King of the Yees
Baltimore Center Stage
Center Stage
October 25–November 18
  • By Lauren Yee
  • Directed by Desdemona Chiang
HEARTFELT HILARITY BRIDGING GENERATIONS

Playwright Lauren Yee has always felt like an outsider, especially compared to her father, Larry, the unofficial center of their Chinese American community. When Larry suddenly goes missing, Lauren has to chase through time, space, and the fourth wall itself to find her father, save his story, and chronicle a vanishing piece of American culture. Explore the vivid legacy of one changing Chinatown through the vibrant imagination of a new generation in award-winning playwright Lauren Yee’s smart and cheeky family comedy.

FROM DIRECTOR DESDEMONA CHIANG:

King of the Yees is a love letter to the Chinese community, a world that I often find myself trapped between familiarity and foreignness, affection and alienation. It is about trying to understand where your parents came from, and in doing so, discovering your own origin story. It is also a love letter to her father Larry, who is truly one of the most joyful, eccentric, and radiant dads I’ve ever known.

Content Advisory: This smart and cheeky family comedy can be appreciated by middle school audiences and up.

Approximate runtime is 1 hour and 55 minutes, including an intermission.

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Cast

Celeste Den*
Actor 2 / Ensemble

Khanh Doan*
Lauren Yee

Stan Egi*
Larry Yee

Joe Ngo*
Actor 1 / Ensemble

Tony Aidan Vo*
Actor 3 / Ensemble

Creative Team

Lauren Yee
Playwright

Desdemona Chiang
Director

Carey Wong
Scenic Designer

Christine Tschirgi
Costume Designer

Jessica Trundy
Lighting Designer

Brendan Patrick Hogan
Sound Designer

Alex Hawthorn
Sound Design

Annie Yee
Choreographer

Sabine Decatur
Production Dramaturg

Gavin Witt
Production Dramaturg

Lauren V. Hickman*
Stage Manager

Cathy Hwang*
Assistant Stage Manager

Cara Hinh
Assistant Director

Pat McCorkle
Casting

Katja Zarolinski
Casting

Antonio Eubanks
Production Assistant

*Member of Actors’ Equity Association

In the Press

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Reviews
“In case you weren’t aware, this play is kind of a big deal.”— DC Metro Theater Arts
“Baltimore’s Center Stage’s current production of King of Yees is an absolute masterpiece.”— Baltimore OUTLoud
“All five are incredible actors, most playing multiple roles and changing costumes quickly without any hitches.”— MD Theater Guide
“Overflowing with creativity and wit. It is colorful and joyous.”— DC Metro Theater Arts
“There are scenes that will have you howling… And there are moments of mysterious beauty.”— DC Metro Theater Arts
“A REALLY LIVELY PRODUCTION… PERSONAL AND TOUCHING.”— WYPR
“MUCH CREDIT GOES TO DIRECTOR DESDEMONA CHIANG AND CHOREOGRAPHER ANNIE YEE FOR PACKING THIS MUCH FUN INTO TWO HOURS. THE FBI SHRIMP BOY SHOOTOUT SCENE WAS BRILLIANT. COSTUME DESIGNER CHRISTINE TSCHIRGI DESERVES A LOT OF PRAISE.”— MD THEATER GUIDE
“OVERFLOWING WITH CREATIVITY AND WIT. IT IS COLORFUL AND JOYOUS.”— DC METRO THEATER ARTS
“THERE ARE SCENES THAT WILL HAVE YOU HOWLING… AND THERE ARE MOMENTS OF MYSTERIOUS BEAUTY.”— DC METRO THEATER ARTS
“A REALLY LIVELY PRODUCTION… PERSONAL AND TOUCHING.”— WYPR
“MUCH CREDIT GOES TO DIRECTOR DESDEMONA CHIANG AND CHOREOGRAPHER ANNIE YEE FOR PACKING THIS MUCH FUN INTO TWO HOURS. THE FBI SHRIMP BOY SHOOTOUT SCENE WAS BRILLIANT. COSTUME DESIGNER CHRISTINE TSCHIRGI DESERVES A LOT OF PRAISE.”— MD THEATER GUIDE
“[LIGHTING DESIGNER JESSICA] TRUNDY’S SUPERB DESIGN INCORPORATES ISOLATED LIGHTING AS WELL AS MOVING LIGHT AT APPROPRIATE TIMES THAT SET THE MOOD FOR EACH SCENE AND ASSIST IN PRESENTING THIS STORY. …[BRENDAN PATRICK] HOGAN AND [ALEX] HAWTHORN’S SOUND DESIGN IS WONDERFUL, USING BOTH TRADITIONAL CHINESE COMPOSITIONS AS WELL AS MODERN DANCE MUSIC THAT KEEPS THE AUDIENCE ON THEIR TOES. COSTUME DESIGN BY CHRISTINE TSCHIRGI IS WELL THOUGHT-OUT AND AUTHENTIC…A BEAUTIFUL BLEND OF PAST AND PRESENT.”— BACKSTAGE BALTIMORE