on my desk monday

On my desk is a Where the Mountain Meets the Moon t-shirt, a departing gift from Wheelock's successful production, which closed last week.  Thanks so much to all that went to go see the show!

I was lucky to get to see it once last time. I'm a little sad that these characters won't be onstage anymore:

But while I was there, I raved and raved about the Starry River of the Sky production in MN (which just closed yesterday--I hope it did well, too. It definitely deserved to!)...and I was given some hope that Wheelock would consider producing that too! Everyone cross your fingers!

11 days left to see Where the Mountain Meets the Moon

After today, there will only be 11 days left to see Wheelock's Where the Mountain Meets the Moon production. Don't procrastinate any longer or you'll miss:

 Ba (Michael Tow) telling stories toMinli (Caroline Workman)

 The goldfish man(Gary Ng) selling his fish (to villager Kirin Maypole)

Minli (Caroline Workman) riding Dragon through the forest
all photos are by Kippy Goldfarb

You don't want to miss that, do you? Get your tickets now before it's too late!

Do you want to see the show with me? I'm going one more time, to benefit ATASK:

The Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence is honored to be collaborating with the Wheelock Family Theatre to host a special performance of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, an adaptation by Jeannine Coulombe of Grace Lin's 2010 Newbery Honor book of the same name.

Saturday, May 10, 2014
Wheelock Family Theatre
200 The Riverway, Boston

Prior to the performance, starting at 1:30pm, guests are invited to meet Grace Lin and there will be an opportunity to have books inscribed by the author. Copies of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon will be available for sale for $20, including tax, with a portion of the sales benefiting ATASK. The performance begins at 3:00pm. The afternoon will conclude with a post-performance talkback and opportunity to meet the performers and production team.

A limited number of spots for 'dim sum with Grace' preceding the event are also still available for $88 per person.  This package includes lunch, personal meet & greet with the author, signed hardcover book, and a ticket to the performance.  Please contact James at jskypeck@atask.org to make arrangements.

Hope to see you!

an "epoch" in my life

There's a scene in the book Penderwicks on Gardam Street  where one of the sisters, Jane, has her play performed and she thrilled beyond measure--when she realizes, “... all this was the result of her imagination come to life.”

Well, this weekend, I felt the same way! I truly had, as Anne of Green Gables would say, an "epoch" in my life. Because, for the first time, I was able to see my book performed as a play!

Being the author of the book, Wheelock let me have some sneak peaks before the show. Unfortunately, I was so captivated by everything, I didn't take that many photos! But here are some that I did take.

First, there was the set. It simple, but so effective! One of my favorite parts of the show is the fact that the never had the moon and the mountain onstage together until the very end...until the "mountain meet the moon." Such a subtle but effective touch!

 And then there were the costumes and props! They were amazing! I'm really sad that I didn't take more pictures. There were more than 70 costumes to create and the wardrobe people made all of them (working until the crack of dawn before the show, I am told). I was so impressed! These are the heads for the stone lions and the green tiger:

And then right before the curtain opened, I sneaked in and saw the performers:

 including some of my favorite characters, the monkeys:

And then it was SHOWTIME!

And it was wonderful.

Truly, truly, I loved it! I thought it was the perfect stage adaptation. The actress, Caroline Workman,  who played Minli was incredible, I couldn't believe she was only 14 years old. She had the perfect balance of earnestness, enthusiasm and optimism. And Ba (played by Michael Tow) truly captured the kindness of the character I envisioned while Ma (Grace Napier) was played with just the right mix of vulnerability and bitterness. For her part, Rain Dragon adored Dragon (Stewart Evan Smith) and has been talking about "Red Dragon" ever since the show.  But ALL the actors and actresses were marvelous!

And Wheelock, true to their "color-blind casting" added some surprising but completely cool things. For example, one small part was given to a deaf actor who signed in Chinese sign language!

So, obviously I ♥ the show!

At the end of Saturday's show, they asked me to come onstage, which was another thrill...

Which I will truly remember my whole life!

Many people have asked me if the show will be coming to their area. All I can say is, I wish it would! Wheelock decided to produce Where the Mountain Meets the Moon after someone on their advisory board heard (and saw) the Stages production in MN. After seeing that show, she brought the script to Wheelock and the rest is history!

So if you'd like to have the show come to your area, I'd suggest doing the same. Find a local theater company and recommend  the play. The script is available and I think Wheelock might even rent out their costumes and props!  Or if you are interested in the musical version, you could even contact the Bay Area Children's Theater about their script! I'd love to see the story performed everywhere, and not just for selfish reasons.

But, in the meantime, please see the Wheelock show! You won't be disappointed!

on my desk monday

It's a goldfish prop from the Where the Mountain Meets the Moon play! I had the most amazing weekend participating in its premiere--I'll post more tomorrow, but in the meantime go see the show! If you enjoyed the book, you'll love the play!

Where I'll be at Wheelock!

If you haven't noticed, I'm super excited about the Where the Mountain Meets the Moon production at Wheelock! It opens next week, but it's still not too late to get tickets. I'm going to be there the opening weekend as part of their grand festivities. Below is my event schedule as well as all the fun things they have planned! I hope to see you!!

Friday, April 11th 2014

150 The Riverway, Boston

Special Event for WHEEL sponsors (become a sponsor HERE!)

6-7:30 pm: Celebrate and Chat with Grace Lin, Puppet-Making workshop, Presentation of the WHEEL Award, and Grand Procession of Puppets

7:30 pm: New England Premiere Performance of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon (general public tickets HERE)

Saturday, April 12th 2014

150 The Riverway, Boston 

Special Event fot WHEEL sponsors (become a sponsor HERE!)

1-3pm: Draw a Dragon with Grace Lin, Traditional Chinese Dragon Dance Performance and Dragon Dance Workshop for Kids

3 pm:  Performance of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon (general public tickets HERE)

Check my event calendar for any updates!

on my desk monday

I'm slowly getting better! I still have an unexpected booming cough and overall malaise but I'm pretty sure I'm no longer contagious.  Now I just have to catch up on things--as I said earlier, I have a lot of belated Hong Kong posts to put up!

But in the meantime, I thought I'd show you this:

They are the costume designs for Wheelock Where the Mountain Meets the Moon production! When I met with Jane Staab, she let me have a sneak peak!  Aren't they neat? They were created by the costume designer, Melissa Miller. I can't wait to see them come to life!

(The production opens in less then two week! Have you gotten your tickets yet?)

trying to do things right

The doctor says I have a nasty virus that is just lingering... my Hong Kong posts are going to have to be very belated as this sickness is just beating me down. But these recent articles about ethnic stereotypes in plays make me feel obligated to force myself out of the brain fog at least for a short post.

Just in case you missed it, Newton High School put on the play "Thoroughly Modern Millie" to the horror of many in the Asian-American community there. The play (I have not seen it but I have heard from many sources I trust)  is rife with horrible Asian stereotypes, including a "a farcical Chinese accent." (When reading the accounts, the thing that makes me the saddest is how so many think "these people are just being too sensitive," which --to me-- shows a lack of empathy. I can understand if you personally don't find the play offensive but to dismiss someone else's obviously sincere distress is probably what started this fiasco in the first place.)

So, with this in the news and knowing that the Where the Mountain Meets the Moon production will soon be opening, friends have asked me if I am worried.

I'm not worried at all.  

I trust the people at Wheelock Family Theatre. How do I know my trust is not misplaced?

Jane Staab, the director of the Wheelock production, came to see me before they started to work.  During our conversation, Jane told me that before their production of Peter Pan she seeked out leaders of the Wampanoag tribe, met with them and went over the entire script. There were many reasons why the Wampanoag refused to take their children to any Peter Pan production and Jane addressed them. Small reasons like removing of a feather to replace an ostrich feather (as feathers had meanings and an Indian--they did not find the use of that term offensive--would not do that). Jane also added words from their language into the script, such as "aquine" which means peace. And, most of all, Jane rewrote the lyrics to the offensive song "Ugg-a-Wug," keeping the lovely music and important message but removing the offensive word usage.   

me & Jane Staab, the director of the Where the Mountain Meets the Moon production at Wheelock

The end result, Jane told me, was two rows of Wampanoag Indians at their Peter Pan performance who all gave it a big thumbs up. I suspect the entire audience would've given the same review. 

Which makes me so proud that Where the Mountain Meets the Moon will be produced by them.  If they give Where the Mountain Meets the Moon production even half the consideration they did with Peter Pan, it's going to be fine. In fact, I know it's going to be much, much better than fine. It's going to be great! I can't wait!