Author Nancy E. Davis and John Wei Tchen give an in-depth look at the political and social climate surrounding Afong Moy.
This panel was created in conjunction with Ma-Yi Theater Company + The Public Theater’s production of Lloyd Suh’s The Chinese Lady, playing Febraury 23-April 10, 2022 at The Public Theater.
Inspired by the true story of the first Chinese woman to step foot in America, Lloyd Suh’s critically-acclaimed play, The Chinese Lady, is a tale of dark poetic whimsy and a unique portrait of the United States as seen through the eyes of a young Chinese girl. In 1834, 16-year-old Afong Moy sailed into New York Harbor and was immediately put on display for a paying public who were mesmerized by her exotic ways and horrified by her tiny bound feet. As audiences follow Moy’s travels through America as a living exhibit for decades, The Chinese Lady shares her impressions of a young country struggling with how to define itself.
Please support our artists. Donate directly to their Venmo Accounts by clicking the yellow highlighted text next to their names. Thank you.
Panelists
Nancy E. Davis | Panelist
John Wei Tchen | Panelist
Creative Team
Nancy Bulalacao | Community Outreach Coordinator
Ken Leung | Editor
Justin Dewey | Marketing Director, The Public Theater