BroadwayWorld offers an exclusive first look at Soft Power at the Singature Theatre, a musical fantasy with music by Jeanine Tesori and book and lyrics by David Henry Hwang. See the cast in action!
This newly revamped production is directed by Ethan Heard, Signature’s associate artistic director, with choreography by Billy Bustamante and music direction by Chris Fenwick and Angie Benson. Tickets start at $40 at SigTheatre.org.
Soft Power is a visionary musical fantasy from Tony Award winners David Henry Hwang and Jeanine Tesori. When a Chinese-American playwright is attacked by an unknown assailant after the 2016 election, he hallucinates a Golden Age musical comedy about a Chinese theater producer and Hillary Clinton who fall in love. This hilarious and caustic political satire dares to ask: Does American democracy still work? And is it worth believing in? A thrilling journey through political absurdities with a confrontation between Chinese and American exceptionalism, Soft Power makes an electrifying debut in the nation’s capital.
The production stars Steven Eng as DHH, Daniel May as Xue Xing, and Grace Yoo as Hillary Clinton. Rounding out the cast of Soft Power are Eymard Cabling as Randy Ray and others, Andrew Cristi as Chief Justice and others, Jonny Lee Jr. as Bobby Bob and others, Quynh-My Luu as Waiter and others, Christopher Mueller as Vice President and others, Ashley D. Nguyen as Jīng and others, Chani Wereley as Betsy Ross and others, Nicholas Yenson as Holden Caulfield and others, and Sumié Yotsukura as Flight Attendant and others. Olivia Clavel-Davis, Brian Dauglash, Emily Song Tyler, and Joey Urgino are Swingers.
The creative team for Soft Power includes Chika Shimizu for set design, Helen Q. Huang for costumes, Oliver Wason for lighting design, Eric Norris for sound and Anne Nesmith for wigs. Danny Troob is the orchestrator, Russ Anixter is the copyist and Alexander Greenberg is the music assistant and keyboard programmer. Ka-Ling Cheung is the dialect coach and Casey Kaleba is the fight choreographer. Casting is by Jorge Acevedo. New York casting is by Geoff Josselson, CSA. Kerry Epstein is the production stage manager, Joey Blakely and Taryn Friend are the assistant stage managers, Aria Velz is the assistant director, Vicky Anh Pham is the assistant playwright, Olivia Clavel-Davis is the assistant choreographer, Ashlynne Ludwig is the assistant costume designer, Bailey Hammett is the assistant costume designer, Dominic DeSalvio is the assistant lighting designer, Di Carey is the assistant sound designer, and Danna Rosedahl is the assistant wig designer.
