Photo Flash: Ali Ewoldt, Ann Harada, David Henry Hwang And More Celebrate Jason Ma's GOLD MOUNTAIN In Salt Lake City

Zions Bank in partnership with Spike150, CRWDA and Ogden Musical Theatre presented Gold Mountain, written by 2017 ASCAP Foundation's Cole Porter Award recipient Jason Ma as a series of semi-staged concert performances at the Regent Street Black Box at The Eccles Theater in Salt Lake City and in partnership with Ogden Musical Theatre, at the historic Peery's Egyptian Theater in Ogden, May 8 - May 11.

The cast features Ali Ewoldt (The Phantom of the Opera), Jonny Lee Jr, Joseph Steven Yang (Aubergine at Playwrights Horizons),Darren Lee (Allegiance), Kiet Tai Cao, Lawrence-Michael C. Arias, Steven Eng (CSC's Pacific Overtures), Eric Bondoc (Pacific Overtures, 2004 revival), Daniel May (Soft Power), Alex Hsu, Eric Elizaga, Viet Vo, joined by Utah actor Robert Scott Smith.

Helmed by Alan Muraoka, Gold Mountain featured choreography by Billy Bustamante and Darren Lee, and music direction by Kristen Lee Rosenfeld. The band includes Nicole Elkins (Flute/Piccolo/Dizi), LeeAnn Morgan (Viola), Lauren Posey (Cello), Keming Zhou (Erhu).

Gold Mountain, a new original musical, is a love story set against the backdrop of a pivotal event in America's history: the construction of the first transcontinental railroad. It is a heartfelt, universal tale that celebrates the striving immigrant spirit, the redemptive power of love, and the ultimate nobility of self-sacrifice among a team of Chinese! railroad workers.

It was a marvelous commemoration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and the Spike 150 celebration of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad. Scroll down for photos of Jason Ma's company of Gold Mountain during their mini tour in Salt Lake City and Ogden.

On May 6th, the company welcomed playwright David Henry Hwang and Max Chang, Spike 150 Board Member to their rehearsal at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center.

Hwang was in town for the Salt Lake Acting Company's presentation of two staged readings of his second play, The Dance and the Railroad, directed by Billy Bustamante and starring Tobias C. Wong and Whit K. Lee, as part of the Spike 150 celebration. This was followed by a panel discussion with Hwang, Ma and Paisley Rekdal, the poet laureate of Utah, Spike 150 board member Max Chang, and Judge Michael Kwan, President, Chinese Railroad Workers Descendants Association.

After the opening night performance on May 8th, Gold Mountain leading lady Ali Ewoldt was honored by Attorney General of Utah, Sean D. Reyes in recognition of her work with Operation Underground Railroad, an organization that spreads awareness about human trafficking. While starring in The Phantom of the Opera, Ms. Ewoldt brought together the Broadway casts of Phantom of the Opera and Miss Saigon to learn about the organization's mission and meet a survivor.

Several of the performances were sold-out with more than 1600 enthusiastic audience members experiencing Gold Mountain.

After the closing performance in Ogden on May 11th, the cast and creative team attended the 2019 CRWDA Awards Gala at the Marriott Downtown City Creek Hotel in Salt Lake City, where Gold Mountain creator Jason Ma was presented with one of only five sets of commemorative coins created to mark the 150th anniversary by Judge Michael Kwan, president of CRWDA. Other recipients included David Henry Hwang and Spike 150 board members, Max Chang and Doug Foxley, all for their contributions towards highlighting Chinese railroad workers and reclaiming their history during the 150th anniversary celebrations.

"Whenever someone asks me how could the participation of thousands of Chinese in this landmark event be diminished or forgotten, I would say my guess is that the omission and erasure was more “on message” for the anti-immigrant climate that existed during the era of the Chinese Exclusion Act (1882-1943)," said Ma. "That we were invited to be a part of the reclamation and correction, the weaving of the Chinese back into this piece of American history was an immense honor and huge responsibility. The support, love, and gratitude of our audiences, the healing that we witnessed has changed me, and I know the entire team of Gold Mountain cast and creatives feels like we were a part of something special, something profoundly positive and good. Theater is uniquely suited to transforming two dimensional pages into something that lives, loves and breathes before you… how amazing that we got to do that in service of bringing to life and light this neglected part of our country’s history."

About the Writer:
Jason Ma (Writer) is a son of an immigrant family, and a grateful descendant of a long line of those who were able to persist, overcome and succeed on their way to becoming Americans. He wrote book, music and lyrics for Gold Mountain and is the 2017 recipient of the ASCAP Foundation’s Cole Porter Award for his work as a composer/lyricist. Along with writing, he is an actor who has been seen on Broadway and Off-Broadway stages, in regional theaters and many international venues. Please visit: www.goldmountainthemusical.com

About Production Partners:
Spike 150: Spike 150 is an initiative of Utah’s Transcontinental Railroad 150th Celebration Commission. The Utah State Legislature and Governor Gary Herbert established the Commission in 2017. Utah’s Transcontinental Railroad 150th Celebration Commission will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the “wedding of the rails” by the driving of the Golden Spike at Promontory Summit, Utah in 1869 on the weekend of May 10 – 11, 2019. The Commission is also engaged in promoting other commemorative events and activities that inspire, unify, educate and advance the legacy of this historic moment. More at: https://spike150.org

CRWDA: The Chinese Railroad Workers Descendants Association is a national, membership based, charitable organization which seeks to preserve, promote and protect the contributions made by Chinese railroad workers to the United States. Through our educational and philanthropic efforts, we support academic research, historic preservation and artistic projects that further the understanding and appreciation of the sacrifices, struggles, hardships and contributions made by generations of Chinese and Chinese Americans to the United States. Learn more at https://www.goldenspike150.org/

Photo Credit: Lia Chang

Ann Harada, Ali Ewoldt, Alan Muraoka, Lia Chang and Jason Ma attend the opening night party at J Wong's Thai & Chinese Bistro in Salt Lake City on May 8, 2019.

Alan Muraoka, Ann Harada, Jason Ma attend the opening night party at J Wong's Thai & Chinese Bistro in Salt Lake City on May 8, 2019.

Steven Eng, Alan Muraoka, Jonny Lee, Jr. Ali Ewoldt, Kristen Rosenfeld, Jason Ma and Eric Bondoc attend the opening night party at J Wong's Thai & Chinese Bistro in Salt Lake City on May 8, 2019.
Sitting: Jason Ma, Alan Muraoka, Lia Chang, Ali Ewoldt, Jonny Lee, Jr. Kristen Rosenfeld, Steven Eng. Standing: Lawrence-Michael Arias, Daniel May, Eric Elizaga, Kiet Tai Cao, Viet Vo, Eric Bondoc, Alex Hsu, Darren Lee, Joseph Steven Yang and Robert Scott Smith attend the opening night party at J Wong's Thai & Chinese Bistro in Salt Lake City on May 8, 2019. Photo by Baldwin Chiu

The GOLD MOUNTAIN company 

(May 6, 2019) Alan Muraoka, Max Chang, Spike 150 Board Member, David Henry Hwang and Jason Ma 

(May 6, 2019) 1st Row: Viet Vo, Steven Eng, Jason Ma, Jonny Lee, Jr., Kristen Lee Rosenfeld, Ali Ewoldt. 2nd Row: Eric Elizaga, Darren Lee, Alan Muraoka, Daniel May, David Henry Hwang, Joseph Steven Yang, Lawrence-Michael Arias, Eric Bondoc, Alex Hsu, Kiet Tai Cao, Robert Scott Smith, Max Chang, Spike 150 Board Member at rehearsal.

(May 6, 2019) Lia Chang, Jason Ma, David Henry Hwang, Alan Muraoka, Ali Ewoldt, Jonny Lee, Jr. after the Salt Lake Acting Company's presentation of The Dance and the Railroad. 

(May 6, 2019) Max Chang, Paisley Rekdal, Ali Ewoldt, Utah Attorney General Sean D. Reyes, David Henry Hwang in the lobby of the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Salt Lake City.

(May 6, 2019) Max Chang, Spike 150 Board of Director, Jill Remington Love, director of Utah Department of Heritage Arts, Chris Robinson, Spike 150 Board of Director, Paisley Rekdal, Utah Poet Laureate, Karen Kwan, Utah State Representative, Judge Michael Kwan, President, Chinese Railroad Workers Descendants Association
Jason Ma, Jonny Lee, Jr., Billy Bustamante, Daniel May after the performance of DANCE AND THE RAILROAD at Salt Lake Acting Company on May 6, 2019.

Utah Poet Laureate Paisley Rekdal, David Henry Hwang, Jason Ma spoke on a panel after the performance of DANCE AND THE RAILROAD at Salt Lake Acting Company on May 6, 2019.

Director/choreographer Billy Bustamante, playwright David Henry Hwang, and actors Whit K. Lee, Tobias C. Wong after the performance of DANCE AND THE RAILROAD at Salt Lake Acting Company on May 6, 2019

Eric Elizaga, Darren Lee, Billy Bustamante, Jason Ma, Steven Eng and Viet Vo in the lobby of the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Salt Lake City.

RoBert Scott Smith, Jason Ma and Kiet Tai Cao in rehearsal.

Kiet Tai Cao and RoBert Scott Smith in rehearsal.

Daniel May, Lawrence-Michael Arias, Kiet Tai Cao, Joseph Steven Yang, Darren Lee, Stephen Eng, Eric Bondoc, Jonny Lee Jr., Alex Hsu, Eric Elizaga and RoBert Scott Smith in rehearsal

Steven Eng, Eric Bondoc and choreographer Billy Bustamante in rehearsal

Choreographer Billy Bustamante

A PACIFIC OVERTURES reunion with Darren Lee, Alan Muraoka, Jason Ma, Steven Eng, Eric Bondoc, Kenway Kua and Billy Bustamante.

Music Director Kristen Rosenfeld in rehearsal

Steven Eng and Eric Bondoc in rehearsal

Steven Eng and Eric Bondoc in rehearsal

Steven Eng and Eric Bondoc in rehearsal

Richard Chang, David Henry Hwang and Jason Ma after the performance of DANCE AND THE RAILROAD at Salt Lake Acting Company on May 6, 2019.

Jason Ma and Max Chang, Spike 150 Board Member at the opening night performance of GOLD MOUNTAIN on May 8, 2019.

Viet Vo, Darren Lee and Kiet Tai Cao

Viet Vo, Darren Lee and Kiet Tai Cao

Daniel May, Lawrence-Michael Arias, Steven Eng, Darren Lee, Eric Elizaga, Eric Bondoc, Kiet Tai Cao and Alex Hsu

Daniel May, Steven Eng, Eric Elizaga, Eric Bondoc, Lawrence-Michael Arias and Alex Hsu.

Lawrence-Michael Arias, Daniel May, Viet Vo, Steven Eng, Darren Lee, Eric Bondoc, Eric Elizaga, Alex Hsu and Kiet Tai Cao

Lawrence-Michael Arias, Daniel May, Viet Vo, Steven Eng, Darren Lee, Eric Bondoc, Eric Elizaga, Alex Hsu and Kiet Tai Cao

Daniel May, Lawrence-Michael Arias, Steven Eng, Viet Vo, Steven Eng, Darren Lee, Eric Bondoc, Eric Elizaga, Kiet Tai Cao and Alex Hsu

Lawrence-Michael Arias, Daniel May, Viet Vo, Steven Eng, Darren Lee, Eric Bondoc, Eric Elizaga, Alex Hsu and Kiet Tai Cao

Viet Vo, Eric Elizaga, Jonny Lee, Jr., Daniel May, Lawrence-Michael Arias, Darren Lee and Eric Bondoc

Lawrence-Michael Arias, Daniel May, Viet Vo, Steven Eng, Darren Lee, Eric Bondoc, Eric Elizaga, Alex Hsu and Kiet Tai Cao

Lawrence-Michael Arias, Jonny Lee, Jr. Steven Eng, Eric Bondoc and Joseph Steven Yang

Jonny Lee Jr. and company

Jonny Lee, Jr., Kiet Tai Cao and Joseph Steven Yang

Viet Vo, Eric Elizaga, Daniel May and Alex Hsu

Jonny Lee, Jr.

Ali Ewoldt

Lawrence-Michael Arias, Viet Vo, Darren Lee, Kiet Tai Cao, Steven Eng

Alex Hsu, Viet Vo and Lawrence-Michael Arias

Ali Ewoldt and Jonny Lee, Jr.

Ali Ewoldt and Jonny Lee, Jr.

Jonny Lee, Jr and Ali Ewoldt

The company of GOLD MOUNTAIN

Steven Eng and Eric Bondoc

Jonny Lee, Jr, Eric Bondoc, Steven Eng, Ali Ewoldt and company

Jonny Lee, Jr., Joseph Steven Yang and company

Jonny Lee, Jr.

Joseph Steven Yang, Darren Lee, Steven Eng, Eric Bondoc, Eric Elizaga

Steven Eng, Eric Bondoc, Alex Hsu, Eric Elizaga, Kiet Tai Cao and Viet Vo

Darren Lee, Steven Eng, Eric Bondoc, Alex Hsu, Eric Elizaga and Kiet Tai Cao

Jonny Lee, Jr. and Ali Ewoldt

Steven Eng and Eric Bondoc

Steven Eng, Jonny Lee, Jr., Eric Bondoc, Darren Lee, Eric Elizaga, Alex Hsu and Kiet Tai Cao

Steven Eng, Eric Bondoc, Ali Ewoldt and company

Jonny Lee, Jr. and Joseph Steven Yang

Jonny Lee, Jr., and Ali Ewoldt

Jonny Lee, Jr., and Ali Ewoldt

Jonny Lee, Jr., Eric Elizaga, Darren Lee, Kiet Tai Cao and Viet Vo

Jonny Lee, Jr., and Ali Ewoldt

Jonny Lee, Jr., and Ali Ewoldt

Steven Eng, Eric Bondoc, Joseph Steven Yang, Viet Vo, Alex Hsu, Kiet Tai Cao, Ali Ewoldt, Eric Elizaga, Jonny Lee, Jr., Darren Lee, Daniel May and Lawrence-Michael Arias

Steven Eng, Eric Bondoc, Joseph Steven Yang, Viet Vo, Alex Hsu, Kiet Tai Cao, Ali Ewoldt, Eric Elizaga, Jonny Lee, Jr., Darren Lee, Daniel May and Lawrence-Michael Arias

Cynthia Fleming, Whit K. Lee, Jason Ma, Billy Bustamante, Tobias C. Wong after the opening night performance on May 8, 2019.

Ali Ewoldt and Utah Attorney General Sean D. Reyes after the opening night performance on May 8, 2019.

Max Chang, Spike 150 Board member, Ali Ewoldt and Utah Attorney General Sean D. Reyes after the opening night performance on May 8, 2019.

Keming Zhou, Lauren Posey, Nicole Elkins, Kristen Rosenfeld and LeeAnn Morgan after the opening night performance on May 8, 2019.

Alan Muraoka, Baldwin Chiu and Jason Ma after the opening night performance on May 8, 2019.

Saysha Reyes and her husband, Utah Attorney General Sean D. Reyes after the opening night performance on May 8, 2019.

Max Chang, Jason Ma and Alan Muraoka after the opening night performance on May 8, 2019.

Lia Chang, Jason Ma, Ann Harada, Alan Muraoka and Kristen Rosenfeld after the opening night performance on May 8, 2019.

Darren Lee, Jonny Lee, Jr., Tobias C. Wong, Whit K. Lee, Jason Ma, Alan Muraoka and Daniel May after the opening night performance on May 8, 2019.

Tobias C. Wong, Steven Eng, Eric Bondoc and Whit K. Lee after the opening night performance on May 8, 2019.

Viet Vo, Daniel May, Joseph Steven Yang, Kiet Tai Cao, Justin Anthony Long, Jonny Lee, Jr., Ali Ewoldt, Eric Bondoc and Steven Eng in the lobby of the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Salt Lake City on May 8, 2019

Eric Elizaga, Daniel May, Viet Vo, Kiet Tai Cao, Darren Lee, Joseph Steven Yang, Jason Ma, Ali Ewoldt, Jonny Lee, Jr., Eric Bondoc, Lia Chang and Steven Eng in the lobby of the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Salt Lake City on May 8, 2019.

Alan Muraoka and Jason Ma attend the opening night party at J Wong's Thai & Chinese Bistro in Salt Lake City on May 8, 2019.
Jason Ma, Kassi Bybee, GM of Ogden Eccles Conference Center & Peery''s Egyptian Theater, Maurie Tarbox, Artistic Director of Ogden Musical Theatre, Alan Muraoka at Peery's Egyptian Theater in Ogden on May 10, 2019.

Judge Michael Kwan, Margaret Yee and Jason Ma at Peery''s Egyptian Theater in Ogden on May 10, 2019.

Margaret Yee, Ali Ewoldt and Judge Michael Kwan at Peery's Egyptian Theater in Ogden on May 10, 2019.

Jason Ma at Peery's Egyptian Theater in Ogden on May 10, 2019.

Steven Eng, Eric Bondoc, Joseph Steven Yang, Viet Vo, Kiet Tai Cao, Ali Ewoldt, Jonny Lee, Jr., Alex Hsu, Eric Elizaga, Darren Lee, Lawrence-Michael Arias, Daniel May, Scott RoBert Smith during the closing night curtain call at Peery's Egyptian Theater in Ogden on May 11, 2019.

Kiet Tai Cao, Ali Ewoldt, Jonny Lee Jr. Jason Ma, Alan Muraoka, Alex Hsu, Eric Elizaga, Darren Lee, Lawrence-Michael Arias during the closing night curtain call at Peery's Egyptian Theater in Ogden on May 11, 2019.

Joseph Steven Yang, Lia Chang, Eric Elizaga and Kiet Tai Cao

Keming Zhou, Jason Ma, Lauren Posey, LeeAnn Morgan, Nicole Elkins

Jason Ma, Ali Ewoldt, Jonny Lee, Jr.

The company of GOLD MOUNTAIN

Peery''s Egyptian Theater in Ogden, Utah

Jason Ma and his husband, George Hobica

Daniel May, Eric Elizaga, Lia Chang, Joseph Steven Yang, Viet Vo and Kiet Tai Cao jump for joy in front of company housing. Photo by Eric Bondoc
Eric Bondoc, Joseph Steven Yang, Darren Lee, Alex Hsu, Viet Vo, Kristen Rosenfeld, Steven Eng, Ali Ewoldt, Jonny Lee, Jr., with the Fang Family, Alan Muraoka, Alex Hsu, Jason Ma, Eric Elizaga and Kiet Tai Cao attend the 2019 CRWDA Awards Gala at the Marriott Downtown City Creek Hotel in Salt Lake City on May 11, 2019.

Darren Lee, Jonny Lee, Jr., Ali Ewoldt, Lawrence-Michael Arias, Steven Eng, Alex Hsu, Alan Muraoka, Jason Ma, Kristen Rosenfeld, Eric Elizaga, Viet Vo, Joseph Steven Yang, Eric Bondoc, Delta Airlines' Gordon Chang, Kiet Tai Cao attend the 2019 CRWDA Awards Gala at the Marriott Downtown City Creek Hotel in Salt Lake City on May 11, 2019.

Jason Ma, Delta Airlines' GorDon Chang, Ali Ewoldt, Jonny Lee, Jr. attend the 2019 CRWDA Awards Gala at the Marriott Downtown City Creek Hotel in Salt Lake City on May 11, 2019.

Ali Ewoldt, Jonny Lee, Jr., Lia Chang attend the 2019 CRWDA Awards Gala at the Marriott Downtown City Creek Hotel in Salt Lake City on May 11, 2019. Photo by Eric Bondoc

Tzi Ma and Jonny Lee, Jr. attend the 2019 CRWDA Awards Gala at the Marriott Downtown City Creek Hotel in Salt Lake City on May 11, 2019.

Lia Chang and Tzi Ma attend the 2019 CRWDA Awards Gala at the Marriott Downtown City Creek Hotel in Salt Lake City on May 11, 2019. Photo by Jonny Lee, Jr.

Darren Lee, Lia Chang, Alan Muraoka, Jason Ma and Kristen Rosenfeld attend the 2019 CRWDA Awards Gala at the Marriott Downtown City Creek Hotel in Salt Lake City on May 11, 2019.

Kiet Tai Cao, Eric Elizaga, Judge Michael Kwan, Alex Hsu, Jason Ma, Lawrence-Michael Arias, Viet Vo, George Hobica and Jonny Lee, Jr. attend the 2019 CRWDA Awards Gala at the Marriott Downtown City Creek Hotel in Salt Lake City on May 11, 2019.

Gold Mountain creator Jason Ma was presented with one of only five sets of commemorative coins created to mark the 150th anniversary by Judge Michael Kwan, president of CRWDA at the 2019 CRWDA Awards.

Gold Mountain creator Jason Ma was presented with one of only five sets of commemorative coins created to mark the 150th anniversary by Judge Michael Kwan, president of CRWDA.

Gold Mountain creator Jason Ma was presented with one of only five sets of commemorative coins created to mark the 150th anniversary by Judge Michael Kwan, president of CRWDA.

 

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