra founded in 1947.Born in New York City, Victoria Li holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics, with a minor in Chinese language from Dartmouth College. She also studied Chinese abroad at Beijing Normal University. By profession, Li is a learning and development manager at a global strategy consulting firm.
Larry Leopoldo (The King) Veteran theatre performer Larry Leopoldo has joined the production in the role of “The King of Tuo Han.” Leopoldo trained at Acting Studio Chicago and has appeared in several productions for Pintig Cultural group and Circa Pintig.
Ada Cheng, Ph.D., (Stepmother/Villager) is an educator-turned artist, storyteller and creator. Among her many accomplishments, she is currently a vising associate professor with the Asian American Studies Program at Northwestern University as well as an adjunct faculty at Dominican University. Her interests encompass academia, storytelling/performance and advocacy.
Van Ferro (Jin-Yu/Old Sage/Merchant) is a professional stage, screen, and voiceover actor based in Chicago, Illinois. He recently won two acting awards at the regional BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards – one for Best Supporting Performer in a Play for his critically-acclaimed performance in Oil Lamp Theater’s “Shipwrecked;” and one for Best Supporting Performer in a Streaming Musical for his role in The Sigman Brother’s “Rip Van Winkle.” BroadwayWorld is the leading theater news website in the United States.
Edward W. Lai (Reader/Stage Directions) began his career as as art director in the Point-of-Purchase and advertising industry. A graduate of the American Academy of Art in Chicago in advertising and photography, he is the son of legendary Chicago on-site artist, the late Grace Lai.
Stage and musical veteran performer Lawrence Lin of San Diego, formerly of Chicagoland, is serving as C2’s Project Consultant, especially in the area of Chinese culture. Lin is a director, producer, singer, art director and performer. In 1993, he was the founder of the Performing Arts Club of Chinese Americans at Greater Chicago (PACCAGC).
Date: Saturday, April 30, 2022
Time: 1:30 to 4pm CT
Location: Chinese American Museum of Chicago, 4th floor
238 W 23rd St., Chicago, IL 60616
Tickets: $10
Purchase tickets here