#SigSoftPower
Specialty Nights
- Discussion Nights August 28 & September 10, 2024
- Pride Night August 23, 2024
- Masks Required August 18 at 2PM & September 10 at 7:30PM
- ASL Interpreted September 6, 2024
- AAPI Affinity Night August 20, 2024
- Post-Show Talkback with Georgetown University Experts (more info below) September 12, 2024
DC Premiere
Soft Power
A visionary musical fantasia by Tony Award winners David Henry Hwang (Yellow Face, M. Butterfly) and Jeanine Tesori (Fun Home, Kimberly Akimbo).
After the 2016 election, when a Chinese American playwright is attacked by an unknown assailant, he hallucinates a Golden Age musical comedy about a Chinese theater producer and Hillary Clinton falling in love. Hilarious and biting, this political satire dares to ask: Does American Democracy still work? And is it worth believing in?
An exhilarating ride through political absurdity with a faceoff between Chinese and American exceptionalism, Soft Power makes an electric debut in the nation’s capital.
“Subversive as well as funny, touching and thoroughly entertaining… You may never look at an American musical the same way again.” – Variety
Flip through the Soft Power Program
Click the arrows to turn the pages, and click the box in the bottom right corner to view in full screen.
Running time is approximately 85 minutes, no intermission.
This show depicts anti-Asian sentiments, political violence, adult language and will use flashing lights and theatrical haze. Recommended for ages 13+ Click here for more detailed content warnings
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ASL Interpreted Performance on September 6: Click here to see a seat map highlighting recommended seats
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SPONSORED BY
THE TED & MARY JO SHEN CHARITABLE GIFT FUND
THE REVADA FOUNDATION
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Show art does not necessarily reflect production casting.
Photo by Christopher Mueller. Model: Master Chua
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Press Reviews
“Audacious… a taut, engaging production”
“Brilliantly funny”
“This new revision of the award-winning work is special, the timing is especially unique and the cast and creative team are at the top of their games”
“Raucous and incredibly entertaining”
“A spectacular staging of a political fantasia”
“Joyously infused with plenty of golden age flair”
Cast Members
Creative Team
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Book & Lyrics by
David Henry Hwang
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Music & Additional Lyrics by
Jeanine Tesori
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Directed by
Ethan Heard
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Choreography by
Billy Bustamante
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Music Supervisor
Chris Fenwick
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Music Direction by
Angie Benson
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Scenic Design by
Chika Shimizu
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Costume Design by
Helen Q. Huang
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Lighting Design by
Oliver Wason
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Sound Design by
Eric Norris
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Wig Design by
Anne Nesmith
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Orchestrator
Danny Troob
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Music Assistant and Keyboard Programmer
Alexander Greenberg
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Dialect Coach
Ka-Ling Cheung
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Fight Choreographer
Casey Kaleba
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Casting by
Jorge Acevedo
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New York Casting by
Geoff Josselson, CSA
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Production Stage Manager
Kerry Epstein
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Assistant Stage Manager
Joey Blakely
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Assistant Stage Manager
Taryn Friend
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Associate Director
Aria Velz
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Playwright's Assistant
Vicky Anh Pham
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Assistant Choreographer
Olivia Clavel-Davis
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Associate Costume Designer
Ashlynne Ludwig
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Assistant Costume Designer
Bailey Hammett
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Assistant Lighting Designer
Dominic DeSalvio
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Assistant Sound Designer
Di Carey
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Assistant Wig Designer
Danna Rosedahl
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Copyist
Russ Anixter
Inside Signature with Steven Eng
September 5, 2024 1 – 2PM
The Mead Lobby and Streaming Online
FREE, No Reservation Required
Steven Eng has appeared in shows across the globe. Now he sits down with Education Director David Zobell to discuss his storied career, working alongside David Henry Hwang and what it is like to play the other DHH.
September 12 Post-Show Talkback
Join us for a post-show talkback with Director Ethan Heard and three experts in soft power, international affairs, and China from Georgetown University: Ambassador Cynthia P. Schneider, Co-Founding Director of the Laboratory for Global Performance and Politics and Professor, Diplomacy and Culture; Dr. Joel Hellman, Dean of the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service; Dr. Rush Doshi, Assistant Professor in Security Studies, former Deputy Senior Director for China and Taiwan Affairs, National Security Council.
The post-show talk back runs 30-40 minutes, you must have a ticket to the September 12 performance to join this program.