Insights from the cast of Cambodian Rock Band

From left to right: Christopher T. Pow, Mayda Miller, Greg Watanabe, Danielle Troiano, and Shawn Mouacheupao, part of the cast of Cambodian Rock Band (Jun 8-Jul 31). Photo by Rich Ryan.

For the regional premiere of Lauren Yee’s Cambodian Rock Band, we brought in artists who could bring both the script and the play’s vibrant soundtrack to life. While the play is anchored by the father-daughter relationship Broadway’s Greg Watanabe has with Danielle Troiano (Hot Asian Doctor Husband), the cast includes longtime Mu artist Eric Sharp, Christopher T. Pow, and Twin Cities musicians Mayda Miller and Shawn Mouacheupao. Deryck Hak, our acting fellow, will also play ensemble roles during select performances.

With opening night less than a month away, gain some insights from the cast on the themes of the show, the characters, and the music:

Greg Watanabe on confronting the past

Greg Watanabe plays Chum in the Jungle Theater's and Theater Mu's summer co-production of Cambodian Rock Band. The story begins as Chum returns to Cambodia for the first time in 30 years after fleeing the Khmer Rouge. The reason? Because even though he is trying to leave the past behind, his daughter is prosecuting one of the political party's most notorious war criminals. Before you see the show, here's a little snippet on how Greg views that father-daughter relationship.

Danielle Troiano on straddling two cultures

On the flip side of that, Danielle Troiano, who plays Chum’s daughter Neary, talks about why her character is so determined to see the prosecution through despite her father’s discouragement.

Eric Sharp on searching for truth

While Cambodian Rock Band’s overarching themes include family and how the past affects the present, Eric Sharp’s reflections also shine light on the idea of truth. How does truth change depending on who’s telling the story? On who’s listening? How does one truth envelop a whole nation even decades later?

Mayda Miller on music immersion

Twin Cities music legend Mayda Miller is helping bring Cambodian Rock Band’s soundtrack to life with her prowess on the keys. Check out her favorite song (so far) and why music helps tell this historical story.

Shawn Mouacheupao on playing freely

Twin Cities musician Shawn Mouacheupao keeps the beat of the play as Cambodian Rock Band’s drummer, and while music’s a familiar world for him, theater is less so. In his musings, he talks about how and why the first read through changed how he approached the music.

Christopher T. Pow on who’s in the spotlight

From the first moments of the show, Christopher T. Pow says that Lauren Yee’s play with music highlights the Asian American experience, both in its story and how it’s structured.

Deryck Hak on seeing himself on stage

Cambodian Rock Band is a story that confronts the past, but it's also a story of family. For acting fellow Deryck Hak, who plays ensemble roles for select performances, it's one of the few times he has seen the experiences of his family on stage. Hear some of his reflections before you see the show!

Cambodian Rock Band runs from Jun 8-Jul 31 at the Jungle Theater in the LynLake neighborhood of Minneapolis. Get your Pay As You Are tickets now!