LAOWANG
NOVEMBER 1 - DECEMBER 14, 2025
59E59 THEATERS (59 East 59th Street)
Tues-Fri @ 7pm; Sat @ 2 & 7pm; Sun @ 2pm
Thurs @ 2pm on November 20, December 4, & 11
We will have an altered schedule during the week of Thanksgiving
written by ALEX LIN
directed by JOSHUA KAHAN BRODY
Don't mess with a Chinese grandma.
When a high-rise developer threatens to buy out A-Poh’s successful Chinatown restaurant, the martyr-complex matriarch gathers her three precious grandchildren from all corners of the country to plan their next mode of attack. There’s just one problem – A-Poh's memory is rapidly fading. What follows is a chaotic journey through reality, myth, and magic as A-Poh travels through now and the great beyond in a last-ditch effort to preserve what’s left of her family, legacy, and sanity. A caustic and imaginative spin on King Lear that explores the changing face of America's Chinatowns and the fight to preserve a fading cultural memory.
Run time: 1 Hour, 30 Minutes with no intermission
This show contains haze and flashing lights.
Laowang was developed as part of the Liff Lab, an innovative new play development program at Primary Stages.
Laowang was originally developed by Two River Theater (Justin Waldman, Artistic Director; Nora DeVeau-Rosen, Managing Director), and received support from the New York Theatre Workshop annual summer residency at Dartmouth College.
Lead support for Laowang is provided by the Garfield Family Fund in memory of Johanna Garfield and the Andrew Leynse Legacy Project at Primary Stages.
Major season support provided by the The Howard Gilman Foundation, the A.R Gurney Playwrights Fund, The SHS Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust, and public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
WATCH THE TRAILER
MEET THE TEAM
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ALEX LIN
PLAYWRIGHT
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Joshua Kahan Brody
DIRECTOR
MEET THE CAST
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Cindy Cheung
Amy Choy and others
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Wai Ching Ho
A-Poh
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Amy Keum
Lai-Fa Choy and others
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Jon Norman Schneider
Steven Choy and others
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Daisuke Tsuji
Wesley Chiu and others
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Nikki Lint
PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER
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Sammy Landau
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER
CREATIVE TEAM
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Wilson Chin
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Tina McCartney
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Reza Behjat
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Nicholas Drashner
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Thomas Jenkeleit
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PRATHER REHM
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The Telsey Office
production Photos from laowang
Pictured: Wai Ching Ho, Cindy Cheung, Jon Norman Schneider, and Amy Keum - Photo by James Leynse
Pictured: Wai Ching Ho, Cindy Cheung, Jon Norman Schneider, and Amy Keum - Photo by James Leynse
Pictured: Cindy Cheung, Daisuke Tsuji, and Jon Norman Schneider - Photo by James Leynse
Pictured: Cindy Cheung and Jon Norman Schneider - Photo by James Leynse
Pictured: Amy Keum - Photo by James Leynse
Pictured: Wai Ching Ho - Photo by James Leynse
Pictured: Jon Norman Schneider, Cindy Cheung, Wai Ching Ho, and Daisuke Tsuji - Photo by James Leynse
Pictured: Wai Ching Ho - Photo by James Leynse
Pictured: Wai Ching Ho - Photo by James Leynse
Pictured: Wai Ching Ho and Daisuke Tsuji - Photo by James Leynse
Pictured: Cindy Cheung, Amy Keum, and Jon Norman Schneider - Photo by James Leynse
Pictured: Amy Keum - Photo by James Leynse
Pictured: Wai Ching Ho - Photo by James Leynse
Pictured: Cindy Cheung and Amy Keum - Photo by James Leynse
Pictured: Cindy Cheung and Jon Norman Schneider - Photo by James Leynse
Pictured: Amy Keum - Photo by James Leynse
Pictured: Amy Keum and Wai Ching Ho - Photo by James Leynse
Pictured: Daisuke Tsuji, Amy Keum, and Wai Ching Ho - Photo by James Leynse
Pictured: Daisuke Tsuji, Amy Keum, and Wai Ching Ho - Photo by James Leynse
Pictured: Wai Ching Ho - Photo by James Leynse
Pictured: Wai Ching Ho, Cindy Cheung, Amy Keum, and Jon Norman Schneider - Photo by James Leynse
Pictured: Cindy Cheung and Daisuke Tsuji - Photo by James Leynse
Pictured: Daisuke Tsuji and Jon Norman Schneider - Photo by James Leynse
Pictured: Daisuke Tsuji - Photo by James Leynse
Pictured: Wai Ching Ho, Daisuke Tsuji and Amy Keum - Photo by James Leynse
Pictured: Wai Ching Ho - Photo by James Leynse
Pictured: Wai Ching Ho, and Amy Keum - Photo by James Leynse
Pictured: Wai Ching Ho - Photo by James Leynse
Pictured: Cindy Cheung, Daisuke Tsuji - Photo by James Leynse
Pictured: Daisuke Tsuji, Amy Keum - Photo by James Leynse
Pictured: Wai Ching Ho, Amy Keum - Photo by James Leynse
Pictured: Wai Ching Ho - Photo by James Leynse
TALKBACKS
Talkbacks are led by a member of the Primary Stages artistic staff following the performance and offer an opportunity for the audience to engage in a dialogue with the artists in our productions.
Post-show talkbacks for Laowang took place on November 14, 15, 23, and December 2, 2025.
Friday, November 14 at 7pm: Emerging API Artists in conversation with playwright Alex Lin
with artists Jesse Jae Hoon, Julia Izumi, and Yilong LiuSaturday, November 15 at 7pm: API Night - A Community Night and Talkback in collaboration with CAATA (the Consortium of Asian American Theater Artists)
with CAATA Executive Director Kayla Kim Votapek, CAATA Board Member and actor Sophia Skiles and playwrights Lauren Yee and Alex LinSunday, November 23 at 2pm: Gentrification and Uplifting Small Businesses in Chinatown in collaboration with Welcome to Chinatown
with Harry Trinh from Welcome to Chinatown and playwright Alex LinTuesday, December 2 at 7pm: Talkback with the Cast and Creative Team of Laowang
Learn more about our community partners and talkback panelists!
SHOW LOCATION
59E59 Theaters, 59 East 59th Street (between Park and Madison Avenues)
resources
Laowang deals with the topics of dementia and caregiving. Navigating dementia, whether you’re experiencing it yourself or caring for someone who is, can be overwhelming, emotional, and often confusing, and it’s important to know that many reputable organizations offer guidance, education, and community support. We’ve gathered a selection of trusted local and national resources that provide practical tools, caregiver training, safety programs, information on legal and medical decision-making, and opportunities to connect with others facing similar experiences. Reaching out for support can make a meaningful difference, offering stability, relief, and a stronger network throughout the dementia-care journey.