New App INTRO THING introduces cast of CHINGLISH

We completed our first week’s run and while I may have collided into a sink back stage, slammed face first into a wall, fallen in the complete dark with my legs splayed wide open for six hundred people to see when the lights came up, we’ve emerged relatively unscathed. The set is designed like a Chinese puzzle box! Spices up a play about cultural confusion but not helpful when making 40 second quick changes in the dark. The transitions alone are plays themselves.

I think we even, dare I say, may be having ourselves a bit of fun – finally. Yes, we’ve crossed the threshold into our six week run at Berkeley Rep and celebration is in high demand.

Here we are celebrating cast mate Alex Moggridge’s birthday after our last preview performance. Myself, director Leigh Silverman and associate director Oanh Nguyen (who will be covering for Leigh in Hong Kong).

I don’t generally read reviews when I’m performing in a show, but I admit, I saw the San Francisco Chronicle which gave us an icon of a little guy leaping out of his chair with glee.  Everyone messaged saying, you got the guy out of his chair and I was like what–? But now, I get it. Little guy looks pretty delighted and apparently you can’t top that rating.

Not bad for a season opener and the west coast premiere of Chinglish. Apparently, the show is one of the top fastest selling shows in the history of Berkeley Rep (42 years)! We head to South Coast Rep next.

Here’s an introduction to a new app aptly called INTRO THING! Created by Keiko and Lucas, my uber talented family members. This video made by Intro Thing features…Playwright David Henry Hwang, Director Leigh Silverman and Cast mates Vivian Chiu, Celeste Den, Austin Ku, Brian Nishii, Alex Moggridge, Larry Lei Zhang, Associate Director Oanh Nguyen and Artistic Associate Lily Fan. There are a lot more people on staff and in support of this show, but here’s just a little intro to a few of us….Chillin’ with Chinglish.