The Forbidden Phoenix

An allegory for the early Chinese immigrants to Canada, this myth tells the story of the Monkey King's journey west. Looking for food for his people, this classic Chinese Opera character faces discrimination in a prosperous land run by a lonely ruler who only wants to bring the Iron Dragon to his kingdom. This play is a hybrid of Chinese Opera and North American Theatre, using martial arts, music, costumes, and magic to convey a mythical story with historical relevance.

- Gwen Pharis Ringwood Award for Drama

Running Time: Approximately 2 hours


click play to hear "The Phoenix Song"
music/vocals: Robert Walsh
lyrics: Marty Chan


Mom, Dad, I'm Living with
a White Girl

Mark Gee moves in with his Caucasian girlfriend Sally, but is too afraid of telling his traditional Chinese parents about his new living arrangements. Instead, he hides the truth as he introduces Sally to Mom and Dad in the hopes that they will like her. Fears turn into fantasies as the real time scenes are interwoven with scenes from the Yellow Claw, a satire on the racist movie series about a Chinese overlord trying to invade the west. The play skewers Asian stereotypes and examines the trials and tribulations of inter-racial romances. In the end, Mark must choose between his family and Sally.

- Sterling Award for Best New Play
- A.C.T. Award, Harvard University
- Sterling Award for Sound Design

Cast Requirements: 2 male, 2 female, 1 percussionist
Running Time: 85 minutes

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  Reviews:

Globe and Mail
Toronto Star
Edmonton Journal

 



Maggie's Last Dance

A high school reunion brings together old friends and nemeses to relive the past. Old crushes are revisited along with regrets and hopes. The play jumps between the present-day reunion when people are wiser and more experienced, and the high school hey days when youthful exuberance and naivete ruled.

Cast requirements: 3 male, 3 female
Running Time: Approximately 80 minutes



Polaroids of Don

An aspiring male romance novelist convinces a female friend to pose as his living pseudonym to get published. Sparks fly when their manuscript is accepted by a female publisher who hates men. As the charade continues, the lying couple start to fall in love, but the changes in the manuscript drive them apart. Their rollercoaster romance is echoed by overheated scenes from the romance novel.

- Sterling Nomination - Best Fringe Play

Cast Requirements: 3 female, 2 male
Running Time: 90 minutes



The Bone House

An audience comes to hear a lecture about serial killers. Self-proclaimed mind hunter, Eugene Crowley, recreates gruesome murders to convince the audience that a serial killer is on the loose. As the lecture progresses, the audiences suspects Crowley might actually be the killer himself. But before they can act, members of the audience are shuffled throughout the lecture hall so that they sit beside strangers. Crowley presents his final proof, an inkblot that the audience must scrutinize for a full minute. The lights are turned off and the negative image of the inkblot forms the face of the killer. However, in the blackout, the true killer makes his presence known and proceeds to eviscerate Crowley, leaving the audience's imaginations to create the picture to go along with the sounds and sensations in the dark. This play is a psychological experiment about the nature of fear, imagination, and deification of serial killers.

- Sterling Nom for Best New Fringe Play
- Sterling Nom for Best Actor in Fringe Play
- Sterling Nom for Best Fringe Play
- Sterling Nom for Best Fringe Director

Cast requirements: 3 male, 1 female
Running Time: Approximately 75 minutes

 



A Hero for All
(Theatre for Young Audience Play)

Kenny goes back to school after a successful round of chemotherapy treatments, but he's afraid of telling his friends what he's been through. He explains the change in his appearance by lying; he claims he has received super hero powers and that he is now Captain Blasto. The play bounces between Kenny's real life school problems and his super hero fantasies, until he is forced to confront his disease. The real hero that emerges is Kenny, the brave leukemia patient.

- Sterling Award- TYA Production
- Jessie Nom. - TYA Production

Cast Requirements: 2 Male, 1 Female
Running Time: 40 minutes



The Sword in the Stone
(Theatre for Young Audience Play)

Two young friends, Fisher and Falon, meet up with the grumpy and bungling wizard Merlyn and hound him until he tells them the secret of the sword in the stone. Whoever draws the blade from the rock will become the ruler of all the realms. The two pals embark on a quest to vanquish Morgala, the creature of the dark woods and prove themselves worthy of the Sword in the Stone. However, Fisher discovers that Morgala is no monster and must prevent his friend from destroying the creature of the dark woods.

- Sterling Nom. - TYA Production

Cast Requirements: 2 male, 1 female
Running Time: 40 minutes


To obtain performance rights, please contact Marty Chan
©2006 Marty Chan