Happily Ever After: Two New Plays from Taiwan explore Marriage Equality

Sunday, November 17 Noon | Staged Readings + Talkback

Monday, November 18 6pm | Staged Readings + Talkback

Free and Open to Public. First come, first served.

Chicago Cultural Center 78 E. Washington St. Chicago, IL 60602

Claudia Cassidy Theatre, 2nd Floor North

In May 2019, Taiwan became the first Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage. Join us with two contemporary Taiwanese plays exploring Marriage Equality. 

The evening will feature excerpted staged readings from Solo Date by Pao-Chang Tsai and The Possible Memoirs of a Traitor by Li-Ying Chien. Followed by a discussion with directors, playwright Pao-Chang Tsai, and IVP Executive Director Patrizia Acerra.

Blending new media, real-life events, and various performative techniques, Tsai’s and Chien’s highly political and engaged works give voice to an emerging cultural movement in Taiwan. As established queer artists, their creative processes and cultural productions also shed light on the struggles and achievements of the LGBTQ community in Taiwan and Asia today.

Based on a comprehensive field study of the LGBTQ movement, HIV/AIDS medical treatment, and family and religious issues in Taiwanese society, Li-Ying Chien’s The Possible Memoirs of a Traitor (2017) uncovers stories from a Taipei gay shelter in the 90’s. Pao-Chang Tsai’s Solo Date (2016) takes place in the 2030’s. Using traditional Taiwanese ritual and AI technology, a man reaches back in time in search of his deceased lover. But after decrypting the lover’s private data, new truths come to light.

Co-Presented by International Voices Project, with support from Ministry of Culture, Taiwan and Taipei Cultural Center in New York. Co-curated by Yu Chien Liu and Chi-Ping Yen.

Twice, Thrice, Frice…

The World Premiere
Co-Produced with International Voices Project
Written by Fouad Teymour
Directed by Patrizia Acerra

Now until November 10, 2019

In this 90-minute comedy, three Muslim women confront adultery and polygamy when one of their husbands marries a second wife. Friendship, fidelity, and faith are called into question as each woman reevaluates bonds once believed unbreakable, and discovers humor amongst the heartbreak.

The Historic Chicago Temple Building

77 W Washington St, Lower Level

Chicago, IL 60602

Tickets available at www.silkroadrising.org

GOLIATH

By Maria Tryti Vennerød

Translated by May Brit Akerhold

Directed by Co-Artistic Director Kirstin Franklin

GOLIATH retells the classic biblical story as an epic family drama: Goliath, the dominant older brother who, once in his childhood, was outshone by his clever, heroic little brother David. Ever since, Goliath has had to live with the myth of the events, the legend of his brother, the shame of his loss and their mother's favoring of David. Time has come for revenge. 

THE RETURNING

By Maria Tryti Vennerød

Translated by Henning Hegland

Directed by Lee Peters

In THE RETURNING, we meet a mother and a father grieving the loss of their son, Gustav, whom they assume to be dead. The funeral is breathtaking, where they have filled the coffin with things reminding them of Gustav. After some time goes by, they return to their daily lives. The parents manage to go on with their life. But then one day there is a knock on the door, upsetting all of their newfound peace...