Jean Brassard, James Henry Doan & More to Star in Pan Asian Rep's FILM CHINOIS

Pan Asian Repertory Theatre, now in its 38th Season, has announced the cast for the East Coast premiere of FILM CHINOIS, an atmospheric noir mystery set in 1940s China written by Singaporean playwright Damon Chua and directed by Kaipo Schwab. The production will begin previews on January 17, 2015 and run until February 8, 2015 at the Beckett Theatre at Theatre Row (410 W 42nd Street between 9th and Dyer). The official opening is on Thursday, January 22 at 7:30PM.

FILM CHINOIS stars will feature Jean Brassard, James Henry Doan (DOJOJI), Katie Lee Hill, Benjamin Jones, and Rosanne Ma (THE JOY LUCK CLUB; SHOGUN MACBETH).

FILM CHINOIS is a noir infused thriller of spy-versus-spy intrigue and dangerous romantic liaisons in the vein of Hollywood's classic films such as The Maltese Falcon. The play takes us back to 1947 Peking, an uneasy time between WWII and the imminent Communist takeover two years later. Cast stars Pan Asian veteran Rosanne Ma as CHINADOLL, a Maoist femme fatale, Benjamin Jones as RANDOLPH, a fresh-faced American operative on a secret mission, and James Henry Doan as the mysterious MAN. Further complicating things are Jean Brassard as the AMBASSADOR who seems to know Peking too well; his current flame, SIMONE, a songstress with something up her sleeve. As RANDOLPH plunges deeper and deeper into the heart of darkness, he finds his life imperiled, as he begins to unravel the mystery of a piece of old home-made film.

FILM CHINOIS was nominated for three Ovation Awards in 2007 (the Los Angeles equivalent of the Obies) and won the prize for Best World Premiere Play. The Los Angeles Times said in its review of the world premiere of FILM CHINOIS: "This first U.S. production of Singaporean playwright Damon Chua's work reveals an imaginative voice." The Toluccan Times stated: "Film Chinois is a visual wonder of film noir effects ... the atmosphere is heavy with intrigue."

"What I admire about this play," says Tisa Chang, Pan Asian Repertory Theatre's Artistic Producing Director, "is that it's not only a clever take on the film noir genre; it is a compelling story of deep-seated personal and nationalistic conviction, with high stakes of life and death, and its relevance is ever more apparent when America is expected to do "the right thing".

Playwright Damon Chua says: "I'm very excited about my Off-Broadway debut. As a Singaporean playwright working and living in New York, I feel very lucky to have found Pan Asian Repertory Theatre, who shares my passion and vision for this play. I hope to show an American audience what Singaporean writers can offer, both in terms of storytelling and our views about the world around us."

Playwright Damon Chua is current member of The Public Theater Emerging Writers Group and Ma-Yi Theater Company's Writers Lab. Published by Samuel French and Smith & Kraus, Damon's produced works include full-length plays 1969: A FANTASTICAL ODYSSEY THROUGH THE AMERICAN MINDSCAPE; A BOOK BY ITS COVER; THE GHOST BUILDING, and 10-minute plays BLACK COFFEE GREEN TEA; ORGANIC MEAT BALLS, A BOY, A GIRL AND A PUPPET WITH A COWBOY HAT; DOGS ARE EVIL; and EATING FRENCH. An NEA, UNESCO and Durfee Foundation grant recipient, Damon's plays have been staged in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and presented in at least five states. He is also a published poet and short story writer.

Director Kaipo Schwab has worked at Pan Asian Repertory (including acting in the title role of SHOGUN MACBETH in 2008) The Roundabout, Manhattan Theatre Club, The Public Theatre, Second Stage, Playwrights Horizons, Hartford Stage, Cincinnati Playhouse, and New York Theatre Workshop where he is a Usual Suspect (their official company of artists). In 2004, he directed part of ABC Television's Cultural Diversity Showcase. He is the Artistic Director of the Imua! Theatre and Film Company, where he has produced and/or directed over 20 plays including THE GREEKS, BALM IN GILEAD, and JULIUS CAESAR as well as the internet web series HELP WANTED. Mr. Schwab also teaches film acting technique and is a professional cinematographer and film editor. He was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, attended The British American Drama Academy and is a graduate of Boston University College of Fine Arts (BFA).

Production design includes sets by Sheryl Liu (FISHING FOR WIVES, NO-NO BOY), lights by Marie Yokoyama (THREE TREES, BAUDELAIRE La Mort; costumes by Carol Pelletier (DOJOJI, KWATZ! the Tibetan Project) and sound by Ian Wherle, (NO-NO BOY, FISHING FOR WIVES).

Performances of FILM CHINOIS are Tuesdays through Saturdays at 7:30pm with matinees Sunday at 2:30pm, and special Saturday matinee at 2:30 on January 17, 2015.

Tickets are $51.25. Contact Telecharge at 212-239-6200 or www.telecharge.com.

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