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Hmonglish Musical
Date: April 28 - May 2, 2010
Location: Gremlin Theatre
The Youth Leadership Group, a program at the Center for Hmong Arts and Talent (CHAT), is made up of 15 young adults who are gaining the skills, knowledge and experience needed to become our upcoming generation of leaders. As young adults, they are using their perspectives to connect and analyze the many issues impacting their communities. As artists, activists and educators, they are the agents of change, working to build a more socially just world through art.
As this year’s social arts campaign, the youth have created a theatre piece with a thick plot, and they are calling it Hmonglish Musical. It hits on different topics like generation gaps, evolving culture, gangs, sexuality and overall identity issues. Through the stage, these young Hmong Americans will address the questions that they have regarding what it means to be Hmong in America.
Hmonglish Musical includes many compelling characters, both young and old, and the audience gets the opportunity to peer into the dynamics of a Hmong family and the lives of Hmong American youth. Exciting for young crowds but intellectual enough for older groups, this musical incorporates hip hop dance, traditional Hmong music and American music revamped in Hmonglish to lead the audience through a universal journey of struggle, change and hope.
The show lasts 45 minutes, with a post-show 15 minute Question and Answer discussion session led by the members of the Youth Leadership group and supported by Nou Ka Yang, the Youth Programs Coordinator at Center for Hmong Arts and Talent. A post production worksheet is also available for incorporating greater diversity awareness and comprehension.
