Vietgone - Geva Theatre Center

Vietgone

By Qui Nguyen Original Music by Shane Rettig Directed by Pirronne Yousefzadeh

September 28 – October 24, 2021

Wilson Stage

Media Sponsor:

It’s 1975, and Saigon has fallen. He lost his wife. She lost her fiancé. But now, in a new land of Harleys, hot dogs, and Howdy! they just might find each other.

This unconventional twist on the classic boy-meets-girl story takes audiences on a hilariously rip-roaring adventure across 1970s America with a hot soundtrack that serves up hip-hop, sass and comic-book snapshots.

For positive proof that in certain realms of theater, we have moved firmly beyond political correctness, see “Vietgone,” a raucous comedy by Qui Nguyen.

The fictionalized tale of the 1975 meeting of the playwright’s parents in an Arkansas Vietnamese refugee camp bursts with profanity, rap music numbers, comic-book style projections and even kung fu fighting.

A raucous, telling and irreverent family memoir.

An unlikely intermingling of family play, history play, sex farce, action flick, and cultural critique. It is overtly rollicking and sneakily moving.

I am struck once again by the originality of the playwriting.

Geena Quintos (Tong) and Kurt Uy (Quang)

Hansel Tan (Hippie Dude), Melody Butiu (Flower Girl)

L to R: Geena Quintos (Ninja), Hansel Tan (Redneck Biker), Andrew Cristi (Nhan), Kurt Uy (Quang), and Melody Butiu (Ninja)

Andrew Cristi (Nahn) and Kurt Uy (Quang)

Melody Butiu (Huong) and Geena Quintos (Tong)

Photos by Ron Heerkens Jr.

Proof of COVID vaccination, or a negative test, and masking will be required for guests and staff.

Learn more here.

BONUS MATERIAL

Before you see the show (or after), check out our recorded prologue. You’ll hear an interview with Webster resident Ginny Nguyen, who was born in Saigon and came to the U.S. with her family in 1975, and get inside perspectives from the play’s director and cast members.

Listen Now:

Vietgone Recorded Prologue

CAST

MELODY BUTIU

MELODY BUTIU (Thu/Huong/others) is excited to return to Geva Theatre Center, having last performed here in Naomi Iizuka’s 36 Views (2003). Since then, she has appeared on Broadway in Doctor Zhivago, and Off-Broadway in David Byrne’s Here Lies Love at

ANDREW CRISTI

ANDREW CRISTI (Nhan/Khue) Andrew was last seen as Queequeg in the World Premiere of Moby-Dick, directed by Tony Award winner Rachel Chavkin at American Repertory Theater. Broadway: A Christmas Story, The Musical! Off-Broadway: Miss You Like Hell, Public Theater; Big

HANSEL TAN

HANSEL TAN (Playwright/Bobby/Giai) proudly reps the small island-state of Singapore, and is honored to celebrate the return of live theatre with audiences at Geva. Favorite collaborations – NY: The Public, Tectonic, The Flea, The Barrow Group, Prospect Theatre, Urban Stages,

GEENA QUINTOS

GEENA QUINTOS (Tong) is a native New Yorker dedicated to new works and Asian American representation in the arts. She has originated roles in Soft Power (which finished its run at The Public Theater in November 2019), We Won’t Sleep

KURT UY

KURT UY (Quang) is very excited to make his Geva debut with the return of in-person performance! Off-Broadway: The Oldest Boy (World Premiere, LCT) Recent New York: Be the Death of Me (The Civilians), Twelfth Night (Leviathan Lab). Regional: Dracula

CREATIVE TEAM

Director
PIRRONNE YOUSEFZADEH

Movement/Fight/Intimacy Coordinator
ROCÍO MENDEZ

Assistant Director/SDCF Observer
TATIANA BACCARI

Scenic Designer
MIKIKO SUZUKI MACADAMS

Costume Designer
NICOLE WEE

Lighting Designer
SETH REISER

Sound Designer, Composer & Musical Director
CHRISTIE CHILES TWILLIE

Projection Designer
KATHERINE FREER

Dramaturg
JENNI WERNER

Stage Manager
DARLENE MIYAKAWA

Assistant Stage Manager
NOLAN TODD*