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2026 Logo Lock 2 - Summer Season_edited.

EXPLORE THE MAGIC THAT IS POSSIBLE WHEN WHAT WAS LEFT UNSAID IS FINALLY HEARD.

PAPER MENAGERIE

Based on the Short Story "The Paper Menagerie" by Ken Liu

Book by Lloyd Suh

Music by Thao Nguyen

Lyrics by Thao Nguyen & Lloyd Suh

Directed By Chay Yew

Musical Supervision by Chris Fenwick

Dramaturgy by Christine Mok

In PAPER MENAGERIE, based on the short story “The Paper Menagerie” by Ken Liu, a biracial son struggles to understand an enduring rift with his Chinese immigrant mother. Through ancestral magic and an array of paper animals his mother breathes to life on stage, this new musical explores the magic that is possible when what was left unsaid is finally heard.

Sunday, July 19
The Bardavon
1:00pm

Save up to 20% on a Season Ticket-Pass
Offer ends on April 30. All Season Ticket Passes are limited and based on availability. Individual tickets on sale May 1.
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Lloyd Suh | Playwright

Lloyd Suh is the author of THE HEART SELLERS, THE CHINESE LADY, THE FAR COUNTRY (Pulitzer Prize finalist), and others. Awards include the Steinberg Playwright Award, Guggenheim Fellowship, Horton Foote Prize, Herb Alpert Award for the Arts, and the Helen Merrill Award. He was elected in 2016 to the Dramatists Guild Council, and serves as a Professor of the Practice at Princeton Univer

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Thao Nguyen | Composer

Thao Nguyen, known for her distinctly evocative songwriting and dynamic, arresting performance, has continued to evolve artistically and personally since dropping the moniker “Thao & The Get Down Stay Down” in 2021. Her latest album, 'Temple,' reflects a profound exploration of freedom and belonging, shaped by her experiences reconnecting with her cultural roots on her first trip to Vietnam. This journey is also the subject of her intimate documentary, "Nobody Dies," which premiered on PBS to critical acclaim. Throughout her career, Thao has expanded her reach beyond recording and touring and glided into the realms of writing, filmmaking, television, podcasting and theater. She has guest hosted the celebrated podcast Song Exploder, hosted PBS's Southern Storytellers series, and scored numerous film and dance projects, all the while continuing to tour nationally and internationally. Thao can currently be seen in the music film Amongst The Disquiet (which she co-created, starred in, and wrote original music for) as it shows in contemporary art institutions and events all over the world (ex. New Orleans Museum of Art, MCA Denver, São Paulo Biennial). Her 6th studio album will be released in 2026. She is currently at work writing her debut book for Graywolf Press (2027) and developing a musical. Balancing personal vulnerability with broader cultural commentary, Thao remains a prominent voice in the contemporary music scene and beyond.

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Chay Yew | Director

New York production credits include the Public Theater, New York Theatre Workshop, Roundabout, Playwrights Horizons, Signature, City Center Encores!, Flea, Audible Theatre, Rattlestick, National Asian American Theatre Company, and Ma Yi Theatre. Regional credits include the Goodman, Arena Stage, American Conservatory Theatre, Berkeley Rep, La Jolla Playhouse, Alley, South Coast Rep, Seattle Rep, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Old Globe, Goodspeed Musicals, Center Theatre Group, Hartford Stage, Denver Center Theatre, Woolly Mammoth, Roundhouse, Kennedy Center, Huntington, Humana Festival, Writers Theatre, Court Theatre, GALA Hispanic Theatre, Mosaic Theatre, Seattle Children’s Theatre, ACT Theatre, Victory Gardens, East West Players, Teatro Vista, Empty Space, Singapore Rep, etc. His opera credits include the world premieres of AINADAMAR and RAGE D’AMORS at Tanglewood and Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the New York premiere of AMERICAN SOLDIER at Perelman Performing Arts Center. An alumnus of New Dramatists, he is the recipient of the 2024 Doris Duke Artist Award and the OBIE. chayyew.com

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Chris Fenwick | Music Supervisor

Chris Fenwick most recently music directed the Broadway productions of KIMBERLY AKIMBO (Tony Award, Best Musical), for which he also supervised the national tour, and TAMMY FAYE. He music supervised the Broadway revival of ONCE ON THIS ISLAND (Tony Award, Best Revival) and the Broadway and London productions of GOOD NIGHT, OSCAR (Olivier nomination, outstanding musical contribution). Chris music directed the Public Theater’s production of SOFT POWER (Pulitzer finalist), the Broadway revival of SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, and the Public Theater and Broadway productions of FUN HOME (Tony Award, Best Musical; Pulitzer finalist), for which he also served as music supervisor of the national tour and London production. He was the founding music director of City Center Encores! Off-Center, where he music directed 13 productions. Chris music directed the original productions of Michael John LaChiusa’s GIANT; LOS OTROS; QUEEN OF THE MIST and SEE WHAT I WANNA SEE. He conducted the Public Theater’s production of MOTHER COURAGE and HER CHILDREN, starring Meryl Streep. His recordings have been nominated for four Grammy Awards. Chris has served as music director for Patti LuPone at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and many more. His film credits include Steven Spielberg’s WEST SIDE STORY, on which he served as a vocal producer.

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Christine Mok | Dramaturg

Christine Mok is a dramaturg and scholar. She is an Associate Professor in the Department of English at the University of Rhode Island. She is co-editor with Joshua Chambers-Letson of Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig’s CHINA TRILOGY: THREE PARABLES OF GLOBAL CAPITAL (Bloomsbury, 2021), and editor of Lloyd Suh’s ONCE IN THE COUNTRYSIDE: A COLLECTION OF PLAYS (Bloomsbury, 2025). Off Broadway: THE FAR COUNTRY (Atlantic Theater Company), HARVEST (LaMaMa). Regional: FUN HOME, SOJOURNERS, THE HEART SELLERS (Huntington), The Heart Sellers (Milwaukee Rep), THE HEART SELLERS (Guthrie), SNOW IN MIDSUMMER (Oregon Shakespeare Festival), MADAMA BUTTERFLY (Opera Theatre of St Louis), THE INTELLIGENT DESIGN OF JENNY CHOW (Yale Rep). Education: PhD (Brown University), MFA (Yale School of Drama). Member of Wingspace Theatrical Design. wingspace.com/christine

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