“Chinatown, My Chinatown” transforms archival research & oral history interviews from former contestants into a one-woman show that follows four fictional contestants in the days leading up to San Francisco’s 1966 Miss Chinatown U.S.A. pageant.
Chinatown, My Chinatown is a one-woman show, written by and starring Shirley Chen, following four young Chinese American women through the days leading up to the Miss Chinatown U.S.A. 1966 beauty pageant. Drawing on real oral histories and archival records, this explosive, tender, delightful romp tackles Cold War-era xenophobia with a beauty pageant, where guilt-ridden doubt and electric glee comes hand-in-hand with finding someone just like you.
But better.
Production History
“Chinatown, My Chinatown” was presented as a senior thesis for joint degrees in History & Literature and Theater, Dance & Media at Harvard University in October 2022.
Run time: 85 minutes (25 minute "living museum" pre-show installation, 60 minute one-act performance)
A “Living Museum”
The performance is preceded by a ”living museum” installation that reanimates archival objects collected from interviewees: former Miss Chinatown U.S.A. winners and contestants, historians, and San Francisco Chinatown community members.
Photo Courtesy of Connie Young Yu
Written & Performed by Shirley Chen
Director: Elaine Jiwon Kim
Stage Management: Steph Yao, Lauren Xu
Tech Director: Hannah Chew
Budget & Publicity Producer: Ryan Morillo
Lighting Design: Finn Bamber
Set, Projections, Sound Design: Ava Jinying Salzman
Video Design: Hannah Tsai Kim
Props Design: Karina Cowperthwaite
Costume Design: Emi Park Cummings, Bettie Closs, asst. Audrey Cheng
“Chinatown, My Chinatown” is currently in early development stages to be staged as a workshop in New York.