For Immediate Release (Total: 4 Pages)

29 th Nov 2013 ( Friday ) For Immediate Release (total: 4 pages)

Three legendary sisters bearing witness to an extraordinary era Nanjing (H.K.) Association Limited presents The Soongs: By Dreams Betrayed In her stage debut, Michelle Ye portrays the most powerful first lady in history—Soong May-ling

[Hong Kong Repertory Theatre] The three Soong sisters—Ai-ling, Ching-ling and May-ling—lived in a tumultuous period of modern Chinese history. Despite their political aspirations being diametrically opposite in an era plagued with crises, the sisters shared a dream. The three of them married three of the most important men of their time, embodying the symbols of political, financial and social power. HKRep former Artistic Director Joanna Chan utilizes the sisters’ story to portray that vast torrent of Chinese history from the early Republican era to the Second World War, depicting the love, family ties and dreams of the three Soong sisters in this theatre production. The Soongs: By Dreams Betrayed , written and directed by Joanna Chan, stars Michelle Ye, Poon Pik Wan, Sun Wai Keung, Lui Si Lan, Wang Wei, Ko Hon Man, Au Ga Man and Pichead Amornsomboon , among others. It will be presented at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Grand Theatre between 4th and 8th January. Tickets are available now from URBTIX outlets.

The Soongs: By Dreams Betrayed follows the story of the Soong family, which was the most powerful and prominent in recent Chinese history – the three Soong daughters – Ai-ling, Ching-ling and May-ling were brought up in the most prestigious of institutions, and heavily influenced by Western culture. They married three of the most important man in China of their time – H. H Kung, Sun Yat-sen and Chiang Kai-shek. In this tumultuous era, each sister’s fate is a legend in its own right, their glamour and allure captivated the public’s imagination in ways unmatched by their peers.

Playwright and director Joanna Chan was celebrated, along with world-class architect I. M. Pei and cellist Yo-Yo Ma, among the 35 Chinese-American Cultural Pioneers of our time. In fact, the story of the Soong sisters has been in the works for decades: as early as 1990, when Chan stepped down from her post at the HKRep, she began to develop this script. In 2003, The Soongs: By Dreams Betrayed premiered in New York City as a commemorative production of the Yangtze Repertory Theatre, moving not only Chinese audiences in America but also winning accolades beyond. Ten years later today, this play arrives on Hong Kong’s shores, with a script that highlights the yearning democracy and freedom and a love of the Chines people: “The Soongs: By Dreams Betrayed provides much food for thought, taking us through the roller-coaster ride from the early years of the Chinese Republic to the 1940s when the country was in turmoil. The history of a half-century is presented in three acts featuring over 20

香港話劇團 HONG KONG REPERTORY THEATRE 1 香港皇后大道中 345 號上環市政大廈 4 樓 4/F Sheung Wan Municipal Services Building, 345 Queen’s Road Central, Sheung Wan, H.K. 電話 Tel No. : 3103 5900 傳真 Fax No.: 2541 8473 actors, recreating on stage the extraordinary times of the Soong family.”

The Soong family’s power was based on a dream. “Charlie Soong met Sun Yat-sen, and the two shared a dream of attaining democracy and freedom for China. Soong was also an exemplary father: he raised four outstanding children—Ai-ling, Ching-ling, May-ling and Tse-ven. Within the span of two decades, the Soong family acquired unparalleled fame, power, prestige and wealth. Charlie’s wish for a new China was most likely comparable to the dreams of democracy and freedom of every Chinese of this generation,” said Joanna Chan.

Michelle Ye makes her stage debut in playing Soong May-ling, “one of the world’s most powerful, most eminent and controversial women.” She hopes to bring a fresh perspective to the character: “Soong May-ling and I graduated from the same university; we experienced the same university life, cultural milieu and education. I feel I understand where she came from. I will devote all of my attention in recreating this era, hoping to shed light on the character of Soong May-Ling.” In addition, characters such as Soong Ai-ling, Soong Ching-ling, Soong Tse-ven and Chiang Kai-shek will be played by HKRep veteran actors Lui Si Lan, Poon Pik Wan, Wang Wei and Sun Wai Keung respectively. Playwright and director Joanna Chan hopes their portrayal could open a window for the audience to witness character transformations through time, for instance, following how Chiang Kai-shek changed from a shy man not daring to even greet May-ling to marrying her and becoming head of the Nationalist Government. The Soongs: By Dreams Betrayed is a virtuoso work: challenging for every member of the cast.

About Playwright and Director Joanna Chan An honoree at “An All-Star Salute to Chinese American Cultural Pioneers” at City Hall, NYC, in July 1993, (with July 9, 1993, named Joanna Chan Day in the City of New York), and a recipient of a 1994 Distinguished Alumni Award from Teachers College, Columbia University, where she earned her M.A., M. Ed., and Ed. D. degrees, majoring in Theatre/Communications, Joanna Chan has been a prolific playwright and stage director in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Canada and the U.S. for over 40 years. Co- founder and Artistic Director (1970-77; 83-92) of the Four Seas Players in NYC, and Artistic Director of the Hong Kong Repertory Theatre (1986-90), Dr. Chan co-founded Yangtze Repertory Theatre of America in 1992 to produce works for and by Asian artists. The nearly 70 productions written, adapted and directed by her include Shakespeare’s Othello; Wilder’s The Match Maker as an opening event of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre in 1989; the musicals The King and I, and Cabaret for the 1988 Hong Kong Arts Festival; the Chinese literary masterpiece, Dream of the Red Chamber, for the 1987 Hong Kong Arts Festival; Raymond To’s Where Love Abides which she directed and took to China in 1987; as well as her own plays reflecting the relationship between Hong Kong and China in view of 1997: Before the Dawn-wind Rises, commissioned by the Hong Kong Urban Council for the 10th Asian Arts Festival; and Crown Ourselves with Roses, commissioned by Sing Tao Newspapers, which, cited by the Asian Wall Street Journal as ‘a tour de force of our times,” toured North America in 1989. The play was included in An Anthology of Modern Chinese Theater as one of 23 most significant works in Chinese theatre in the past 100 years, published by Columbia University Press (2010). An English version of Before the Dawn-Wind Rises has been included in An Oxford Anthology of Chinese Contemporary Drama (1997). Her OneFamilyOneChildOneDoor, a black comedy on the human cost of China’s one- child policy, premiered in 2001, and revived in 2002 and 2003, was named one of two finalists in the Jane Chambers Playwriting Contest. She was commissioned by Hong Kong Repertory Theatre to write and direct The Empress of China which received its world premiere at City Hall Theatre in Hong Kong in Jan, 2011. Early this year, she received another proclamation from New York City Council for her decades of contributions to the arts and the Chinese community.

Dr. Chan began working in the Rehabilitation Through The Arts Program at Sing Sing Maximum

香港話劇團 HONG KONG REPERTORY THEATRE 2 香港皇后大道中 345 號上環市政大廈 4 樓 4/F Sheung Wan Municipal Services Building, 345 Queen’s Road Central, Sheung Wan, H.K. 電話 Tel No. : 3103 5900 傳真 Fax No.: 2541 8473 Security Correctional Facilities in 2002, directing the inmates in August Wilson’s Jitney in 2003; and in November 2006, in the critically acclaimed production of Sophocle’s The Oedipus Rex, hailed as a work that gave the play ‘one of its finest hours 2,500 years later’ (Michael Millius). Most recently, after 6 long years’ effort, she was instrumental in the release of an innocent man jailed in Sing Sing prison for 17 years.

Dr. Chan grew up in Guangzhou, China, and is a graduate of Chung Chi College of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, majoring in Mathematics. A member of the Dramatists Guild in the U.S., she was a columnist for The New Evening Post in Hong Kong from 1986 to 1997. An accomplished painter and designer, her art works (oils, water colors and computer designs) have been presented in solo and group exhibitions in upstate and downtown New York.

Dr. Chan is also a Maryknoll Sister. She will be marking her Golden Jubilee in the religious community next year.

Nanjing (H.K.) Association Limited proudly sponsor s The Soongs: By Dreams Betrayed 4-8^.1.2014 7:45PM *5.1.2014 2:45PM *Post-performance talk ^Additional Show

Hong Kong Cultural Centre Grand Theatre $360 / $290 / $250 / $200 / $160 Tickets are available now from URBTIX outlets.

D iscounts - HKREP Pals enjoy 15% discount for all purchases - Half-price tickets are available for people with disabilities, age 60 or above, and full-time students (limited offer for full-time students only) - Please refer to HKRep website for details of ticket discounts

Ticket information and purchases 2111 5999 / www.urbtix.hk For more program information 3103 5900 / www.hkrep.com

Title Sponsor: Nanjing (H.K.) Association Limited

- THE END - Media inquiries ： Anita Wong, Head of Marketing and Development Karen Chan, Corporate Communication Officer Phone: 852-3103 5933 / 852- 9880 8615 Phone: 852-3103 5977 / 852-9704 8562 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]

The Soongs: By Dreams Betrayed production photos can be downloaded from the following ftp: ftp:// www.hkrep.com login: hkrepmedia pw: media4hkrep folder name: Soongs

Production Photos (Photographer: Ben Tang@Photobyben, Henry Wong)

1. Soong May-ling (played by Michelle Ye) and Chiang Kai-shek (played by Sun Wai Keung) stepping into the wedding hall. http:// www.hkrep.com/files/media/Soongs / Photo1 .jpg 香港話劇團 HONG KONG REPERTORY THEATRE 3 香港皇后大道中 345 號上環市政大廈 4 樓 4/F Sheung Wan Municipal Services Building, 345 Queen’s Road Central, Sheung Wan, H.K. 電話 Tel No. : 3103 5900 傳真 Fax No.: 2541 8473 2. The Soong family was the richest, most powerful and most prominent in recent Chinese history. http:// www.hkrep.com/files/media/Soongs / Photo 2 .jpg

3. Of the three women, there is “one who loves money, one who loves her country, one who loves power.” They are the Soong sisters—Ai-ling (played by Lui Si Lan), Ching-ling (played by Poon Pik Wan) and May-ling (played by Michelle Ye). http:// www.hkrep.com/files/media/Soongs / Photo 3 .jpg

4. Charlie Soong (played by Ko Hon Man) and his wife Ni Kwei-Tseng (played by Au Ga Man) wielded tremendous influence on their three daughters. http:// www.hkrep.com/files/media/Soongs / Photo 4 .jpg

5. Soong Tse-ven (played by Wang Wei) was in charge of nation’s finance. http:// www.hkrep.com/files/media/Soongs / Phot o5 .jpg

香港話劇團 HONG KONG REPERTORY THEATRE 4 香港皇后大道中 345 號上環市政大廈 4 樓 4/F Sheung Wan Municipal Services Building, 345 Queen’s Road Central, Sheung Wan, H.K. 電話 Tel No. : 3103 5900 傳真 Fax No.: 2541 8473