Genre
Musical
Runtime
140 mins w/ 15 min. intermission
doors open 1 hr
before showtime
soft pow • er (noun)
a persuasive approach to international relations, typically involving the use of cultural influence.
A contemporary comedy explodes into a musical fantasia in the first collaboration between two of America’s great theatre artists: Tony Award® winners David Henry Hwang (M. Butterfly, Flower Drum Song) and Jeanine Tesori (Fun Home). SOFT POWER rewinds our recent political history and plays it back through a Chinese lens: a future, beloved East-meets-West musical.
A Chinese executive in 2016 America finds himself falling in love with a good-hearted U.S. leader, as the power balance between their two countries starts to shift and a new world order arrives. As original as it is topical, SOFT POWER overflows with the romance, laughter, and cultural confusions of the golden age of Broadway. Hwang and Tesori have created one of the most eagerly anticipated new works of the year.
SOFT POWER is produced by Center Theatre Group in association with the Curran. SOFT POWER comes to the Curran following its world premiere at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles.
“There is a rare kind of electricity that only happens around bonafide geniuses in close collaboration. You don’t want to miss it.” -Carole Shorenstein Hays
Special Performances:
ASL and Audio Described: 6/30 matinee
Post-show talkback with David Henry Hwang: 6/22
Open Caption: 7/1 matinee
Press
Cast
Creatives
David Zinn
Scenic Design
Anite Yavich
Costume Design
Mark Barton
Lighting Design
Kai Harada
Sound Design
Conrad Ricamora
Broadway: The King And I. Off Broadway: Here Lies Love (TheatreWorld Award, Lortel nomination). Regional: Allegiance (Old Globe); Tartuffe, Woyzeck, Fuddy Meers (Clarence Brown Theatre); Romeo and Juliet (Utah Shakespeare Festival); The Taming of the Shrew (North Carolina Shakespeare Festival). Film: Talladega Nights, The Light of the Moon, Raising Christopher (writer/producer/actor). TV: How to Get Away With Murder (Oliver). Education: MFA, University of Tennessee. Awarded 2016 Human Rights Campaign Visibility Award and 2017 Equality California Visibility Award. Twitter/Instagram: @conradricamora
Billy Bustamante
New York City-based performer, director, and photographer. Broadway: Miss Saigon (Engineer u/s), The King and I (Lun Tha u/s). NYC/regional: Here Lies Love at The Public Theater, Arena Stage, Old Globe, Paper Mill Playhouse, Sacramento Music Circus, Walnut Street Theatre, San Jose Rep, North Shore Music Theatre, Pan Asian Rep, Prospect Theater Company, and Arden Theatre Company. Billy recently directed the Off-Broadway revivals of The Adding Machine and LaChiusa’s The Wild Party. Other directing/choreography credits include Goodspeed, Lincoln Center, NAAP, TUTS, Merry Go Round, and CFRT. He is co-founder of Broadway Barkada and on teaching faculty at Jen Waldman Studio. Billy is passionately committed to the development of new works and new artists. Thanks to Peyton, his family, and this wonderful company! BillyBustamante.com, Insta: @bjcb
Jon Hoche
Off-Broadway: Vietgone (Manhattan Theatre Club); Soul Samurai, The Inexplicable Redemption of Agent G (Ma-Yi Theater); Hello, From the Children of Planet Earth (Playwrights Realm). North American tour: War Horse (National Theatre). Other select credits: Vietgone (South Coast Repertory); Seven Homeless Mammoths Wander New England (Two River Theater); Dracula (Premiere Stages); Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, Othello, and Titus Andronicus (American Globe Theatre); Little Shop of Horrors (The Gateway Playhouse). Participant in the first diversity puppetry workshop at The Jim Henson Company. Artistic Associate of Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company. JonHoche.com
Kendyl Ito
Kendyl is thrilled to join Soft Power amongst a crew of such beautiful artists! International/national tour: Matilda. Regional/other credits: A Chorus Line (dir. Baayork Lee), Grease, Rent, Seussical, Oliver, American Idiot, Tiananmen. A proud member of the National Asian Artists Project (NAAP), Pace University alum, and has also been seen in concerts at 54 Below including 54 Sings Little Women, Music and Laughter, and Samantha Spade. Endless love and gratitude to Mom, Dad, Kelsey, Jeremy & Dave.
Francis Jue
Broadway: Pacific Overtures, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and M. Butterfly. Other favorite theatre credits include Yellow Face (Obie and Lucille Lortel Awards, plus Drama Desk and Drama League nominations), In the Next Room (or the vibrator play) (ariZoni Award), Miss Saigon (Elliot Norton Award), Kiss of the Spider Woman (Drama-Logue Award), Cabaret (Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award), Falsettoland, Kung Fu, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Love’s Labour’s Lost, Wild Goose Dreams, and Paper Dolls. Film and TV credits include Joyful Noise, and recurring roles on Madam Secretary, Law & Order: SVU, and The Good Wife.
Austin Ku
International/Broadway tour: David Henry Hwang’s Chinglish (dir. Leigh Silverman). Off-Broadway: Pacific Overtures (dir. John Doyle) and Anne Washburn’s Iphigenia in Aulis (dir. Rachel Chavkin), both at Classic Stage Company; Tokio Confidential (Atlantic Theater). Regional: Berkeley Rep, Delaware REP (The Bells, wr./dir. Theresa Rebeck), Foothill Music Theatre (Dean Goodman Award), Ogunquit Playhouse (IRNE nomination), SF Shakespeare Festival, Shakespeare Theatre of NJ, Stoneham Theatre (BroadwayWorld nomination), South Coast Rep (StageSceneLA Award), Walnut Street Theatre (Barrymore nomination), and many more. Film: Detective Chinatown 2, Creative Control, Sleeping with Other People, The Woman in the Dress. TV: Shades of Blue (recurring), Billions, Bull, Homeland, Sneaky Pete, The Affair, Younger, and more. Training: Boston Conservatory, Upright Citizens Brigade. @secretaustinman, Austin-Ku.com
Raymond J. Lee
Thanks to the Soft Power team for letting him be part of this show. Ray recently originated the role of Ralph in Groundhog Day on Broadway. Other Broadway credits: Honeymoon in Vegas, Anything Goes, Mamma Mia! Off-Broadway: The Two Gentlemen of Verona (The Public), The Wild Party (Encores!). Regional: Tiger Style! (La Jolla Playhouse), Stuck Elevator (A.C.T.), Nerds (PTC), Great Wall (Village Theatre). TV: Billions, Red Oaks, Smash, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Fame, Succession. Film: The Greatest Showman, Ghost Town, The Mikado Project. Ray’s voiceover work includes The Guardian Brothers on Netflix, audiobooks, and several animated shows. Thanks to Nicolosi & Co. and Sullivan Talent Group. Love to Robbi and Ella. Go U Northwestern! Visit raymondjlee.com for more info and follow @raymondjlee.
Alyse Alan Louis
Broadway: Amélie (original cast recording), Disaster!, Mamma Mia! Off-Broadway: A New Brain (Encores! Off-Center/original cast recording); The Civilians’ Pretty Filthy (Abrons Arts Center/original cast recording); Academia Nuts (NYMF/The Signature). Regional: Amélie (Center Theatre Group and Berkeley Rep); The Rocky Horror Show (Bucks County Playhouse); Nerds (Philadelphia Theatre Co.); Spring Awakening (Olney Theatre Center); Pop! Who Shot Andy Warhol? (City Theatre PA).
Jaygee Macapugay
Broadway: Original company of School of Rock (cast recording). Off-Broadway: School of Rock (Gramercy), Here Lies Love (Imelda Marcos, Public Theater), Hello, Dolly! (Irene Molloy, Pershing Square Signature), Sondheim Suites (Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall), The Rockae (Prospect Theater). Regional favorites: Here Lies Love (Imelda, Seattle Repertory), Smokey Joe’s Café (Brenda, Maltz Jupiter), Miss Saigon (MUNY, 5th Avenue, Casa Manana), The King & I (KC Starlight). International: Where Elephants Weep. Jaygee has a passion for collaborating on new musicals including Tears of Heaven by Frank Wildhorn, Till Soon, Anne by Christine Toy Johnson & Bobby Cronin, Honor by Pete Mills, and Good Times Roll by The Cars. She proudly sang for our troops with the USO. Thankful for the support of my parents, Eric, friends, and David.
Daniel May
Daniel is overjoyed to be a part of Soft Power and dedicates his performance to his nephew Nathan. Daniel was born in South Korea and grew up in Southern California, attending the Orange County High School of the Arts and doing theatre locally (East West Players, Open Fist Theatre, Musical Theatre West, McCoy Rigby) and TV/commercial work. Daniel first worked with David Henry Hwang in the original Broadway revival cast of Flower Drum Song starring Lea Salonga and then went on the road with the first national tour of Jeanine Tesori’s Thoroughly Modern Millie where he took over the role of Ching Ho. Daniel lives in NYC and has done Off-Broadway and regional work. Thanks to the creative team for everything! Love to his family, friends, and Mateo who make this all possible.
Paul HeeSang Miller
Broadway: Miss Saigon, The King and I (Lincoln Center), Mamma Mia! Regional: Walnut St, PCLO, Musical Theatre Wichita, North Shore Music Theatre, Weston Playhouse, Saint Michael’s Playhouse, Kansas City Starlight, Artpark. BFA Elon University. Excited to be here in California to present Soft Power! Huge thanks to the Soft Power team and HCKR Agency. Follow me @paulheesangmiller.
Kristen Faith Oei
Ecstatic to be back home in California, Kristen, a Bay Area native, was most recently seen in the Broadway revival of David Henry Hwang’s M. Butterfly. Other NYC productions include the original revival Broadway cast of The King and I (LCT), the original Broadway cast of Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark (u/s Mary Jane), the Off-Broadway premiere of DHH’s Kung Fu (Signature Theatre), and In Your Arms (NYFSF). International/first national tours and sit-downs include Wicked (dance captain), We Will Rock You in Las Vegas, Elton John & Tim Rice’s Aida (u/s Amneris), West Side Story in Europe, and Fame. Various TV appearances include The Suite Life on Deck, Mozart in the Jungle, and the film Isn’t It Romantic. Endless gratitude and love to DHH, the SP team, family, friends, and most of all, to God. Romans 8:38 & 39. @Dragonfly02
Maria-Christina Oliveras
Maria-Christina was last seen at the Ahmanson in Amélie, which she subsequently did on Broadway. Other Broadway credits include Machinal and Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson. Off-Broadway World premieres: Here Lies Love (The Public, cast album); Pretty Filthy (The Civilians, cast album); Taylor Mac’s 24-Decade History of Popular Music (St. Ann’s Warehouse); And Miles to Go, After (PCP); Reading Under the Influence (DR2); The Really Big Once (Target Margin). Other Off-Broadway includes Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (The Public); Romeo and Juliet (NYSF/The Public); Zorba! (City Center Encores!); Night Sky (BPAC). Regional: Berkeley Rep, Williamstown, Long Wharf, Huntington, Baltimore Center Stage, Sundance, Hudson Valley Shakespeare, O’Neill Theater Center, among others. Selected film/TV: Manhattan Night, St. Vincent, The Humbling, Time Out of Mind, Nurse Jackie, Law & Order: SVU. Education: BA Yale; MFA NTC.
Geena Quintos
Geena is so excited to be a part of such a brilliant team. Broadway/national tours: Miss Saigon (original Broadway production), A Chorus Line. Off-Broadway/regional: Here Lies Love (Seattle Rep); Normativity, Held Momentarily (PTC); Miss Saigon (Paramount Theatre). Connie in One Singular Sensation at The Public Theater. Geena comes from a huge family full of people with even bigger hearts. Thank you Bloc Fam for everything you do! David, Jeanine, Leigh & Sam—absolutely all my love! This one is for Dad.
Trevor Salter
Off-Broadway: Here Lies Love (The Public Theater, original cast); Revolting Rhymes (Lucille Lortel Theatre). Regional: Here Lies Love (Seattle Rep). Other theatre credits include Cabaret (The Secret Theatre); The Loon (Abrons Arts Center, JACK); to the left of the pantry and under the sugar shack (La MaMa). Film: Ricki and The Flash (2015). Trevor is thrilled and thankful to be a part of this production. Thank you to the cast, crew, and creative team for all your hard work. Special thanks to Ma & Pop, Mom, Juno, and of course my darling Anna, for all your unconditional love and support.
Emily Stillings
Broadway: The King and I (Lincoln Center). TV: Multiple episodes of Saturday Night Live including the Welcome to Hell digital short, multiple episodes of Lip Sync Battle. So much love for Mom. Thank you for being my biggest supporter. @emilystillings
Kara Guy
KARA GUY is fresh off of the musical First Date at Blumenthal Performing Arts in Charlotte, NC, where she was an understudy and played the lead role of Casey. Off-Broadway:Clinton the Musical (Ensemble, u/s Hillary and Monica). Other notable roles include Hairspray (Penny), Crazy for You (Polly), Nunsense (Sister Amnesia), Oregon Trail the Musical (Natalie), and The Wedding Singer (Holly). She also was part of the 10th Anniversary National Tour of Footloose playing Rusty. Thanks to Dave for sticking with me and my loves—Jeff and Chompers!
Leigh Silverman
Broadway: Violet by Jeanine Tesori, Brian Crawley (Roundabout, Tony nomination), Chinglish (David Henry Hwang), Well. Recent Off- Broadway: Harry Clarke (Vineyard Theatre/Minetta Lane), Sweet Charity (New Group), On The Exhale (Roundabout), The Outer Space (Public Theater), All The Ways To Say I Love You (MCC), The Way We Get By (Second Stage), Tumacho (Clubbed Thumb), American Hero (Williamstown Theater Festival, Second Stage), No Place To Go (Public Theater), Kung Fu (David Henry Hwang, Signature Theatre), The (Curious Case Of The) Watson Intelligence (Playwrights Horizons), The Madrid (MTC), Golden Child (David Henry Hwang, Signature Theatre), In The Wake (Center Theatre Group/Berkeley/Public Theater, Obie Award, Lortel nomination), The Call (Playwrights Horizons), Go Back To Where You Are (Playwrights Horizons, Obie Award), From Up Here (MTC, Drama Desk nomination), Yellow Face (David Henry Hwang, Center Theatre Group/Public Theater). Encores: Really Rosie, The Wild Party, Violet. Recent Regional: Wildgoose Dreams (La Jolla Playhouse/Public Theater (upcoming), Hurricane Diane (Two River Theater).
David Henry Hwang
David Henry Hwang's work includes Pulitzer Prize finalist “Yellow Face” his Tony-nominated revival of “Flower Drum Song,” the plays “M. Butterfly,” “Chinglish,” “Kung Fu,” “Golden Child,” “The Dance and the Railroad” and “FOB,” and the Broadway musicals “Aida” (co-author) and Disney’s “Tarzan.” He is also America’s most-produced living opera librettist, and a writer/producer for the Golden Globe-winning television series “The Affair.” Born and raised in Los Angeles, Hwang is a Tony Award winner (“M. Butterfly”) and three-time nominee, a three-time Obie Award winner and a two-time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Recent honors include the 2011 PEN/Laura Pels Award for a Master American Dramatist, the 2012 Inge Award, the 2012 Steinberg Distinguished Playwright “Mimi” Award, a 2014 Doris Duke Artist Award and the 2015 IPSA Distinguished Artist Award. He is Chair of the American Theatre Wing and sits on the board of the Lark Play Development Center. Hwang was recently the Residency One Playwright at New York’s Signature Theatre, and currently serves as head of playwriting at Columbia University School of the Arts. In 1998, East West Players named its new mainstage The David Henry Hwang Theatre.
Jeanine Tesori
Jeanine Tesori’s Broadway credits include “Fun Home,” “Violet,” “Caroline, or Change,” “Shrek The Musical,” “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” “Twelfth Night” (Lincoln Center Theater) and John Guare’s “A Free Man of Color.” Tesori also collaborated with Tony Kushner on “Mother Courage” starring Meryl Streep at the Delacorte. Her opera credits include “A Blizzard on Marblehead Neck” (libretto, Tony Kushner; Glimmerglass) and “The Lion, the Unicorn and Me” (libretto, J. D. McClatchy; Washington National Opera). Her songs are featured in the Netflix revival of “Gilmore Girls.” She is the artistic director/co-founder of A Broader Way, an arts empowerment program for girls from underserved communities; the founding artistic director of Encores! Off-Center; and a lecturer in music at Yale University and Columbia University. Tesori is a member of the Dramatists Guild.
Sam Pinkleton
Center Theatre Group: Amélie; Kansas City Choir Boy; Buyer & Cellar. Broadway: Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 (Tony Nomination - Best Choreography); Significant Other; Amélie; Heisenberg; and Machinal. Opera: Trouble in Tahiti (Dutch National Opera). Off-Broadway/regional: BAM, Playwrights Horizons, Soho Rep, Roundabout, Manhattan Theatre Club, TFANA, Berkeley Rep, American Repertory Theater, Kansas City Rep, Theatreworks USA, Actors Theatre of Louisville, and McCarter Theatre. Sam is a collaborating artist with The Civilians, Pig Iron Theatre Company, and The Dance Cartel. He directed Runaways for City Center Encores, which is currently being reprised by the The Public Theater/Shakespeare in the Park.