April 18 - May 31, 2026
Rodgers and Hammerstein’s
Flower Drum Song
Rodgers and Hammerstein’s
Flower Drum Song
Music by Richard Rodgers
Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Book by David Henry Hwang
Based on the original book by Oscar Hammerstein II and Joseph Fields
Based on the novel by C.Y. Lee
Directed by Lily Tung Crystal
Choreographed by Janelle Dote Portman
Music Directed By Marc Macalintal
Presented at the Aratani Theatre at the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center
244 San Pedro St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
April 18 - May 31, 2026
Opening Night April 23, 2026
Latest News
Photos by Mike Palma
Photos by Mike Palma
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Exclusive Radio Interviews With Our Cast!
REVIEWS
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ARTICLES
₊˚⊹♡₊
PUBLICATIONS
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FEATURES
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REVIEWS ‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚. ARTICLES ₊˚⊹♡₊ PUBLICATIONS ‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚. FEATURES ݁⋆⭒˚.⋆
Principal Cast
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Grace Yoo she/her (Mei Li) Broadway: Hadestown. Regional: Purple Rain (Wendy), Soft Power (Hillary Clinton, Helen Hayes Award), Into the Woods (Florinda). East West Players: Mamma Mia!, Allegiance, La Cage Aux Folles, Takarazuka!!! Tour: A Christmas Carol, Todd Rundgren ‘Clearly Human.’ Aperture Talent.
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EMILY KURODA: THEATER: TheatreWorks , Seattle Rep, South Coast Rep, NYTW, Yale Rep, Pan Asian, American Repertory Theater, Page 73, Clubbed Thumb, Actor’s Theater of Louisville (Humanafest), Huntington, Alliance, Sundance, Atlantic, BAM, Williamstown, The Tank, East West Players, Theater Mu, Kirk Douglas, Mark Taper Forum, Public, La Jolla Playhouse, Old Globe, Singapore Repertory, Berkeley Repertory, Ahmanson, Theater Mu, LATC, Zephyr, LA Women’s Shakespeare Company, Los Angeles Shakespeare Festival.
TV/FILM: “Gilmore Girls”, Flowervale Street, “Baymax”, “All Rise”, “The Good Doctor”, “The Resident”, “Drop Dead Diva”, “Sequestered”, “Under One Roof”, “The Power”, Strange World, Kimi, Adopting Audry, Party Boat , Red, Yellow Face.
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Krista Marie Yu grew up watching Flower Drum Song and has been inspired by everyone involved in the film and the Broadway revival. In fact, her very first show was in the ensemble at Woodminster Theatre in Oakland, CA! Krista’s pride for San Francisco Chinatown run’s deep, as her Great Auntie is Dorothy Toy of Toy and Wing and her Grandmother is Alice Fong Yu the first Chinese American public school teacher in San Francisco. Krista is known for Hulu’s REBOOT, FOX’s LAST MAN STANDING, and ABC’s DR. KEN. Thank you EWP for having me!
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Taiwanese-American actor, writer, and singer, Kenton Chen first gained national attention on NBC’s The Sing-Off. A graduate of USC Thornton School of Music, he’s lent his voice to multiple artists/projects, most notably Postmodern Jukebox, Scary Pockets, Billie Eilish, The Simpsons, Disney’s Wish, and Wicked: For Good. As an actor, Kenton has appeared in Superstore (NBC), Platonic (Apple), and Perfect Harmony (NBC). Recently, Kenton released his debut original album Sweetmouth, processing his complicated relationship to his Taiwanese heritage and religious immigrant parents. Through all his work, he’s passionate about giving voice to queer, marginalized stories within the American tapestry.
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East West Players: Beijing Spring, Chess, Pippin, Sweeney Todd, Equus.
Tiananmen Phoenix Theatre Company, Pacific Overtures with George Takei, Classic Stage Company NY.
Broadway: The King And I, Flower Drum Song, Bells Are Ringing, Fosse, Miss Saigon, Shogun: The Musical, Anything Goes.
World Premiers: Roman Holiday (Guthrie), Sinatra: His Voice, His World, His Way (Radio City Music Hall), Over And Over (Signature), Elaborate Lives: The Legend of Aida (Alliance).
Theatre: New York Theatre Workshop, City Center Encores!, Williamstown Theatre Festival.
Tours: Cats, Anything Goes (Luke).
Film: Onryo, An American Carol, The Muppets.
Television: “Legion” Admiral Fukyama Season 2, “Henry Danger”, “Family Reunion”(Netflix), “ACS: Impeachment”, “Euphoria”, “Madame Secretary”, “Melissa & Joey”.
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Cooper Lee Bennett studied cultural anthropology at UC Irvine, taking a hiatus from theater, and is thrilled to join the East West Players for his first LA theatrical production. Cooper enjoys cooking for his girlfriend who, tragically, cannot cook. He wants to dedicate this production to two of his former teachers, Sue Byrne and Dana Alexander, as well as his family and every other person who led him down this wonderful path.
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Scott has previously collaborated with East West Players on Mysterious Skin, Next to Normal, and last season’s production of Pacific Overtures. He most recently starred in the Off-Broadway run of SUMO at The Public Theater, reprising the role of Akio which he originated at La Jolla Playhouse. Other stage credits include The Great Leap (Cygnet Theatre), Valley of the Heart (Mark Taper Forum), Fugu (WCJT), and Ching Chong Chinaman (Artists at Play). Onscreen credits include Made for Love, Grey’s Anatomy, MDMA, Carrie Pilby, No-No Girl and Huge in France.
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Gedde began his acting journey in 1976 with the original Broadway production of Pacific Overtures. He wanted to express the following: “Thank you, Lily Tung Crystal. We will always be grateful to have a home here at EWP that allows us to continue our journeys.”
Ensemble/Understudy Cast
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Previous EWP credits: A CHORUS LINE (Don), CANTON JAZZ CLUB (Quartet), INTO THE WOODS (Jack), SWEENEY TODD (Anthony), MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG (Charley), PACIFIC OVERTURES (multiple), BEIJING SPRING (Father), FOLLIES (Roscoe US), PASSION (Sgt. Lombardi/Fosca's Father), and A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC (Mr. Lindstrom, Fredrik US). NAACP Theatre Award - Best Musical Director for DO LORD REMEMBER ME. Proud member of Actors Equity. Thank you to Tomm and Buddy for love and support, to ATB Talent for professional support and to Lily, Marc, Janelle, David and everyone at EWP for this opportunity, which is dedicated to the memory of Alvin Ing. www.Paul-Wong.com
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Gemma Pedersen is grateful to return to EWP after being seen as Boy/American Admiral in Pacific Overtures. She is a NYC based actor and BFA Musical Theatre graduate from the University of Arizona. Other theatrical credits: Tobias in Sweeney Todd and Dancer in Head Over Heels (Arizona Repertory Theatre); Martha Cratchit in Scrooge! (Arizona Theatre Company); Alexi Darling in RENT; Ethel in 42nd Street. She extends a heartfelt thank you to Lily, Marc, and all involved in Flower Drum Song for this deeply rewarding experience and community. “Endless love to my family, mentors, and dear friends for their ineffable support.” @gemmapedersen | www.gemmapedersen.com
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Ethan Yaheen-Moy Chan (he/him) is thrilled to be joining East West Players for this project! Film/Television: Foster Dade (Hulu/Warner Brothers), Trap Pack (Illusive Media Films). Theatre: BLENDED 和 HARMONY (Theater Mu, Broadway World Nominee, Best Supporting Actor), Double Helix (Bay Street, Goodspeed), Youngmee (Musical Theatre Factory), Next to Normal (SigPro), Sweeney Todd (Winnipesaukee Playhouse), Everest (National Asian Artists Project), Children of Eden (West End Collegiate). WCSU BFA '23, LaGuardia Arts '19. Proudly represented by The Mine Agency and Red Letter Entertainment. Thank you to East West Players, Lily, David, and the giants of Asian American theatre whose shoulders I stand upon.
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Esther Lee (Ensemble, u/s Linda Low) is thrilled to be making her East West Players debut! A Jersey native, Esther earned her BFA from The Ailey School/Fordham University and was most recently in: Love Life (NY City Center Encores!), Frozen (North Shore Music Theatre); South Pacific (The Fulton); and SNL 51 (Bad Bunny/Huntr/x). Many thanks to family & friends, Bloc, and the whole team here at East West.
IG: @esther.lee13
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Sally Hong (Ensemble/Dance Captain) is deeply grateful for her Flower Drum Song family. Broadway: Flower Drum Song. National Tours: 42nd St, Flower Drum Song (Dance Captain), The King and I. Cofounder of Rockettes of Color Alumnae, Rockette Alumnae Association 2nd Vice President. Love and thanks to Lainie Sakakura for bringing me along on this adventure, Susan Wong and Leanne Onofrio for believing in my voice, and Bubba and B for listening to my hopes, dreams, and fears. Shoutout to Boo for putting up with a full house! AEA member. Be kind, take care of each other, and enjoy the show!
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Tony Jin is honored to make his professional theatre debut with East West Players. He holds a degree in Anthropology and Romance Languages & Literatures from Pomona College, where he began his dance and acting training. He is currently studying at Berg Studios and Upright Citizens Brigade. He once studied East West Players through the writings of anthropologist Dorinne Kondo; he didn’t expect he’d memorize choreography for it later in life, but is grateful nonetheless. #fullcircle
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Sierra graduated from San Diego State University with her BA in Musical Theater. She’s worked at Legoland California since 2019 as a performer, and participated in the 2019 Broadway San Diego Awards. Sierra has taught dance classes at SDMT, CJAL, Project Performer, The Actors Place, and Certified Baddie Heels. She most recently performed in Mulan's Lunar New Year Procession Parade at Disney California Adventure Park. Some of Sierra’s most memorable roles include GREASE (Ensemble/Rizzo US performed) [Moonlight Stage Productions], Follies (Young Hattie/Y. Sally US) [Cygnet Theatre], Bloodletting (Leelee) [SDSU], and Cabaret (Rosie) [SDSU]. She thanks her family and friends for their constant love and support! @sierra.goria
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Joven Calloway is excited to be part of this company and to make his East Players debut! He sends his endless gratitude to his family and friends. National tours include Miss Saigon and Cathy Rigby is Peter Pan; he has also performed in Aladdin and Frozen at Disney California Adventure. Regionally, he has appeared at Goodspeed, La Mirada Theatre, Musical Theatre West, Theatre Under the Stars, and more. When not dramatically singing and dancing onstage, he’s doing it at home behind a ring light.
IG: @jkabobs
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Ai Toyoshima is a New York–based theater artist whose work spans performance, choreography, and directing. Her credits include the North American tour of Sailor Moon Super Live, Attack on Titan at New York City Center, My Best Friend’s Wedding (world premiere at Ogunquit Playhouse), Three Houses at Signature Theatre, and Land That I Love, among others.
In 2024, Ai became Artistic Director of the Time Capsule Project, supporting Japanese theater artists in New York as creative leaders for future generations.
Follow @timecapsuleproject.nyc on Instagram.
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Haoyi Wen is a New York–based performer, director, and educator and a graduate of the University of Michigan’s Musical Theatre program. Regional credits include Kinky Boots at Bucks County Playhouse and Rent and You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown at Scranton Shakespeare Festival. He has also developed new work, including Hong Kong After Midnight and Jason Ma’s Hua Mulan in New York City. Haoyi is honored to be part of Flower Drum Song and to celebrate this groundbreaking work with the community.
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Returning to the musical theater stage after 17 years, he finds home nowadays in the underground club and ballroom scenes (punking/whacking, vogue, Latin hustle). Proud member of the Kiki House of FUBU and Malaya Filipino American Dance Arts. Shoutout to my mom for raising me on karaoke and Filipino line dancing, my sisters for being my first dance and singing buddies, and my dad for encouraging ambition.
Credits: Woosung, Morisette Amon, AC Bonifacio.
IG: @livingarsenal
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East West Players Debut! National Tours: Hamilton, Miss Saigon, Cinderella. Regional: Bull Durham (Papermill Playhouse) La Cage (The Muny), 42nd Street (Goodspeed), Jerome Robbins’ Broadway (The Muny). Additional: Olivia Rodrigo’s Sour Prom, Fiddler on the Roof (Philadelphia Orchestra), Todrick Hall, NBC Upfronts at Radio City Music Hall, 98th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade w/ Idina Menzel. He is a Manhattan Beach native now living in NYC. Proud BS in Robotic Engineering from Olin College. Thanks to Mom, Ryan, Lainie, and the East West team for welcoming me.
Instagram @LiebsonBounds
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Steven is excited to return to EWP to help tell this vital story of immigration and identity. A Los Angeles native and multi-hyphenated artist, they were recently seen in the CTG production of HERE LIES LOVE at the Mark Taper Forum (u/s Imeldific). Previous EWP credits include the world premiere musical ON THIS SIDE OF THE WORLD and MAMMA MIA! Select theater credits include AMERICAN IDIOT (Deaf West), COME FROM AWAY, NEWSIES, and IN THE HEIGHTS (La Mirada). Steven is a featured vocalist on the original cast album of ON THIS SIDE OF THE WORLD and a voice actor for various games and dubbing projects. Special thanks to Anthony, Infin8artist, Go2Talent, Lucky, Janelle, Marc, and Lily. Thank YOU for supporting live theater. Love to Nicky and Karma!
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Hillary Tang is thrilled to be making her debut with East West Players. A multidisciplinary artist and storyteller at heart, she is passionate about crafting meaningful art that inspires healing, courage, joy, and a sense of belonging. Her love for creative expression began with dance at the age of three and continues to shape every aspect of her artistry. Hillary is deeply grateful for the opportunity to join this vibrant artistic community and share Flower Drum Song with you tonight.
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Emma Park is thrilled to be making her EWP debut in a dream show! Recent credits include Odette in Anastasia, Connie in A Chorus Line (Moonlight), and An American in Paris (MTW). BA, Stanford University. She would like to thank her family for their support and the creative team for this opportunity!
Creative Team
Book Writer
David Henry Hwang
Director
Lily Tung Crystalº
Choreographer(s)
Janelle Dote Portman
Music Director
Marc Macalintal
Chinese Opera Choreographer
Jamie Guan
Scenic Designer
Chen-Wei Liao^
Costume Designer
Ruoxuan Li
Lighting Designer
Jiyoun Chang^
Sound Designer
Brian Hsieh
Properties Designer
Naomi Kasahara
Hair & Make Up Designer
Y. Sharon Peng 彭逸娟
Production Stage Manager
Darlene Miyakawa*
Dramaturg
Annie Jin Wang
Intimacy Director
Shinshin Yuder Tsai
Cultural and Language Consultant
Patrick Chew
Assistant Director/Directing Fellow
Mara Palma
Additional Arrangements
Robert Elhai
Assistant Music Director
Richard Berent
Assistant Sound Designer
Maddi Deckard
Assistant Costume Designer
Ruth Araujo
Assistant Scenic Designer
Katie Amlar Adams
Assistant Properties Designer
Kevin Dajay
Assistant Lighting Designer
Antonia Yang
Assistant Choreographer(s)
Kayla “KK” Amistad
Nora DeGreen
Sarah Albee
Assistant Stage Managers
Brandon Hong Cheng*
Jaclyn Gehringer
Bonifacia-Erlinda Montaño
*Member of Actors’ Equity Association
ºMember of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society
^Member of United Scenic Artists 829
The enchanting golden era musical Rodgers and Hammerstein’s FLOWER DRUM SONG, directed by EWP’s Artistic Director Lily Tung Crystal, will serve as the grand finale for EWP’s Diamond Legacy season.
This captivating tale will receive a newly updated book for 2026 by the Tony Award-winning playwright, librettist, screenwriter, and EWP theater namesake David Henry Hwang. At a time when conversations about identity and cultural preservation are more important than ever, Hwang’s reworking of the book for the Spring 2026 production allows Asian Americans to reclaim this cherished story in a meaningful way, illuminating the complexities and richness of the community’s continuous evolution.
FLOWER DRUM SONG pulls back the curtain on themes of assimilation and tradition in 1960’s San Francisco Chinatown as Mei-li, a young Chinese opera artist fleeing communism, arrives in America, where she is immediately drawn into the dazzling world of the Grant Avenue nightclubs.
“My history with East West Players started when I was 10 years old. My mother was the pianist for one of their first productions, Menotti’s operetta THE MEDIUM, directed by Mako. At an early age, I saw people who looked like me as actors and artistic leaders, which perhaps made it possible for me to envision myself as a playwright when I got to college years later. In 2002, EWP co-produced my new version of FLOWER DRUM SONG, which premiered at the Mark Taper Forum before moving to Broadway. I’m thrilled to revisit and further revise this classic musical, working once again with the company that has been at the heart of my entire artistic life.”
“As a theater kid growing up, I’ll never forget the first time I saw FLOWER DRUM SONG. It was pure magic to see faces like mine shine on the silver screen in a major Hollywood film. While the original has its flaws, it remains deeply meaningful to me. Witnessing David’s Tony Award-winning M. BUTTERFLY on Broadway showed me that a genuine path in theater existed for Asian American artists. Now, directing one of my most cherished musicals, written by a playwright I’ve long admired, in my first season as artistic director of East West Players is truly a dream. After staging David’s first adaptation in 2019, I’m honored to collaborate with him once again, and I’m especially excited to work with this extraordinary cast, whose talent and energy are bringing new life to a musical that means so much to our community.”
“A hundred million miracles are happening every day…”
Thanks to the generosity of former EWP Board Chair Bob Kawahara, we are excited to bring you this special raffle opportunity to win an amazing one-of-a-kind collection of FLOWER DRUM SONG memorabilia, spanning the full history of this amazing story, with items from 1957 to 2026!
1 ticket: $20
6 tickets: $100 (Buy 5 Get 1 Free)
There is no limit to the number of tickets you can purchase!
The State of California does not permit online raffle ticket sales. Raffle tickets are available to purchase in person at the Aratani Theatre or via telephone order only.
CALL (213) 625-7000 EXT. 1
Tuesday - Friday, 11 am - 5 pm
Sponsorship & Support
FLOWER DRUM SONG is sponsored in part by The David Lee Foundation, as well as Henry & Denise Byun, Caplin Foundation, Chinese Heritage Foundation, Ruth Eliel & Bill Cooney, Curtis C. Jung & Lynn Hatashita-Jung, Brenda S. Miyamoto, Mercy & Howard Steenwyk, Randall & Mari Tamura, and Ji-young Yoo, with additional support from the Chinese American Museum, Employees Community Fund of Boeing, Japanese American National Museum, and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Department of Arts and Culture. East West Players is a recipient of the 2026 THRIVE! Grant, funded by the Mark Edelman Theater Fund and administered by Theatre Communications Group, the national organization for theatre leading for a just and thriving theatre ecology.
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