Yellow Face – Play – Review – Roundabout Theatre Company’s Todd Haimes Theatre

@showsiveseen David Henry Hwang's "Yellow Face" #play at @Roundabout Theatre Company starring Hollywood celebrity, @Daniel Dae Kim. Delightful Asian father portrayal by Francis Jue. We laughed, fumed, & cried. Performing till 11/24/24.  Review: showsiveseen.com/10365 Photos: Joan Marcus Director: Leigh Silverman Stage Managers: Charles Means & Janet Takami #theatre #showsiveseen #broadway #yellowFace #asian ♬ People Like Us – Revel Day

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): David Henry Hwang’s Yellow Face at Roundabout Theatre Company starring Hollywood celebrity Daniel Dae Kim. Delightful Asian father portrayal by Francis Jue. We laughed, fumed, & cried. Performing till 11/24/24.

Recommendation:
See it, especially if you’re Asian. Like most theatre productions, there were sadly few Asians in the audience despite being an Asian-themed play!


My Synopsis (No Spoilers): Autobiographical account of David Henry Hwang’s experience with historical yellow face casting controversies in the NYC theatre scene.

Synopsis from the Licensor or Theatre Company: Broadway’s new triumph is the New York Times Critic’s Pick, the “relevant, insightful, and very funny” (Greg Evans, Deadline) Broadway premiere of Yellow Face. Daniel Dae Kim (Lost, Hawaii Five-O) heads the cast of Tony Award® winner David Henry Hwang’s hilarious is-he-or-isn’t-he comedy of identity, show business, and (perhaps) autobiography, directed by Tony nominee Leigh Silverman (Violet, Suffs). Kim stars as an Asian American playwright who protests yellowface casting in the blockbuster musical Miss Saigon, only to mistakenly cast a white actor as the Asian lead in his own play. The repercussions resonate wildly in this laugh-out-loud farce about the complexities of race that “builds to a climax of startling power” (Daniel D’addario, Variety).

Type: Play

World Premiere: No

Several or Few Scenes: Several

Several or Few Settings/Locations: Several

Static (Stationary) or Dynamic Set: Dynamic

Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: To appreciate the story fully, you’ll need to know about the NYC theatre scene in the 1990s and late 1980s. I’m curious if this play would do well outside NYC since most audience members outside NYC will not be familiar with some references.

Defined Plot/Storyline: Yes

Union Actors: All

Total Actors: 7

Perceived Pace of the Show: Medium speed

Was there an intermission? No

Length (Including Any Intermission): 1.5 hours

Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show? Yes

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now? Probably not, but it was good

Mainstream Appeal: Medium

Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned Above

  • Scenic Design: I’m always a fan of modern minimalism. It was reminiscent of an even more minimalist version of Company‘s scenic design. Arnulfo Maldonado uniquely designed two L-shaped shadowbox-like structures that rotated to indicate location changes in the story.
  • Projection Design: Yee Eun Nam presented newspaper articles in a visually appealing way.
  • Reporter: The scene between David (played by Daniel Dae Kim) and the reporter (played by Greg Keller) was well-written and skillfully executed as a great “fuck you!” moment for people with a public platform. I’m so curious how much of that account was historically accurate. I already feel a bit betrayed by a major plot point that the script later conceded wasn’t real.
  • Jane Krakowski: Marinda Anderson’s(?) impersonation of Jane Krakowski was spot on, at least compared to the Ally McBeal version.
  • Emotional Response: As an Asian American, I felt the indignation of the cultural appropriation and microaggressions toward Asians. My dad, too, was moved to tears by other portrayals toward the end of the show. They say that great art should evoke emotion, and this piece certainly did!
  • Favorite Line: Something like “Did you catch your [non-Asian] boyfriend put butter on his rice?”

Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)

  • Commentary on Yellow Face Casting: The script presented some interesting points in defense of yellow face casting. But it was hard to determine what the Asian American playwright David Henry Hwang actually intended to convey on his stance. Additionally, the show started out as a preachy morality play seemingly written for the playwright’s vain commentary, but the show eventually hit its stride and became entertaining.

Theatre Company: Roundabout Theatre Company

Venue: Todd Haimes Theatre

Venue Physical Address: 227 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036

Venue Classification: Broadway

Price Range: $58-348 plus the ticketing fees if you’re not buying at the box office.

Ticket Affordability Options: Download the TodayTix app for digital rush tickets. You can only purchase the digital rush tickets on the app and not the website. You can also likely buy discount tickets at the TKTS booth like I did.

Dates: September 13 to November 24, 2024

Seating: Assigned Seating

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Pictures: See production pictures below by Joan Marcus.

Cast and Production Team: See pictures below.

Ryan Eggold, Marinda Anderson, Daniel Dae Kim, Kevin Del Aguila. Photo by Joan Marcus.
Daniel Dae Kim, Ryan Eggold, Marinda Anderson. Photo by Joan Marcus.
Daniel Dae Kim, Ryan Eggold. Photo by Joan Marcus.
Daniel Dae Kim, Ryan Eggold, Shannon Tyo. Photo by Joan Marcus.
Daniel Dae Kim, Greg Keller. Photo by Joan Marcus.
Francis Jue, Marinda Anderson, Kevin Del Aguila, Daniel Dae Kim, Ryan Eggold, Shannon Tyo. Photo by Joan Marcus.
Daniel Dae Kim, Kevin Del Aguila, Marinda Anderson, Francis Jue. Photo by Joan Marcus.

A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical – Review – Roundabout Theatre Company’s Studio 54

@showsiveseen "A Wonderful World: The #LouisArmstrong #Musical" at @Roundabout Theatre Company's iconic Studio 54 starring @james monroe iglehar w/ @James T. Lane performing select nights. Tons of tap dance. The ex-wives characters were vocal powerhouses! #jukebox Review: showsiveseen.com/10204 Book: @aurinsquire Director: Christopher Renshaw Choreography: Rickey Tripp and @Dewitt Fleming Jr Stage Managers: RL Campbell, Jen Ash, Alex Luong #theatre #showsiveseen @A Wonderful World Broadway ♬ What A Wonderful World – Live At The BBC – Louis Armstrong

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical at Roundabout Theatre Company’s iconic Studio 54 starring James Monroe Iglehart with James T Lane performing select nights. Tons of tap dance. The ex-wives characters were vocal powerhouses! #jukebox

Recommendation:
See it if you like 1) shows with race as a significant theme 2) or shows with an old timey Southern New Orleans feel.


My Synopsis (No Spoilers): A basic biopic jukebox musical about Louis Armstrong, with all the familiar elements you’d expect from the genre.

Synopsis from the Licensor or Theatre Company: Join Tony Award® winner James Monroe Iglehart and a talented ensemble cast as they bring Louis Armstrong’s incredible journey to life, from New Orleans to worldwide fame. This full-scale musical features a rich tapestry of characters, including the extraordinary women who helped shape his remarkable life and career. Be captivated by Armstrong’s timeless hits like “What a Wonderful World” and “When You’re Smiling,” performed by a large, dynamic cast. Don’t miss this spectacular celebration of music, filled with vibrant dance numbers, stunning sets, and unforgettable performances. Get your tickets now for an unforgettable night that honors the iconic man who defined an era.

Type: Musical

World Premiere: No

Several or Few Scenes: Several

Several or Few Settings/Locations: Several

Static (Stationary) Set? Yes and no, you could argue either way.

Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: You’ll obviously appreciate this show more if you’re familiar Louis Armstrong’s hits. I was only familiar with a scant few, but I still enjoyed the show.

Defined Plot/Storyline: Yes

Live Band/Orchestra: Yes

Union Actors: All

Total Actors: Too many to count

Perceived Pace of the Show: Medium speed

Was there an intermission? Yes

Length (Including Any Intermission): 2.5 hours

Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show? Yes

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now? No

Mainstream Appeal: Medium to high

Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned Above

  • Tap Dancing: I love tap dancing in musicals, and I wasn’t expecting to see much of it in this show. But to my surprise, there was a lot more tap dancing than I anticipated. What stood out even more was that the tap numbers were often performed by few dancers, rather than a large ensemble, which is more typical in most musicals.
  • Personal Advocacy: It was inspiring to see Louis Armstrong’s second wife (Lil Hardin played by Jennie Harney-Fleming) fight for his finances and advocate for his talent’s true worth. This reminded me of how many skilled people in the workforce settle into complacency without advocating for themselves. Too often, they don’t ask for a promotion, request a raise, or explore opportunities elsewhere that might better compensate their talent. Closed mouths don’t get fed!
  • Favorite Line: Something like “I’m wearing two pairs of underwear cause my lips are so chapped!”

Rant(s)

  • Ushers: I understand that the ushers were just doing their jobs, but their rough demeanor was totally unnecessary. Am I just not used to East coast ushers?
  • Venue: This was my first time at the venerable Studio 54 and I was surprised how rundown the performing space was. I guess this is expected of a historical landmark?

Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)

  • Rotating Stage: Often when a production utilizes a rotating stage, they tend do overuse the effect like in Hamilton. Thankfully, this show judiciously showcased the rotating effect.
  • Louis Armstrong’s Music: I’m generally not a fan of Louis Armstrong’s music and I definitely don’t like his voice. It’s sacrilege, I know. I personally think Louis Armstrong’s voice sounds like cookie monster. Kudos to James Monroe Iglehart and James T Lane for subjecting their voices to this extra cookie monster strain! Of note, I feel like the script didn’t explain well enough or dwell enough time on the cause of Louis Armstrong’s unique vocals.

Venue: Roundabout Theatre Company’s Studio 54

Venue Physical Address: 254 W 54th St, New York, NY 10019

Venue Classification: Broadway

Price Range: $69-308 plus the Criterion Ticketing fees if you’re not buying at the box office.

Ticket Affordability Options: See the show’s website for information on rush tickets. You’ll likely also find discount tickets at the TKTS booth.

Dates: Opening night was 11/11/24. As of 11/11/24, the ticketing website offered performances up to 5/4/25.

Seating: Assigned Seating

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Pictures: See pictures below by Jeremy Daniel.

Cast and Production Team: See pictures below.

Darlesia Cearcy as Lucille Wilson and Company in A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical. © Jeremy Daniel
DeWitt Fleming Jr. as Lincoln Perry, and at back, James Monroe Iglehart as Louis Armstrong and Ensemble in A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical. © Jeremy Daniel
James Monroe Iglehart as Louis Armstrong with Jodeci Milhouse, Alysha Morgan, Kate Louissaint in A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical. © Jeremy Daniel
James Monroe Iglehart as Louis Armstrong and Gavin Gregory as King Joe Oliver and Company in A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical. © Jeremy Daniel
James Monroe Iglehart as Louis Armstrong and Company in A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical. © Jeremy Daniel