LON PO PO

Photographed by Olivia Moon.

Commissioned for Asian American Ballet Project’s Intersections, premiered in July 2024.

Music by Shimmer, J Car, and Wicked Cinema.

Lon Po Po is a fantastical Chinese folktale that reveals themes relevant to our world: deception, responsibility, filial piety, and sisterhood. The story will feel familiar to those who know the tale of The Little Red Riding Hood, making it appealing to all audiences. The performers and I collaboratively developed a set of hilarious yet round and relatable characters and their interpersonal relationships. In many ways, the Wolf’s entrance into the girls’ home is an allegory for the challenges that face anyone coming of age, and how we weather them with family by our side. This message is particularly poignant for Asian American people who grow support networks out of our respective diasporic communities across the United States. While witnessing the masterful skill of our performers, pay close attention to the fleeting moments of interaction between them; this intimate familial portrait is the backdrop to the larger tale of Lon Po Po.

Cast: Andrea Huyhn, Lauren Huyhn, Zoe Mueller, Rheya Shano, Amane Takaishi