AATC Announces its World Premiere Production of “Fayette-Nam”

Asian American Theater Company (AATC) Announces its World Premiere Production of “Fayette-Nam”, a New Play by Aurorae Khoo

10 June 2009 — San Francisco, CA: Celebrating its 36th Anniversary Year, the Asian American Theater Company (www.asianamericantheater.org) proudly announces its world premiere production of “Fayette-Nam”, a new play by Aurorae Khoo, at the Thick House, 1695 18th Street, San Francisco, from June 25 through July 11, 2009.

Ms. Khoo’s dark comedy takes place on one fateful night in Fayetteville, North Carolina, on the fringes of the US Army Base known as “Fayette-Nam”. A young African American soldier (Jon Gentry) goes AWOL on the eve of being deployed to Iraq and hides out with the Asian American woman (Lisa Kang) who runs the army town’s donut and eggroll shop only to discover that the woman’s Goth-punk daughter (Kathleen Mendoza) is holing up at the shop as well, after having just burned down the dorm of her Ivy League college in New York.

A love triangle simmers between the mother, the soldier, and the daughter.  The mother is a fading, wanna-be Southern Belle who dreams of owning a patisserie in Paris. The soldier is a 19-year old from Oakland who is scared he’ll die without having really lived. The daughter is searching for love but burns all those around her. Their lives collide on a night of life-changing decisions. Will they discover what they are each looking for before it’s too late? Will they make it out of “Fayette-Nam”?

“I love this play,” said Duy Nguyen, Director of the production. “Fayette-Nam contains a tough-minded, penetrating wisdom about what it takes to genuinely change, even if just a little bit. It also asks us how intense intellect and feelings can deal with grease, donuts, and trash.”

Playwright Aurorae Khoo added that “the town of Fayetteville, North Carolina is a character in this play. It is home to Pope Air Force Base (“No-Hope Pope”) and Fort Bragg, one of the largest military bases in the country. Fayetteville is often in the news when the President stops by to make a speech or when it is voted “town most supportive of our troops.” But this play tries to explore the unheard voices of Asian Americans and other minorities trying to survive on a civilian street (Bragg Boulevard) in the shadow of the military industrial complex.”

Producer Pearl Wong noted that AATC’s world premiere of “Fayette-Nam” brings together new and seasoned actors, remarkable production values, and a fresh, vibrant aesthetic that reflects the creativity of both the Asian American community and the larger theater arts community. For a preview, see the lushly shot trailer that we’ve posted on our website, Facebook, MySpace, and YouTube: www.asianamericantheater.org. Special thanks to the The Wallace Alexander Gerbode Foundation and The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation for the generous funding that made this production possible.

Fayette-Nam
Written by Aurorae Khoo
Directed by Duy Nguyen
Starring Jon Gentry, Lisa Kang, Kathleen Mendoza, Kenneth Tan Ronquillo, Erika Pallasigue

June 25 through July 11, 2009
Thurs-Sat 8:00 pm | Sun 2:00 pm

The Playwright and Cast will hold live Q&A sessions after the June 27 and June 28 performances.

Thick House — 1695 18th Street (near Arkansas) — San Francisco

AATC is part of the Thick House Presenting Program

Tickets: $15-$25 sliding scale | 415-401-8081 or www.thickhouse.org

The commissioning and production of this world premiere is made possible by The Wallace Alexander Gerbode Foundation and The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation Emerging Playwrights 2006 Initiative.

About AATC

The mission of the Asian American Theater Company is to connect people to Asian American cultures through theater. AATC was established in 1973 to develop and present original works of theater about Asian Americans. AATC remains committed to producing groundbreaking, entertaining and innovative art. We are not only a production company that presents mainstage plays, but also a workshop where Asian American writers, actors and directors can explore who we are as a people and a community, and in so doing, bring us closer together.

For a copy of the digital images in this press release, please email darryl@asianamericantheater.org.