In the Tomb of Ten Thousand Calendars at Moving Arts Theater

In the Tomb of Ten Thousand Calendars is the world premiere of a play by Stephen Dierkes, directed by Jeff Liu, set 90 feet underground in the tomb of the Wanli Emperor. The play captures three snapshots from China's history — dynastic China in 1620, the Cultural Revolution in 1966, and the present day in 2026 — exploring historical and generational change through parallel storylines involving a Noble Consort, a former teacher, and an immigrant father. Four actors — Jonathan Cheung, Elaine Kao, Wayne Lee, and West Liang — each play different but thematically related characters across the centuries. The play draws parallels to contemporary America's struggles over history, monuments, expertise, and polarization.