Asian or Asian-American Characters in Musicals

[buffyactsing]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 12:12am

I'm writing a paper on Asian-American musical theater and I can't seem to think of any shows about Asians other than Flower Drum Song, The King and I, Miss Saigon, Pacific Overtures and (kinda) South Pacific. Can anyone thing of any other shows, even if they were flops or un-popular? Can anyone think of any Asian or Asian-American characters in musicals besides the ones in the above shows aside from Marcy from Spelling Bee, and Connie from A Chorus Line...I'm sure there must be more.
Thanks so much.

-Alex

[bythesword84]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 12:13am

Christmas Eve in Avenue Q

[Hairspraydoll]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 12:13am

Christmas Eve is Avenue Q
Ah bythesword beat me!

Updated On: 8/19/05 at 12:13 AM

[Garland Grrrl]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 12:16am

there is an asian male character in NICK & NORA and part of the plot hinges on racism (or at least it did when i saw it--maybe the show changed throughout previews) played by Brad "BD" Wong.

[Plum]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 12:19am

I think Thoroughly Modern Millie had a couple. Maybe Anything Goes? God, my memory's completely shot right now.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 12:21am

There was a little play on Broadway about 20 years ago-maybe you guys have heard of it?-M. Butterfly...

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 12:26am

LUTE SONG, a "love Story with Music". This short-lived 1946 Chinese fantasy starred Mary Martin and introduced Yul Brynner to Broadway audiences. Another actress who had a small role was Nancy Davis who later married Ronald Reagan.

A TRIP TO CHINATOWN - Huge late nineteenth century hit which spawned the hit song "After The Ball".

[Garland Grrrl]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 12:27am

was that a musical? (M BUTTERFLY)

let's see .. "ROSIE O'Donnell presents FLUTTER! THE MUSICAL"

Updated On: 8/19/05 at 12:27 AM

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 12:33am

Yes, Plum pointed out some information that you may find useful--"Anything Goes" (the revival version at least, which is the one I'm familiar with) has a couple of Asian characters who are very steretypical (although they actually are pretty funny).

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 12:34am

Sorry, didn't read the post thoroughly enough...M. BUTTERFLY=not a musical.

But, if you're branching out into plays, almost everything that David Henry Hwang has written-from his earliest success, F.O.B., to his most recent work-is Asian themed.

[itsmeeeee]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 2:26am

sushi the japanese yen from Cabaret. Minor, minor, minor role.

[buffyactsing]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 2:26pm

Thanks guys...I guess there are a lot fewer than I thought Oh...also, do you guys know any roles that were traditionally played by caucasions that were played by an asian-american in the revival?

[Aigoo]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 2:29pm

Well, Ann Sanders is breaking some roles. Look up some of her roles. She played Belle, for example.

[Calvin]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 2:32pm

Don't forget Ito in Mame.

[RelaxnNnyc]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 3:09pm

Shows: Chu Chem
Shogun the Musical

Roles: Ching Ho and Bun Foo in Millie
Ito in Mame
Yoko in Lennon

Non-traditional on Bway or Tours
Chicago company of Wicked - Boq is played by Telly Leung
Jose Llana played a lead role in Martin Guerre on Nat'l tour and Gaby in On The Town in Central Park production
Rona Figueroa played Eponine on Broadway, Juliette in Nine Revival
Paolo Mantalban played Prince in Cindarella on Nat'l tour/TV/Madison Square Garden (w/ Eartha Kitt)
Dina Mori****a played Epnonine on Nat'l Tour
Adam Jacobs (half Filipino) current Marius on Nat'l Tour and played Prince on Cindarella Nat'l Tour
Joan Amadilla current Fantine on Nat'l Tour
Enrico Rodriguez (Filipino) played Mike in Zanna Don't Off-B'way
BD Wong in You're a Good Man Charlie Brown on B'way...

those are off the top of my head. I'll send you more if I think of them.


I remembered some more:
Kevin Gray played the Phantom on Bway and Pontius Pilate in the latest Superstar Revival

Updated On: 8/19/05 at 03:09 PM

[K8eeyore]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 3:11pm

BD Wong wasn't Yukido in NICK AND NORA -- that was Thom Sesma.

[sidwich]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 3:13pm

This is getting pretty obscure but one of Rodgers & Harts biggest failures was a musical called "Chee-Chee" which was set in China. Way obscure, but it did feature Asian characters.

As other people have said, there seem to be more operas like "Madame Butterfly," "Turandot," "The Mikado."

[Bal]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 3:24pm

Marcy Park in Spelling Bee is definitely Asian American...

[theatergeek2]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 5:17pm

so do you mean Asian or Asian American??? A lot of the aforementioned characters are Asian and NOT Asian American. Please be respectful and make that distinction in your paper. "Asian" means the characters are a nationality that is NOT American. Marcy Park is Asian American. Christmas Eve is Asian.

[Aigoo]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 5:22pm

Christmas Eve is actually Asian-American though. She'd be offended if you called her otherwise (i.e. Oriental).

And, theatergeek, how would you define "American"? Christmas Eve is Asian-American because she is from Asian descent, but lives in America. Therefore, is "American".

Regarding your question, however, I think the poster just meant to cover ALL Asian AND Asian-American roles. As you can see, there is an "or" in the subject title.