CAMBODIAN ROCK BAND

By LAUREN YEE
Featuring songs by DENGUE FEVER
Directed by LILY TUNG CRYSTAL


LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR

When I first experienced Cambodian Rock Band, it was a revelation.

My grandfather, great grandmother, and more than half of my father’s 16 siblings lost their lives at the hands of communist soldiers. I learned that history through family stories, but also discovered it through the unraveling of family secrets, held tight by my parents as they fought to keep my brother, sister, and me free from their burdens of the past.

At its heart, Cambodian Rock Band is a story of intergenerational war trauma and how one man’s survival through genocide impacts his daughter’s American journey. Many of us in the refugee and immigrant communities know this narrative well. As we navigate our identities, as first, second, and third generation Americans, we wonder about the history from whence we came. How do our parents’ and grandparents’ paths determine ours? How does our ancestors’ trauma affect us? And can facing our past heal our family wounds?

Like Chum, many of our parents faced unimaginable suffering and then courageously came to America to give their children a better life. What were they forced to endure? What would we have done to survive had we been in their shoes? What would we have sacrificed—ourselves, our loved ones, our humanity?

Into this story of love and loss enter the vibrant sounds of Khmer music. It lifts and complicates, kills and saves. As in many communist revolutions, the Khmer Rouge takeover brought an artistic annihilation--musical careers, dreams, and lives cut short. As the musicians of Cambodian Rock Band come back to life through storytelling, we feel the deep chasm they left in Cambodia and the world when that music died.

But it’s also the artists--present, past, and future--who remind us that hope exists. The music continues. It lifts. It transforms. And that’s where the brilliance of Cambodian Rock Band lies. While it mourns a region’s immense loss, it also celebrates the resilience of the human spirit. We hope you honor that story with us today, as it magically weaves together music and words, tragedy and joy.

Lily Tung Crystal
Director
Artistic Director, Theater Mu


CAST

Pou/Karaoke Host/S21 Guard Mayda Miller
Rom/Journalist Shawn Mouacheupao
Ted/Leng Christopher Thomas Pow
Duch Eric Sharp*
Neary/Sothea Danielle Troiano
Chum Greg Watanabe*
Acting Fellow: Karaoke Host/ Journalist/S21 Guard Deryck Hak

CREATIVE & CREW

Music Director Mandric Tan
Scenic & Projection Designer Mina Kinukawa
Costume Designer Khamphian Vang 
Costume Director Sarah Bahr
Wig, Hair, and makeup Designer Emma Gustafson
Lighting Co-Designer Amy Adelaide Nguyen  
Lighting Co-Designer Karin Olson
Sound Designer Sean Healey
Fight Choreographer Annie Enneking
Associate Director Jake Sung-Guk Sullivan   
Stage Manager/Properties Designer John Novak*
Cultural and Language Consultant Mongkol Teng
Dramaturgy Fellow Cody Kour 
Dramaturgy Advisor Annie Jin Wang
Assistant Scenic Designer Yunzhu "Jessica" Chen
Production Manager Matthew Earley 
Technical Director Matthew Erkel
Head Electrician Ray Steveson 
Scenic Charge Artist Jeni Raddatz Tolifson 
Board Operator/Programmer Micayla Thebault-Spieker 
Sound intern Lucas Martin
Audio Engineer Micah Kopecky 
Audio Engineer Swing Charlotte Deranek
Dresser Becca Michelle
Draper Sheila Heil
Stitchers Dakota Blakenship, Rebecca Karstad
Fight Captain Danielle Troiano
COVID-19 Safety Coordinator Barry Inman
Stage Management Intern Skye Reddy 
Production Assistant John Middleton
Electricians Micayla Thebault-Spieker, Jeremy Ellarby, Erin Belpedio, Andy Glischinski, Paul Epton+ 
Carpenters John Stillwell, Julia Reisinger, Brent Anderson, Gunther Gullickson, Allana Olson+, Tyler Krohn, Kat Hunter, John Lutz
Run Crew John Middleton, Nathan Kleppe
Run Crew Swing Cullom McCormick

SPECIAL THANKS

Sarah Rasmussen, Shannon Robinson, Shannon Fitzgerald, Nanci Olesen & Steve Epp, Cedar Cultural Center, Children's Theater Company, Lisa Crystal and Mark Houts, Dr. Zeke McKinney, the Hak Family, Amber Bjork, Jeremy Ellarby, Jared Zeigler/Interact, Tony Stoeri/Carleton College, Costume Collective, Augsburg University

SONG CREDITS

“Uku” “Family Business” “One Thousand Tears of a Tarantula” “Cement Slippers” “Sni Bong” “Tooth and Nail” all written by Dengue Fever. All Dengue Fever songs administered by Ellipsis Music Corp. (ASCAP) and Pentagon Lipservices (BMI) on behalf of CHHOM CHIMNEY • 1 ARMED CRAB PUB • FOOLISH MORTAL PUB • NOON KEY MUSIC • S W O P SONGS • TROLL UNDER THE BRIDGE. Dengue Fever music and information are available from http://denguefevermusic.com

'The Times They Are A-Changin’ Written by Bob Dylan, Copyright © 1963, 1964 by Warner Bros. Inc.; renewed 1991, 1992 by Special Rider Music. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

JEAS CYCLO by Yol Aularong; TODAY I LEARNT TO DRINK, OLD POT STILL COOKS TASTY RICE, I AM SIXTEEN by Ros Serey Sothea; and CHAMPA BATTAMBANG by Sinn Sisamouth

All used by arrangement with Minky Records, Inc.

Additional Arrangements by Matthew MacNelly and Jane Lui.

*Minneapolis Arrangements by Mandric Tan.

Co-produced by Jungle Theater and Theater Mu

CAMBODIAN ROCK BAND commissioned and first produced by South Coast Repertory with support from the Time Warner Foundation.

This play is a recipient of an Edgerton Foundation New American Play Award.

Developed with support from The Ground Floor at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Berkeley, CA.

* These actors and stage managers are members of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

 

+ Member of IATSE; the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States. The IATSE is the labor union representing technicians, artisans and craftspersons in the entertainment industry, including live theatre, motion picture and television production, and trade shows.

• Member of USA; United Scenic Artists. United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829, IATSE, is a labor union and professional association of Designers, Artists, Craftspeople, and Department Coordinators, organized to protect craft standards, working conditions and wages for the entertainment and decorative arts industries.

■ Financial support for the associate director of this production is provided by the Knight Foundation through a collaboration with the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts’ GreenRoom initiative.


This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

This project is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.



ABOUT THE ARTISTS

MAYDA MILLER

Pou/Ensemble | She/Her
Mayda is a Korean adopted musician/producer. She has been writing her own music and performing internationally for over 10 years. Mayda's music has been featured on the Rachael Ray Show, HBO, Showtime, Good Morning America, KFC, MTV, BRAVO TV, KARE 11, movies, and commercials. In 2015, Mayda cut her teeth in theater by boldly writing and producing her one- woman piece, DeMayda'd. DeMayda'd debuted at the Guthrie Theater for two nights. She remounted the performance for a four-day run at the Bryant Lake Bowl & Theater the next year. Since then, Mayda has been cast in Hedwig and the Angry Inch at Theater Latté Da. Mayda is planning on releasing a new album in the fall of 2022 and continues to see where theater and music takes her.

SHAWN MOUACHEUPAO

Rom/Ensemble | He/Him
Shawn is a Hmong American drummer, composer, and educator based out of Saint Paul, Minnesota. He is a proud representative of Hmong musicians and encourages education and commitment to the craft. Shawn has composed multiple songs for bands, and radio stations such as MPR, the Current, and KFAI.

CHRISTOPHER THOMAS POW

Ted/Leng | He/Him
Christopher is so excited to make his Minneapolis debut with the Jungle and Theater Mu! Christopher is an actor and musician from Chicago, Illinois. Previous credits include Pip in Great Expectations, Ferdinand in The Tempest (Great River Shakespeare Festival [GRSF]); Ted/Leng/Guitar in Cambodian Rock Band (co-produced at Victory Gardens Theater, City Theatre Company, and Merrimack Repertory Theatre); and Thuy Fan/Hong Feng/Mr. Cheung in Mlima’s Tale (Griffin Theatre Company). Christopher also voiced Ross in the GRSF’s audio production of Macbeth and Jeff Balasco in Evil Kitten Production’s audio drama The Continuing Adventures of John Blade: Super Spy by Kyle Encinas. Christopher is currently working on his debut music album and hopes to release it in 2022. He is represented by Shirley Hamilton Talent Representation.

Eric Sharp

Duch | He/Him
A veteran of both Mu and Jungle stages, Eric is thrilled to be a part of this wonderful collaboration. At Theater Mu, Eric has appeared in Today Is My Birthday, Hot Asian Doctor Husband, Charles Francis Chan Jr..., Two Mile Hollow, and Yellow Fever, among many others. Eric recently directed the YouTube series The Remix with Theater Mu, and produced, directed, and performed in You Shall Hear Me: Stories From Beyond. Jungle audiences have seen him in Hand to God, Small Mouth Sounds, and Is Edward Snowden Single? Other credits include Paula Vogel’s Bard at the Gate, Guthrie Theater, Ten Thousand Things, Trademark Theater, Frank Theatre, and the Minnesota, Toronto, and Edinburgh Fringe Festivals. Eric’s voiceover work can be heard on Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, and Penguin Random House Audio. Up Next: Vietgone at the Guthrie Theater | worksharp.org

DANIELLE TROIANO

Neary/Sothea, Fight Captain | She/They
Danielle graduated from the UMN/Guthrie BFA acting program in 2020. Theater credits include The Acting Company in NYC, Guthrie Theater, Ten Thousand Things, Parallel 45, Theater Mu, and Notre Dame Shakespeare. Aside from acting, her biggest passion is her musical persona under the name D’LOURDES, and she released her first EP of the same name in May, available on all platforms! Go check it out! She recently opened for Jay R, the "Filipino King of RnB" in March, and she is looking forward to doing more live shows with her original music in the coming year. Be sure to follow her journey on IG @danielle.troiano, TikTok @dlourdesmusic, as well as on Facebook and YouTube for release dates, upcoming performances, and good ol’ fashioned foolery.

GREG WATANaBE

Chum | He/Him
Greg made his Broadway debut in Allegiance and was recently seen in Cambodian Rock Band at Victory Gardens, the City Theatre Pittsburgh, and Merrimack Repertory Theatre, Hold These Truths at Virginia Stage Company, and The Great Leap at Asolo Repertory Theatre. Other appearances include world premiere productions of The Ballad Of Yachiyo (Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Public Theater-New York), The Summer Moon (A Contemporary Theater, South Coast Repertory Theatre), The Happy Ones (South Coast Rep, LA Drama Critics Circle nomination for best featured performance), and Extraordinary Chambers (the Geffen Playhouse, Ovation nomination for best featured actor). Other appearances include Golden Child (Signature Theater), and Yellow Face (Mo’olelo Performing Arts Company, San Diego Theater Critics Circle nomination for Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play).

DERYCK HAK

Acting Fellow: Ensemble | He/Him
Deryck is thrilled to be part of his first production with Theater Mu! Favorite credits include Laurie in Little Women (Lyric Arts), Minoru Masuda in Christmas of Swing (History Theatre), and himself in his one-man show, Between (Renegade Theatre). He has also had the pleasure of working with Minneapolis Musical Theatre, Wildwood Theatre, and the National Theatre for Children. He received his BFA in acting from the University of Minnesota Duluth. Deryck would like to thank his family for their continued support and love. When he is not on the stage or waiting tables at Olive Garden, he can be found snuggled up in a blanket with Dude… his 10-year-old tabby cat. Enjoy the show! | deryckhak.com

LAUREN YEE

Playwright | She/Her
Lauren was the second most produced playwright in America for the 2019/20 theatrical season (as per American Theatre Magazine). Her plays include Cambodian Rock Band (South Coast Rep, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, La Jolla Playhouse, City Theatre, Merrimack Rep) and The Great Leap (Denver Center, Seattle Repertory, Atlantic Theater, Guthrie Theater, American Conservatory Theater, Arts Club, InterAct Theatre, Steppenwolf). Honors: Doris Duke Artists Award, Steinberg Playwright Award, Whiting Award, Steinberg/ATCA Award, American Academy of Arts and Letters literature award, Horton Foote Prize, Kesselring Prize, Primus Prize, Hodder Fellowship, No. 1 and No. 2 plays on 2017 Kilroys' List. New Dramatists, Ma-Yi Writers’ Lab, Playwrights Realm alum. TV: Pachinko (Apple+ TV), Soundtrack (Netflix). BA: Yale. MFA: UCSD. | laurenyee.com

LILY TUNG CRYSTAL

Director, Theater Mu Artistic Director | She/Her
Grateful to be collaborating with such talented and generous artists in the Twin Cities, Lily has directed Jiehae Park’s peerless and Susan Soon He Stanton’s Today Is My Birthday at Mu, and MN Opera’s Art is a Verb (Harrison Rivers, librettist). Other shows include David Henry Hwang’s Chinglish and Flower Drum Song at Palo Alto Players, and the world premiere of Leah Nanako Winkler’s Two Mile Hollow at Ferocious Lotus, all for which she was named a three-time Theatre Bay Area Award Finalist for Outstanding Direction. As an actor/singer, Lily has performed at theaters across the country, including Cal Shakes, Crowded Fire, Magic Theatre, Mixed Blood Theatre, New World Stages, Playwrights’ Center, Portland Center Stage, SF Playhouse, and Syracuse Stage. She is a YBCA 100 honoree, named by Yerba Buena Center for the Arts as a "creative pioneer making the provocations that will shape the future of culture." | theatermu.org, lilytungcrystal.com

SARAH BAHR

Costume Director | She/Her
Sarah is a Twin Cities-based freelance costume and scenic designer for theater, dance, and opera. Her designs have been featured with companies including the Jungle Theater, Theater Mu, Minnesota Opera, San Diego Opera, Trademark Theater, Ten Thousand Things Theater, History Theatre, Mixed Blood Theatre, Penumbra Theatre, Guthrie, and Vail Dance Festival. In addition to teaching at various colleges in the metro area, Sarah advocates for creating space and meaningful mentorship opportunities for emerging theater makers, along with equity among theater designers and technicians. She holds a Design and Technical Theatre BFA from University of Minnesota Duluth, a Studio Art MA from New York University, and a Design and Technical Theatre MFA from the University of Minnesota. | sarahbahr.com

YUNZHU "JESSICA" CHEN

Assistant Scenic Designer | She/Her
Jessica is a rising junior studying theater and technical theater at Macalester College. She has worked on various department productions as an assistant sound designer and properties designer, and she has worked with Theater Mu as the assistant sound designer for the production of Man of God. Jessica is excited to work with Theater Mu again and with the Jungle Theater as the assistant scenic designer on this production of Cambodian Rock Band. She wants to thank Mina, Theater Mu, and Jungle Theater for making this happen and for the help along the way.

ANNIE ENNEKING

Fight Choreographer | She/Her
Annie is a fight director, musician, teaching artist, and former actor. Her work in theatrical violence has been seen on nearly every stage in the Twin Cities. Highlights include To Kill a Mockingbird (Guthrie), Extremities (Dark and Stormy), Man of La Mancha (Theater Latté Da), Noises Off and Hand to God (Jungle Theater), and most recently Man of God (Theater Mu), as well as Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet (University of Minnesota/Guthrie BFA program, where she is an instructor). Annie is a 2010 Playwright’s Center McKnight fellow, and has received support from the Minnesota State Arts Board, Jerome Foundation, and MRAC to devise performances that use music as their primary mode of expression. She fronts and founded the rock band Annie and the Bang Bang, with whom she goes on adventures.

Emma gustafson

Wig, Hair, & Makeup Designer | She/Her
Emma is a Twin Cities-based wig, hair, and makeup designer for opera and theatre. Emma holds a cosmetology license and training from Aveda Institute Minneapolis and a Bachelor of Arts in Theatrical Design from Augsburg University. By day, Emma is the Head of Wig and Makeup at Children’s Theatre Company, and by night, you can find her jetting around working on various projects all around town. Her passion is putting beautiful, appropriate, flattering, and natural-looking wigs on stage that make actors and audiences feel at home. Emma has had the opportunity to work with many incredible companies including Minnesota Opera, Children’s Theatre Company, Utah Shakespeare Festival, Guthrie Theater, Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, Mixed Blood, Santa Fe Opera, and of course, Jungle Theater!

SEAN HEALEY

Sound Designer | He/Him
Sean is currently based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Credits there include the Jungle Theater, Children’s Theatre Company, Open Eye Figure Theatre, Guthrie Theater, and Theater Latté Da. Regional theater credits include the Old Globe, Dallas Theatre Center, the New Victory Theater, Arizona Theatre Company, Seattle Children’s Theatre, the Mark Taper Forum, Cornerstone Theater Company, and ZACH Theatre. BFA: California Institute of the Arts, 1997.

MINA KINUKAWA

Scenic & Projections Designer | She/Her
Mina has been freelancing in Minnesota for the last decade. Most recently she has designed for the Jungle Theater, Theater Mu, Full Circle Theater, Penumbra Theatre, and New Native Theatre. She has also worked on film and TV productions in Los Angeles, and designed scenery for theatres such as East West Players, Echo Theater Company, Lodestone Theatre Company, Company of Angels, Milagro Theater, Profile Theatre, and Northwest Children’s Theatre Company.

CODY KOUR

Dramaturgy Fellow | He/Him
Cody is a second generation Khmer American writer, teacher, and scholar. A son of refugees, Cody is excited to work on Cambodian Rock Band as a dramaturgy fellow and is incredibly grateful to be a part of the sharing of this story. He enjoys working on projects that interrogate the distance between memory and truth, the relationship between artifice and "real life," and the boundaries that love always transcends. In his spare time, Cody likes to read graphic novels, write poetry, grill out with family, and go on night drives. In the future, Cody hopes to continue to collaborate with others to uplift Asian American stories through his work and art.

AMY ADELAIDE NGUYEN

Lighting Co-Designer | She/Her
Amy has designed for many shows and worked in many roles for the last 25 years, including touring with rock and roll bands internationally, leading creative projects for corporate brands, and serving as head house electrician for the historic State Theatre for 10 years as well as production manager of Saint Paul’s Fitzgerald Theater. Amid all that, she immensely enjoys traveling the world seeking experiences different than and not found at home. Amy is a University of Minnesota graduate based in the Twin Cities.

JOHN NOVAK

Stage Manager & Properties | He/Him
After graduating with honors from St. Olaf College in 1989, John began a nomadic career as a stage technician and opera stage manager, crisscrossing the nation until he found a home at the Jungle Theater in 1997. Since then, he has collaborated on more than 100 Jungle productions as stage manager and/or properties manager. His other home is in the Central neighborhood of Minneapolis, which he shares with his spouse, the multi-talented creator and performer Bradley Greenwald.

KARIN OLSON

Lighting Co-Designer | She/Her
Karin has been lighting performance for over 20 years, collaborating with design teams at the Guthrie, Penumbra, Mixed Blood, Artistry, Frank Theatre, Theater Mu, Full Circle Theater, and Ten Thousand Things, and with dance companies Threads Dance Project, Alternative Motion Project, Collide Theatricals and TU Dance. She designs regionally for Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Syracuse Stage, and Trinity Rep. Recent designs include Redwood at the Jungle, Onegin with Skylark Opera, Runestone at the History Theatre, and Antigone at Cleveland Playhouse. | karinolsonlighting.com

Jake Sung-Guk Sullivan

Associate Director | He/Him
Jake is an actor, director, and educator from the Twin Cities metro area. He has recently directed [title of show] (Lyric Arts) and Disney's The Little Mermaid (Lakeshore Players Theatre). Acting credits include The 39 Steps (Lyric Arts), Romeo and Juliet (Classical Actors Ensemble), Flower Drum Song (Theater Mu/Park Square Theatre). Jake also leads classes in the Mu Explorations curriculum, as well as serving as the Creative Development Programs Director with the MN Opera. Upcoming projects include the world premiere adaptation of A Different Pond, at Stages Theatre Company.

MANDRIC TAN

Music Director | He/Him
Mandric hails from Singapore with more than a decade's experience as well as a reputation for being a widely known, multi-faceted music producer. Since graduating from the prestigious Berklee College of Music, he has played the role of a music arranger, recording engineer, and producer for numerous National Day Parades and Chingays in Singapore, and is serving as a touring musician for the Chinese king of pop, Wang Leehom.

MONGKOL TENG

Cultural and Language Consultant | He/Him
Mongkol is honored to serve as a cultural consultant and language coach for Cambodian Rock Band. He is a native of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, but has called Minnesota home since 2008. He is a Cambodian history and language enthusiast, and previously has volunteered and served on the board of Cambodian Living Arts, a Phnom Penh-based arts nonprofit dedicated to reviving Cambodia's lost art forms and empowering and transforming individuals and communities in Cambodia through the arts. Mongkol is thrilled to be collaborating on this fantastic production with Theater Mu and Jungle Theater.

KHAMPHIAN VANG

Costume Designer | She/Her
Khamphian is a Twin Cities-based freelance designer-artist with a background in fashion, theater, and costume design. She designs to elevate storytelling and engage the audience through meaningful visual composition. This is her third show with Theater Mu and her first show to be featured at Jungle Theater. Previous credits with Theater Mu are peerless and Man of God. She has designed for several productions with Full Circle Theater Company and a virtual show with Walking Shadow Theatre Company. Khamphian is grateful to have worked on Cambodian Rock Band with this team to give voice to the stories that reflect an important narrative in the Southeast Asian American experience.

ANNIE JIN WANG

Dramaturgy Advisor | She/Her
Annie is a first-generation Chinese American dramaturg based in Brooklyn. She is delighted to support Cody, Lily, and the #MuSquad once again! In addition to serving as the production dramaturg on Today Is My Birthday and peerless, her work has recently been seen at the Civilians, Fault Line Theatre, Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, Shotgun Players, Ferocious Lotus Theatre Company, and the Croatian National Theatre. Her writing has been incubated with Fresh Ground Pepper, and she is a member of the inaugural PlayGround-NY Writers’ Pool. Annie is the associate director for programming and communications at PlayCo and the artistic associate at Theater Mu. MFA: Columbia University. BAs: Wellesley College. As always, for mom & dad. | wang-annie.com

Christina Baldwin

Jungle Artistic Director | She/Her
Christina has directed and performed in many Jungle productions. Her collaborations range from Shakespeare and contemporary plays, to musical theater and opera. An advocate of new work, she develops new plays, musical theater, and opera with the likes of the Ojai Playwrights Conference, the Playwrights’ Center, Nautilus Music-Theater and The Moving Company. A collaborator with the Tony Award-winning Theatre de la Jeune Lune for nearly 10 years, Christina co-adapted and performed the title role in their critically-acclaimed touring production of Carmen. She writes, adapts, and directs operas. Christina has been a recording artist and vocalist with the Minnesota Orchestra, a writer/actor on NPR’s Wits and A Prairie Home Companion, and has lent her voice to animated short films by the Dutch filmmaker Rosto A.D. (Cannes Film Festival award-winner).


From Dramaturgy Fellow Cody Kour

In 1975, the Khmer Rouge, an extreme communist party led by Pol Pot, emptied Cambodia’s capital city of Phnom Penh and took control of the country. The party’s stated goal was to bring Cambodia back to a simple, agrarian society defined by social harmony, but the reality was a regime ruling through fear, distrust, and violence. By the time the Khmer Rouge was ousted by Vietnamese troops in 1979, the country had over 2.5 million dead, no infrastructure, and a traumatized populace. To this day, Cambodia and her people have yet to fully recover.

To share this history, Lauren Yee’s play Cambodian Rock Band excavates the barrier between past and present as it jumps between 1978 and 2008. As it does so, the play mines a sort of remedy for the horrors of the past—a chance at reconciliation, redemption, and inner peace.

The wounds the Khmer Rouge wrought upon Cambodia in the name of progress not only affected the people but Khmer culture as well. From 1960 up until 1975, Cambodia was experiencing what has retrospectively been called “Cambodia’s Golden Era of Music.” Khmer musicians such as Sinn Sisamouth had crafted a unique sound by blending traditional Khmer music with rock and pop influences from Latin America, Europe, and the United States.

Once the Khmer Rouge took over, Pol Pot declared it was Year Zero and intended to “purify” Cambodia of its past in favor of a communist future. Anything having to do with the West, the past, modernity, urbanity, or individuality was considered a threat to their new utopia. Suspected or accused dissenters were taken away, imprisoned, and executed. This included creatives, intellectuals, religious leaders, teachers, musicians, artists, capitalists, monks, and anybody else deemed unnecessary or threatening to the new regime.

Families were torn apart and reassigned to villages or camps across the country because all of Cambodia was now considered one’s family, a comrade. Marriages were arranged by the Khmer Rouge, and premarital sex was punishable by execution, as was dancing, painting, singing, writing, praying, and playing music. The uniform of the entire country was black clothing with a red krama, the symbol of the party. Food was heavily rationed, and the population was starved in the name of the “greater good.” Khmer Rouge leaders were characterized by their greed, corruption, and hypocrisy. The only certainty during this time was death.

Still, the truth about how people were able to survive the genocide is often messier and harder to pin down, as shown by Chum’s difficulty in facing his own past in the play. Similar to how one’s actions may echo into the next life, he—and the audience—are haunted by the play’s live band as it brings up memories of a happier time long past.

Ultimately, I find Cambodian Rock Band to be a journey toward acceptance. Buddhists believe in Karma: that our present and future lives are subject to the actions of our past lives. However, this idea can also create a sense of powerlessness, similar to how the Cambodian people were unable to stay out of an unwanted war, or how they couldn’t save their country from themselves. From this seed of despair grows a melancholy acceptance—one rooted in futility, but also displaying the grace and beauty of defiance.

It’s this beautiful melancholy that ultimately bears the fruit of resilience, one that beckoned the Khmer people to survive even when facing death daily. That spurs a child to search for a sliver of truth in the darkness. For a musician to play on, despite the world ending.

 

CREATIVE CONVERSATIONS WITH ARTISTIC

 

EXPLORE DEEPER WITH A READING LIST FROM MAGERS & QUINN

We have paired up with Magers & Quinn Booksellers in Uptown to put together a list of books for our patrons to further explore the world of CAMBODIAN ROCK BAND, including Afterparties: Stories by Anthony Veasna So; Ma and Me by Putsata Reang; Tiger Girl by May-Lee Chai; and more.

Stop by their store to view the display or order online here.

 

Magers & Quinn is the largest independent new and used bookstore in Minneapolis. Located on Hennepin Avenue in Uptown since 1994, Magers & Quinn carries all subjects, ranging from rare out-of-print editions to the latest bestsellers. Through author events, educator discounts, community partnerships, and more, Magers & Quinn remains dedicated to sharing a love of reading to contribute to a livable community in which books play an important part. During the run of Cambodian Rock Band, visit Magers & Quinn to view the in-store display of recommended titles, and support a local bookseller!


ABOUT THE JUNGLE THEATER

The Jungle Theater creates courageous, resonant theater that challenges, entertains, and sparks expansive conversation. As a neighborhood theater with national impact, the Jungle focuses on telling stories that matter, with deep care and attention to detail. The Jungle is deeply rooted in its Lyn Lake neighborhood in Minneapolis and plays a vital role in the economic and cultural development of the area. The Jungle was founded in 1991 by Bain Boehlke and counts among its credits a dozen Ivey Awards and numerous top production awards from critics.

Dark stage with lights and a woman spinning

Photo by Dan Norman, (FEATURING GABRIELLE DOMINIQUE, JORDAN M. LEGGETT, BECCA HART, JOSH ZWICK, SHINAH BRASHEARS; RIDE THE CYCLONE 2019)

OUR MISSION

The Jungle Theater creates courageous, resonant theater that challenges, entertains, and sparks expansive conversation.

OUR VISION

To be a neighborhood theater with national impact, indispensable to our community and aspirational to the field.

OUR VALUES

STORIES MATTER

Because we believe in the power of live theater to interrogate and celebrate our shared experience, we create work that helps our audience make meaning of the world and deepen connections with each other.

ARTISTRY IS A HABIT OF ATTENTION

Because we believe that exquisitely crafted theater makes us feel more alive and calls to our highest potential, we pursue beauty in our work by practicing care and attention to detail in all that we do.

A PLAY ISN’T COMPLETE WITHOUT AN AUDIENCE

Because we see our audience as our final collaborators, and because we believe meaningful encounters demand intimacy, we strive to make the Jungle a place where all are welcome and everyone is home.

A GREAT THEATER CARES FOR ITS PEOPLE

Because the work we make and share depends on human time, labor, and love, we are committed to being good to one another. This means we challenge one another creatively, value each other’s time and talent, and collaborate in a spirit of good will and abundance.

JUNGLE THEATER STAFF

Artistic Director | CHRISTINA BALDWIN
Managing Director | ROBIN GILLETTE
Artist and Audience Services Manager | BARRY INMAN
Advancement & Artistic Associate | ALISON RUTH
Marketing Manager | CARLY CAPUTA
Finance Manager | FIONA ROBINSON
Production & Facilities Manager | MATTHEW EARLEY
Season Stage Manager | JOHN NOVAK
Artistic Cohort | SEQUOIA HAUCK, JUCOBY JOHNSON, JAMES RODRÍGUEZ, ANGELA TIMBERMAN
Development Consultant | DON SOMMERS
Front of House | Anika Barland, Kendra Buro, Adam Clair, Shalee Mae Cole Mauleón, Arianna Diaz-Celon, Jessica Goldade, Rossi-Anne Jaffe, Clara Kennedy, Reanna Madson, Zach Staads

JUNGLE THEATER BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Ben Scott (Board Chair), Juliane Ray (Board Vice Chair), Barbara Klaas (Treasurer), David Dobmeyer (Secretary), Erika Eklund, Andrea Fike, Kelly Kita, Karl Lambert, Nancy Monroe, Kelsey Norton, Erin Oglesbay, Juliane Ray, Peter Scherf, Marcia Stout, David Weinstein


THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS DONORS

The Jungle extends our gratitude to the many supporters who help bridge the gap between annual operating costs and ticket sales. Thank you for making another season of engaging, provocative theater possible.

ABOUT THEATER MU

Theater Mu (pronounced MOO) is the second largest Asian American theater company in the nation, co-led by artistic director Lily Tung Crystal and managing director Anh Thu Pham. Founded in 1992, Mu celebrates and empowers the Asian American community through mainstage productions, emerging artist support, and educational outreach programs. Theater Mu is a member of the Consortium of Asian American Theaters & Artists as well as a member of the Twin Cities Theatres of Color Coalition, proudly standing alongside New Native Theatre, Pangea World Theater, Penumbra Theatre, and Teatro Del Pueblo.

Three women on stage dancing

Photo by Rich Ryan (Featuring Isabella Dawis, Meredith Casey, Francesca Dawis; PEERLESS 2020)

MISSION

Theater Mu produces great performances born of arts, equity, and justice from the heart of the Asian American experience.

VISION

Theater Mu celebrates and empowers Asian Americans through theater.

PRIMARY ARTISTIC VALUES

  • To give voice and cultural profile to the Asian American community.

  • To offer opportunities for mainstream audiences to gain insight into and empathy for Asian American culture and heritage.

  • To provide professional development opportunities for emerging Asian American artists.

  • To promote awareness of and progressive action on issues of social justice and gender equality in society.

  • To move, provoke, and challenge our audiences to understand, embrace, and celebrate diversity.

THE MEANING OF MU

Mu (pronounced MOO) is the Korean pronunciation of the Chinese character for the shaman/artist/warrior who connects the heavens and the earth through the tree of life.

Theater Mu Staff

Artistic Director Lily Tung Crystal, Managing Director Anh Thu Pham, Development Director Wesley Mouri, Marketing & Comm. Director Lianna McLernon, Programs Manager Morgen Chang, Office Manager & Literary Associate Jane Peña, and
Mellon Foundation Playwright-in-Residence Saymoukda Duangphouxay Vongsay

Theater mu Board Members

Jon F. Jee (Board Chair), Elizabeth Hang, Ruthie Johnson, Curtis Klotz, Gloria Kumagai, Katie Hae Leo, Gabrielle Ryan, Nonoko Sato, Lily Tung Crystal (Ex-Officio), and Anh Thu  Pham (Ex-Officio)


VIEW THE COMPLETE LIST OF SEASON DONORS

Thank you to everyone who supports Theater Mu! Because of you, we are able to provide Pay As You Are ticketing, youth outreach programs, production mentorships, and more.

2021/22 Season Sponsors