Flower Drum Song

Flower Drum Song
Jan 20 – Feb 19, 2017

Music by Richard Rodgers; Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Book by David Henry Hwang; Directed by Randy Reyes
Co-Production with Mu Performing Arts
View/Download Playbill

This show’s run has concluded.

Mei-Li flees China to escape political oppression landing in San Francisco’s Chinatown to meet Wang, her father’s pal from the Peking Opera. At Wang’s theatre, which continues the opera tradition, she meets Wang’s son Ta, who is trying to bring the family theatre into the modern era with cabaret performances. Working together, Mei-Li and Ta rediscover their roots and fall in love in this brave new world. Meanwhile, father and son begin to see each other’s point of view and create a new Chinese-American art form. Hwang’s new script crackles with authenticity and humor, set against Rodgers and Hammerstein’s score, which is by turns lushly romantic and showbiz-brassy.

FROM THE DIRECTOR:randy-reyes-conversation-bubble
This musical has the elements of classic Rodgers and Hammerstein mixed with the beautiful flavors of Asian sounds and culture.
All the worlds are very vivid – the flash of the showgirl world, the beauty of Peking Opera, the grittiness of the refugee journey from China to America…all mixed into one play. Mu celebrates its 25th Anniversary with this production, and it is a perfect statement of the Asian American Theatre movement and where we’ve come as a people. This story is for anyone whose family came to this country from somewhere else.  –Randy Reyes, Director

WHY GO?  To experience the words and music from the masters of the great American Songbook.

WHO SHOULD YOU BRING?  The musical theatre fans in your life and your friends who love creative fusion.


Cast

Musicians
Max LaRock – Bass
Joey Schad – Pipa/Keyboard
Dylan Younger – Reeds
Kian Dziak – Drums/Percussion

Crew
Randy Reyes – Director
Andrew Fleser – Music Director, Conductor & Arrangments
Penelope Freeh – Choreographer
Mina Kinukawa – Set Designer
Andrea M. Gross – Costume Designer
Jacob M. Davis – Sound Designer
Michael P. Kittel – Lighting Designer
Abbee Warmboe – Props Designer
Alice McGlave – Dance Captain
Jamie J Kranz* – Stage Manager
Lyndsey Harter* – Assistant Stage Manager

This show’s run has concluded.

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calendar-color-key-matinee-11-19
*B
valid for matinee performance
*C valid for evening performance
P: Preview
B: Bargain Preview  Bargain Preview tickets for this show are sold out
D: Post-show Discussion
O: Opening Night
M: Musings
ASL: American Sign Language
AD: Audio Description
C: Open Captioning

SPECIAL EVENTS

Discuss Flower Drum Song after the performance – your chance to ask questions!

Wednesday, January 25: Post-show Q&A with the cast and director. Discussion Moderator: Dr. Josephine Lee, Professor of English and Asian American Studies at the University of MN.

Sunday, February 5: Post-show Q&A with the cast and director. Moderator: Julianna Hu Pegues, Assistant Professor of American Indian Studies and Asian American Studies at the University of MN.

Thursday, February 9: Post-show Q&A with the cast and director.

Thursday, February 16: Post-show Q&A about The Ghostlight Project — an ongoing commitment by theater institutions and artists to work for social justice and equity in the coming years.

SPECIAL OFFERS & BEST PRICES

Theatre Fan Night Out: Four Tickets for $119
A perfect show to share and discuss! Use code FAN when ordering.
Valid for these performances: Wed, Feb 1 at  7:30pm; Sat, Feb 4 at 2pm;
Wed, Feb 8 at  7:30pm; Thurs, Feb 16 at  7:30pm

Seniors 62+ Save $5; Military Members Save $10

College Students with current ID $22 (standard seating) use code COL

Age 30 or Under $25 (standard seating) use code 30U

Above offers not valid on previous purchases or with other discounts. 

FLOWER DRUM SONG Content Analysis
Park Square wants your theatergoing experience to be as enjoyable as possible. Following is a list of content within Flower Drum Song that may be of concern to some members of our audience. Please understand that some information may give away surprises within the story. The information is provided to help you make informed decisions. Keep in mind that the language and themes outlined below, taken out of context, may seem more offensive than they would be within the context of the actual play. If you have any questions about the play’s content, please contact Michael-jon Pease, executive director, at 651.767.8497 or pease@parksquaretheatre.org.

Flower Drum Song is suitable for teenagers and adults. 

Synopsis
Set in the late 1950s, Flower Drum Song centers on naive immigrant, Mei-Li, who arrives in San Francisco’s Chinatown, after fleeing communist China. This naïve young refugee is befriended by Wang, who is struggling to keep the Chinese opera tradition alive despite his son’s determination to turn the old opera house into a swingin’ Western-style nightclub. A unique blending of American razz-ma-tazz and stylized Chinese opera traditions creates a beautifully theatrical tapestry. The wonderful score, by turns lushly romantic and showbiz-brassy, retains all of its luster in this lovely new version of an American classic. Mei-Li’s gradual assimilation is informed by her realization that the old and new can coexist when there is respect for both.

Adult Language
None.

Violence
None.

Drugs/Alcohol/Smoking
There is mild alcohol consumption.

Sexual References/Nudity
The play includes strippers but no nudity.

Other Mature Themes
The play concerns issues of immigration and cultural assimilation.

Running Time
Two hours and 30 minutes with one intermission.

Dive into the world of Flower Drum Song with our play guide featuring articles on “How Racism Created America’s Chinatowns,” “Chinese Opera and Flower Drum Song” and “Stereotypes: Real, Perceived, or Debunked?”  Click here to view or download the PDF.

 

chinese-zodiac-scarfSponsor nine students attending a
matinee performance of Flower Drum Song!

Park Square Theatre and Mu Performing Arts are thrilled to bring Flower Drum Song to the Proscenium Stage this month. Both organizations are especially excited to share the production with students from Minnesota and parts of Wisconsin and Iowa!

When you walk into the lobby of the Proscenium Stage at Park Square you will see a beautiful hanging scarf depicting the 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac. We are thrilled that artist and Park Square patron Jane Goodspeed designed this stunning scarf for our lobby. Now is your chance to help students see Flower Drum Song and take a scarf home with you!

Sponsor nine students attending a matinee performance of Flower Drum Song with a $99.00 donation and we will gift you a scarf through the mail. The scarves are perfect to wear or display as a wall hanging (it includes the string and bamboo sticks necessary to display your scarf on a wall).  Fill out our online order form now to make your donation! If you have any questions regarding this opportunity please contact Mackenzie Pitterle at pitterle@parksquaretheatre.org or 651-767-1440.

Thank you for supporting Park Square Theatre and Mu Performing Arts!

 

 

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A Co-production with Mu Performing Arts

sponsored by: 3M, Target, Thomson Reuters, F.R. Bigelow, Saint Paul Foundation, Minnesota State Arts Board, The Shubert Foundation, Ecolab Foundation, Elmer L. & Eleanor J. Andersen Foundation, McKnight Foundation

special thanks to Wells Pianos

photo for Flower Drum Song by Rich Ryan

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Tickets

The box office is currently closed. Please email tickets@parksquaretheatre.org with any questions.

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