Magic Theatre Season Opens with World Premiere of "the boiling" by Sunhui Chang

Opening its 2025 season of all new work by living playwrights, The Magic Theatre in association with Campo Santo present the world premiere of Sunhui Chang's the boiling "a tale of American nihilism" in 15 performances April 2 through 20. The play follows a Korean virologist from the Midwest and a Black detective from the Pacific Northwest as they "trace and track" from North to South, a white nihilist spreading a virus called "the boiling".

Directed by performance innovator and multi-artist Ellen Sebastian Chang with lead collaborator, video designer and Creative Capital awardee Joan Osato partnering in developing this original work. Additional creative collaborators include Carlos Aceves, Maximiliano Urruzmendi, Christopher Sauceda, Lauren Quan, Camryn Daniels, Kyo Yohena, Emily Jones, Ogie Zulueta, Kendra Kimbrough Barnes, Ashley Mendez and Hector Zavala. The cast features Edris Cooper-Anifowoshe, Donald E. Lacy, Jr., John Brougher, Lawrence Radecker, Jesse Vaughn, Jeannine Anderson, Markaila Dyson and Korea Venters. Performances will be given Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 4 pm April 2 through 20.

the boiling is the story of a Korean American adoptee, Brian, a virologist from the Midwest, and Vee, a Black Woman former homicide detective in the Pacific Northwest. The unlikely two are partnered in a newly formed governmental agency TTRAc to "trace and track" David, a white nihilistic carrier of a feverish virus called "the boiling". The search reveals the intersections of science, identity, homeplace, and birding within an American landscape of our histories and traditions of redemptive violence.

Sunhui Chang, a 1.5 generation Korean American, writes from "an insider from the outside, looking in" perspective. The catalyst of the story is a viral chase inspired by a March 4, 2020, news story protesting a proposed opening of a Coronavirus Quarantine Facility at an Econo Lodge in Kent, WA. Sunhui Chang refers to the boiling as New Americana Theater, reading like a cinematic novel with images reminiscent of a manga, and dialogue that is suited for the stage. the boiling seeks to give focus to characters in unexpected relationships, while allowing a depth and the beauty of their humanity to develop within an intimate proximity with the hope of sparking an understanding of our entangled histories and their lessons through dialogue.

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Category: Arts | Performing Arts | Theatre