Pan Asian Rep Restages 'The Joy Luck Club' Oct.28-Nov.25

Pan Asian Repertory Theatre launches their 31st season with a new production of The Joy Luck Club, a play by Susan Kim adapted from the acclaimed novel by Amy Tan.  With direction and musical staging by Pan Asian Rep's Artistic Director, Tisa Chang, The Joy Luck Club will play October 28 through November 25 at the Julia Miles Theatre (424 W. 55th Street between 9th & 10th Aves).  Opening night is Wednesday, November 7 at 7PM.

"Set in San Francisco in the 80s, The Joy Luck Club follows four Mahjong playing mothers from different provinces in China and their relationships with their American born daughters. This re-envisioning captures the historical sweep and operatic grandeur of feudal China and the dynamic pulse of modern America," explain press notes.

Susan Kim's adaptation had its world premiere in 1993 in a joint venture between Shanghai People's Art Theatre and The Long Wharf Theatre.  Performed in a Mandarin translation, the production launched in Shanghai before playing Hong Kong.  Tisa Chang directed the 1999 New York premiere at Pan Asian Repertory Theatre.   The production proved popular with critics and audiences and extended to a sustained off-Broadway run at the Julia Miles Theatre, where the new production opens this fall.

The cast will include Pan Asian veterans Lydia Gaston, Wai Ching Ho, Dian Kobayashi and Virginia Wing as the mothers as well as the next generation of artists: Tina Chilip, Sacha Iskra, Han Nah Kim, and Kathleen Kwan.  Other veterans include: Carol Honda, Scott Klavan, Ming Lee, Rosanne Ma, Tom Matsusaka, Les J. N. Mau, and  Hanh T. Thuc Tran. The set design is by Kaori Akazawa; costume design by Carol Pelletier; lighting design by Victor En Yu Tan; and sound design by Tyrone Sanders.

Performances are October 28 through November 25.  Show times are Tuesday – Saturday at 7:30PM with matinees on Sunday at 3PM. Tickets are $50. Senior tickets are $35. Student tickets are $20. For tickets, call www.Telecharge.com or call 212-239-6200. Discounted rates available for groups of 15 or more are available by calling 212-868-4030.

School matinees are available for booking on Thursday, November 1; Tuesday, November 6 and Tuesday, November 13 at 11AM For bookings or more information, call 212-868-4030.