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Tuesday, April 26, 2022

Casting Calls for "Double Happiness": An Original MOCA Production

 

Museum of Chinese in America

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Casting Calls for Double Happiness

An Original MOCA Production

Playwright: Emily Locke

Director: Dennis Yueh-Yeh Li

 

WHEN: Saturday, April 30, 3:00 P.M. - 6:00 P.M. EDT; Monday, May 2, 6:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. EDT
WHERE:
Museum of Chinese in America, 215 Centre Street, New York, NY 10013


 

 

Written by Emily Locke, directed by Dennis Yueh-Yeh Li, and produced by MOCA, this original MOCA production Double Happiness will be an immersive theatre experience. It will premiere as part of the Festival of New York's This is NY: Celebrating Our Immigrant Heritage and Communities. Spearheaded by the Queens Night Market, This is NY is an unprecedented movement to marshal the creativity, resiliency, diversity, and spirit of collaboration that makes New York one of the strongest and most inspiring cities as well as celebrate our city’s immigrant communities through programming across the five boroughs from June 11 - June 20, 2022.

Kindly note that registrations for casting calls are not required but highly recommended. Sign Up!

Synopsis

Claire and Alex are getting married. Two Chinese American families with two completely different sets of values and traditions are finally gathering together for the wedding banquet. As the wedding begins, conflicts start to emerge. Double Happiness is a comedic immersive theatrical experience that unpacks the complexity and explores the nuances within the Chinese American/Immigrant identity, while allowing the audience to enjoy what is called a traditional Chinese wedding.

Roles

CLAIRE: Chinese/Taiwanese American, cis-Female, 25 - 35, first-generation Chinese American from Los Angeles who hadn’t been aware of her root in Chinese culture until she met Alex, her husband-to-be, and ever since she has been dedicated to learning more about Chinese culture. She is an art lover and passionate about fundraising and marketing; Experiences with improvisation and ensemble work are a plus.

GRANDMOTHER: Taiwanese immigrant, cis-Female, 60s - 80s, must speak some Chinese, an immigrant from Taiwan, Ted’s mother. She is quirky, full of energy and fun, and at times stubborn, especially when it comes to money; Experiences with improvisation and ensemble work are a plus.

MARY: Chinese American, cis-Female, 45 - late 50s, child of immigrants who grew up in Los Angeles and had been ostracized and singled out due to her ethnicity. She is wealthy, elegant, reserved, and a member of her son’s PTA who doesn’t want to be associated with the Chinese community; Experiences with improvisation and ensemble work are a plus.

TED: Taiwanese American, cis-Male, 45 - late 50s, child of immigrants with money who is a successful businessman who remains in proximity to the standards and norms of White elite society. He is a bit sensitive but not as attentive as we think; Experiences with improvisation and ensemble work are a plus.

ELLIOT: Chinese/Taiwanese American, cis-Male, late teens - 25, first-generation Chinese American, child of Mary and Ted, who spends most of his time making videos and films. He is a bit funny and quick-witted; Experiences with improvisation and ensemble work are a plus.

ANNA: Chinese/Taiwanese American, Female/Gender Fluid, early 20s, first-generation Chinese American, child of Mary and Ted, older sister to Elliot but younger to Claire, a millennial committed to political correctness to the extremity, from her fashion to her manners. She is pretty stubborn and unapologetic; Experiences with improvisation and ensemble work are a plus.

ALEX: Caucasian/Chinese American, cis-Male, 25 - 35, adopted child of first-generation Chinese Americans Joyce and Eric, who has a background in economics and government with a dream to make a difference. He is quiet and reserved as well as practices Chinese traditions; Experiences with improvisation and ensemble work are a plus.

JOYCE: Chinese American, cis-Female, 45 - late 50s, child of immigrants, hardworking who has eventually accomplished the American dream. She is strict about following Chinese values and traditions, constantly feeling like an outsider, not only to American culture but also within the Chinese community. She has a dream to be a singer if there is a second life; Experiences with improvisation and ensemble work are a plus.

ERIC: Chinese American, cis-Male, 50s, child of immigrants, hardworking who has eventually accomplished the American dream. He is a retired Chinatown lawyer who loosened up from the feeling of being an outsider for most of his life. He enjoys food very much, with a dream to open a restaurant if there is a second life; Experiences with improvisation and ensemble work are a plus.

CINDY: Any ethnicity/Chinese American, cis-Female, late teens - 25, adopted child of first-generation Chinese Americans Joyce and Eric, who has a background in art and enjoys history and physics. She is smart, loving, brave but fragile at heart, and very close to her older brother Alex; Experiences with improvisation and ensemble work are a plus.

Rehearsal and Performance Dates & Location

  • Rehearsals: Wednesday, May 11 – Wednesday, June 8 (twice or three times a week, exact dates to be determined with the cast)
  • Dress rehearsals: 6:30 P.M. - 8:30 P.M. EDT, Thursday, June 9, and Friday, June 10
  • Opening performance: 6:30 P.M. - 8:30 P.M. EDT, Saturday, June 11
  • Evening performances: 6:30 P.M. - 8:30 P.M. EDT, Thursday, June 16, Friday, June 17, and Saturday, June 18
  • Matinee performances: 3:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M. EDT, Sunday, June 12, and Sunday, June 19 (closing performance)

The show runs approximately 2 hours with no intermission.

Compensation & Contract Details: $600, Non-Equity (Union)