Step behind the scenes into the tradition of Cantonese opera in America...
Cantonese opera has been part of New York’s story for more than 170 years. Beginning in the 1850s, touring troupes performed in Chinatowns across the United States from San Francisco to Chicago, New York, and even Spokane (plus smaller cities in between). In 1853, the 40-member Tong Hook Tong opera company appeared at New York’s Niblo’s Garden, one of Manhattan’s grand theaters. By 1890, Chinatown’s Doyers Street had its own dedicated opera house, founded by cultural activist Wong Chin Foo. These performances helped build community through music, theater, and tradition that continues to resonate today.
This special evening brings that legacy to life:
Dr. Nancy Yunhwa Rao shares highlights from her acclaimed new book Inside Chinese Theater: Community and Artistry in 19th Century California and Beyond. Book copies will be for sale and available for signing.
Celebrated theater artist Ping Chong and his sister Betty Chong share stories of their family’s arrival in the 1930s as members of a Cantonese opera troupe from Canada and performing in New York.
Cantonese opera performer Mee Mee Chin shows vintage costumes from her collection and performs some classic opera songs.
