On today’s episode, Matt speaks with one of the great writers of our time, Tony Award winner and Theatre Hall of Famer David Henry Hwang. Last month the cast album for Hwang’s latest New York show “Soft Power” was released by Ghostlight Records. Matt and David discuss the show and the album in depth, as well as talking about the unfortunate resonance that the show now has while the world is dealing with a global pandemic.
In the conversation, Hwang praises his collaborators on the showl; director Leigh Silverman, choreographer Sam Pinkleton, composer Jeanine Tesori, and the show’s stars, Francis Jue, Alyse Alan Louis, and Conrad Ricamora.
They also get into the cut meth den scene that had been in previous versions of the show, raising money for the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, the changes that he is hoping to accomplish while reworking the book to Disney’s “Aida,” and much more.
Contact David:
http://www.davidhenryhwang.com/
Twitter: @DavidHenryHwang
Listen to "Soft Power" Cast album
https://www.ghostlightrecords.com/soft-power.html
Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund
www.aaldef.org
Contact Matt:
matt@broadwayradio.com
Twitter: @BWWMatt
Instagram: @BWWMatt
Theme music provided by www.bensound.com
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About this episode: Tell Me More | Episode 45: David Henry Hwang on "Soft Power," Balancing Earnestness & Satire