New Eyes Festival

Woman peering our from sunflowers — NEW EYES FESTIVAL 2022

Apr 9 - 10, 2022

RSVP

THEATER MU’S LONGEST RUNNING TRADITION

This series of staged readings of new works from Asian American playwrights is an artistic incubator for thoughts and ideas looking to be born onto the stage. For the 2022 festival, our playwrights are our Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Playwright-in-Residence Saymoukda Duangphouxay Vongsay, Katie Ka Vang and composer Melissa Li, and Keiko Green, who was one of our inaugural Mu Tang Clan members this past year.

A staged reading is a form of theater without sets or full costumes. The actors read from scripts and incorporate minimal stage movement. The purpose is to gauge the effectiveness of the dialogue, pacing and flow, and other dramatic elements that the playwright or director may wish to adjust. Audience feedback also contributes to the process. Past works at New Eyes include Isabella Dawis and Tidtaya Sinutoke’s Half the Sky, Leah Nanako Winkler’s Two Mile Hollow, and Lloyd Suh’s Charles Francis Chan Jr.’s Exotic Oriental Murder Mystery, but those are only a handful across the festival’s legacy since 1993.

Before arriving, please note our COVID-19 policies.

Access the digital playbill and the large-print digital playbill, both in PDF form.

GENERAL INFORMATION

TICKETS

This event is free and open to the public. Seating is limited, so please RSVP.

VENUE INFO

New Eyes Festival will take place at Theater Mu’s studio located at 755 Prior Ave N, Suite 107, Saint Paul, MN 55104. Enter through the front door located in the same parking lot as the green water tower.

On Saturday, between the matinee and the evening readings, consider taking your supper break at KCM EggRolls food truck, stationed outside our neighbor, BlackStack Brewing. If you mention New Eyes Festival when you order your food, you will receive a 20% discount.

On both days, if you mention New Eyes Festival at BlackStack Brewing, you will receive $1 off any full-size pour.

THE SERIES

Saturday, Apr 9, at 4 p.m.

KUNG FU ZOMBIES VS. SHAMAN WARRIOR

written by SAYMOUKDA DUANGPHOUXAY VONGSAY

In the post-apocalyptic mountains of northern Laos, Arun must rescue her sister, Khwan, from an unpredictable cult leader. With Hanuman as her spiritual guide, she battles zombies in the jungle, demons from the underworld, and her own personal monsters. As the prequel to Kung Fu Zombies vs. Cannibals, Shaman Warrior highlights Akha spiritual practices and interrogates foreign colonization and hegemony with plenty of "easter eggs" for fans of pop culture.

Cast: Alex Galick *, Ayden Her, Jeannie Lander, Tom Reed, Rich Remedios *, Lia Rivamonte, Janet Scanlon, Kaysone Syonesa, Dexieng Yang, and Kavya Shetty.

Saturday, Apr 9, at 7:30 p.m.

AGAIN

written by KATIE KA VANG

composed by MELISSA LI

Memoirist and cancer survivor Mai See meets a young filmmaker named Quest, who is inspired by her story despite suffering from her own chronic cancer. When Mai See relapses, their unlikely friendship helps her understand her own life—things that are worth keeping and things that are worth letting go. Again is an irreverent, moving, heartbreaking new musical about what to do when shit gets real.

Cast: Song Kim, Meghan Kreidler *, Michi Lee, Pagnia Xiong, and PaChia Vang.

Sunday, Apr 10, at 5 p.m.

EXOTIC DEADLY: OR THE MSG PLAY

written by KEIKO GREEN

It’s 1999, and Ami is an awkward, Japanese American high school girl, just trying to stay as invisible as possible. But her world comes crashing down with a terrible discovery: Her family is responsible for manufacturing MSG, the poison spice getting all the kids hooked. Meanwhile, a mysterious new girl arrives from Japan. Her name? Exotic Deadly. She’s loud, she smokes, and she’s not playing by the rules. In this time-traveling adventure, Ami vows to save the world from MSG and realizes what she’s capable of, if she would just stop being invisible.

Cast: Lily Tung Crystal *, Isabella Dawis *, Song Kim, Wesley Mouri *, Hope Nordquist, Eric Sharp *, and Chufue Yang.

* MEMBER OF ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION, THE UNION OF PROFESSIONAL ACTORS AND STAGE MANAGERS IN THE UNITED STATES