We are thrilled to announce a staged reading of ILLEGAL in Queens on August 28th! Admission is free, thanks to our sponsors, Chinese American Youth in Civil Services. Please join us and spread the word:
Location: LeFrak Concert Hall, Copland Music Building, Queens College For the nearest parking lots and campus entrance, use this address: 153-49 Reeves Ave, Flushing, NY 11367 https://kupferbergcenter.org/directions /
Come out and support UA3 & OCA-NY at their Community Benefit Fundraising Event, where our cast will perform a preview concert of Illegal: A New Musical!
In honor of Immigration and AAPI Heritage Months, we are happy to present a preview of Illegal to the Chinatown/LES community in support of OCA-NY and UA3 who provide vital services and advocacy to NYC’s underserved populations.
UA3 is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization that serves populations most often overlooked, including racial minority groups, seniors, people with disabilities, domestic violence survivors, and undocumented immigrants. In addition to providing food to the community members to combat food insecurity, it aims to also focus on breaking down barriers and bridging the racial and cultural divide. Where the pandemic has created an atmosphere of anti-Asian hate, UA3 works with every racial, ethnic, religious background individuals and groups with the common theme of unity in solving community issues and working together to guide and help members back to basic wellness and qualify of living in mainstream society.
OCA-NY is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1976. OCA Asian Pacific American Advocates – New York is a chapter in a national non-profit civil rights organization promoting and protecting the political, economic, and cultural rights of Asian Pacific Americans in America. We are interested in working with anyone who shares our mission of creating a stronger America by advocating for the values of equal liberty and justice for all.
This will be a fun afternoon with author, playwright, and acoustic punk raconteur, Alvin Eng and myself. Alvin and I haven’t lived in Chinatown, but my late dad was born & raised there. I feel blessed to introduce Illegal to my dad’s hometown, alongside his cousin, Alvin!
Alvin will read from his new memoir, Our Laundry, Our Town, and I will perform a few songs from Illegal: A New Musical. We may have a little surprise to share as well. Come join us!
Celebrate Immigrant Heritage: AAPI History And Storytelling With Illegal: A New Musical
During this live event, Composers Skyler Chin and Sita Sunil will give a presentation about Asian American history, how historical anti-Asian bias and racism have shaped today’s society, and how we can use storytelling to respond to pandemic-era anti-Asian hate, combat prejudice, instigate justice, and inspire empathy. To demonstrate the power of storytelling in action, a few songs from Illegal will be performed; and the presentation will conclude with a Q&A with the musical’s creative team. This event will be presented twice, on 4/21 and 4/28, at 6:30-7:30pm.
We were invited to perform at Bronx High School of Science recently and had a blast presenting a selection of songs from Illegal and answering questions from the Bx Sci community in a Q&A after the show. Thanks to Brian Tong, Bonnie, Ahona, Eric, Ms. Parness, Mr. Lam, The Lunar New Years Productions Club, Asian American Association, Drama Department, and the Parents’ Association for your support.
Our cast for this performance: Anna Stacy as Kee Lin Sita Sunil as Interpreter Carter Lee Treston Codrington as Fat Pork Subin Kara Ahn as Lai Wah Miguel Sutedjo as PB Jones Skyler Chin as Slim Chin
How To Fight Against Stereotypes in Theatre: Skyler Chin’s “Illegal” Dream Come True
Dramatics Magazine By Rosanna Gao and Brayden Chein February 28, 2022
Yale graduate Skyler Chin has taken the fight against stereotypes in theatre personally. Inspired by his internship experiences at Angel Island, Skyler wrote Illegal, a creative and powerful rap-rock musical about the history of Asian-American immigrants. He hopes Illegal helps shine the light of understanding on the often untold history of Asian immigrants. The expressive lyrics and dynamic score of Illegal does what theatre does best: educate while entertaining!
Skyler was initially inspired by his grandparents’ stories of immigrating to the U.S. during the Chinese Exclusion era in the late 1800s and early 1900s. (Discover more about the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882). Plus, his late father had a deep kung fu practice that influenced him, so Skyler combined these experiences with his self-taught musical skills to create Illegal. The final impetus to the musical’s creation was Skyler’s experiences at Angel Island combined with his passion to fight against stereotypes in theatre. Skyler’s historical-fiction narrative on immigrants detained on Angel Island has come into the world at an ideal and critical time.
USING IMMIGRANTS’ OWN WORDS TO FIGHT AGAINST STEREOTYPES IN THEATRE
During his internship with the Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation (AIISF) in San Francisco, Skyler read the book Island by Judy Yung (1980, University of Washington Press). Island is a compilation of poetry originally found carved into the walls at Angel Island by Chinese immigrants detained there to try and uphold U.S. exclusion laws. Skyler says, “The poems had such moving and emotional lyrics, but what stood out to me was that they weren’t limited to sadness and grieving. These immigrant poets also expressed determination, perseverance, and even the furious desire to exact revenge and burn the immigration station down. Their words conveyed a fighting spirit that I was never taught about in American history. I was moved to write them into a song, which became the opener of the musical.
“Illegal is based on just one family’s story, but I hope to tell a piece of Asian-American history through songs that capture the spirit and resolve of those who went through Angel Island. Given the anti-Asian hate we’ve experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, I hope shows like Illegal can help humanize us, instill empathy, and help to dismantle the perpetual foreigner myth as well as the model minority myth that fuel the attacks.
“I also want to inspire other kids to tell their stories. I met a class of 3rd-grade students in Oakland’s Chinatown who performed our uplifting song “Keep Dreaming” as part of their Martin Luther King Jr. Day festival. I was so touched by their rendition! I told them I hope they are inspired to keep dreaming, to write shows of their own, and to tell their stories.”
TAKING ACTION WHEN HISTORY REPEATED ITSELF
“I originally wrote Illegal at Yale in 2019, in response to the previous federal administration’s family separations, Muslim ban, border wall, attempts to repeal birthright citizenship…the list goes on. These policies echoed the anti-Asian immigration laws from 140 years ago, especially the Chinese Exclusion Act. For instance, my grandfather was separated from his parents at age 10 years, despite being a legal immigrant. He was detained in bad conditions on Angel Island for months during 1923. I saw these kinds of detentions happening again to immigrants in 2019. I felt like history was repeating itself!
“Maybe part of why this was happening again was because people weren’t taught about these same kinds of events in our country’s past? I wanted to help educate others by telling my family’s story. And even now in 2022, we’re seeing states banning real history education and critical race theory, both of which I needed to understand to write this musical.”
Skyler Chin and Nick Leung performing at Carnegie Hall.
CHARACTERS DRAWN FROM REAL LIFE
“I relate most to the ‘paper son’ character Slim Chin,” Skyler says. “He’s inspired by one of my grandfathers, who was an illegal immigrant living in NYC Chinatown under the paper name Wong. Originally, he did not want my last name to be his real name Chin because he thought it would endanger our family. Writing the character Slim Chin helped me reclaim that history and shine light on my grandfather’s life and secret identity.
“I also really relate to the Chinese American interpreter, Carter Lee, as she struggles with her identity being pegged as a perpetual foreigner even though she was born in America. And there’s our heroine Kee Lin who loves kung fu and is always fighting for what she believes in. Her rap style is influenced by Wing Chun, and I identify with her the most musically.”
WHAT’S NEXT & HOW READERS CAN HELP
“My collaborators, Olivia Facini and Sita Sunil, and I are rehearsing with a professional all-AAPI cast to tour high schools and organizations in the NYC area and around the nation to perform Illegal. So far, we’re planning visits to Manhasset School District, Flushing Town Hall, Angel Island, The Chinese Historical Society of America, Queens Public Library, and more! We were named semi-finalists for the Eugene O’Neill National Musical Theater Conference, and have been working with our community partners, the Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation (AIISF) and Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) to plan exciting educational programming this year.
“We are building interest and raising funds for a professional production in 2022 of Illegal in recognition of the 140th anniversary of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. We deeply appreciate any help with fundraising, performance opportunities, donations, connections to organizations and/or people who would be interested in getting involved. Please reach out to us with the contact information below!” ♦
Rosanna Gao is a 2022 International Thespian Officer and a passionate advocate of BIPOC representation within the arts. She is currently a rising senior at Great Neck South High School and is excited by the prospect of combining her passions for musical theatre, social impact, civic engagement, and entrepreneurship through opportunities within the performing arts industry. Connect with Rosanna.
Brayden Chein, is currently a junior at Great Neck South High. He loves being a part of theatre at his school and has performed in A Chorus Line (Richie Walters), Grease (Roger), and is part of the production of Così fan tutte (Guglielmo). In his free time, he explores data science and manages the ChamberDischord server. Connect with Brayden at bchie2023@gmail.com
To learn more about Skyler Chin and how you can help, connect with him at skylerchin.com/links.
We’re excited to announce the first of our 2022 live performances!
Join us on March 11 & 12 at 8pm for free, live and in-person concert performances of ILLEGAL in Manhasset, Long Island. With a professional AAPI New York cast, colorful characters, rap, song, comedy and drama, ILLEGAL entertains as it shines a light on a dark chapter in history and on the fighting spirit of those who dared to become American. This production is supported by the Manhasset School District and Yaya Kids Theater. Location: Munsey Park Auditorium, 1 Hunt Lane, Manhasset, NY.
Subin Kara Ahn – Lai Wah, Sam Mom, Poet 1 Skyler Chin – Slim Chin Nicholas Leung – Wong Fat Pork Anna Stacy – Sam Kee Lin Sita Sunil – Interpreter Carter Lee Miguel Sutedjo – PB Jones, Hong Kong Colonial Cop, Sam Dad
Jonah Casey – Sound Designer, Board Operator Anna Stougiannou – Lighting Designer, Board Operator Mitchell Jung – Manhasset Student Producer Iris Liu – Manhasset Student Producer Deng Sam – Promotional Lead, YAYA Kids Theater Representative
Illegal: A New Musical ended a fulfilling year of virtual presentations and new connections with a live appearance at Carnegie Hall! Here are some 2021 highlights:
We were named a Semi-Finalist for the 2022 National Music Theater Conference at Eugene O’Neill Theater Center (in consideration for the Finalist round).
We were invited to perform as the featured act for the Music for Change benefit concert at Carnegie Hall in October. Below: Skyler Chin and Nick Leung perform “The Legend of Slim Chin and Fat Pork” at Carnegie Hall.
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Our grassroots fundraising got off to a great start thanks to generous donations from our amazing supporters. (Donate here: Fractured Atlas or Go Fund Me.)
We were honored to connect with so many incredible advocates, educators, and students, and introduce Illegal to hundreds of new fans on our virtual tour. In support of AAPI Heritage Month and #StopAsianHate, we discussed how sharing Asian American history, storytelling and arts activism can combat hate, inspire empathy and advocate for justice. Community organizations and schools from New York to California, included AIISF, AALDEF, AAARI-CUNY, CAPA, OCA, YARI, Apex for Youth, The Nueva School, and Great Neck South.
Stay tuned for more exciting news for 2022 — The Year of the Tiger is looking up for this Ox!
New! ILLEGAL will be featured at the OCA National Virtual Summit Friday, 7/16, 8:15pm and Saturday, 7/17, 7:15pm! (you can also watch the 15-min video throughout the summit starting Friday night) Register for free to attend the entire summit 7/15-7/18
More exciting news & performances are coming down the pike, so stay tuned!
Happy June! We’re very excited to announce more virtual tour stops for ILLEGAL in honor of #stopasianhate. We’ll be hosting a workshop with Apex For Youth and presenting songs at AALDEF and my alma mater Great Neck South High School.
If you didn’t catch us at AAARI or CAPA, check us out at the links below.
My ILLEGAL team and I are very excited to announce a virtual ‘tour’ in honor of AAPI Heritage month and #StopAsianHate. I’m a firm believer in the power of storytelling to instill empathy and combat bias, so I’m thrilled to partner with these outstanding organizations to share a presentation on Asian American history, activism, and education through creativity.
We will offer a talk and a few songs from ILLEGAL: A New Musical, performed by myself, co-composer Sita Sunil, and the awesomely talented Asian American actors Sondrine Bontemps and Nicholas Leung! We will be joined by director Olivia Facini for the talk.
Please register at the links below for these free events:
– May 18, 5:30pm: CUNY Asian American / Asian Research Institute (AAARI)
– May 23, 8:00pm: Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans (CAPA) AAPI Heritage Festival
– June 16, 7:00pm: Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) – https://www.aaldef.org/
We’re also proud to present to students at these educational institutions. If recordings become available, we will share on our social media!
– May 20: Nueva School, San Mateo, CA
– June 12: Apex For Youth, New York City, NY
– June (tbd): Great Neck South High School, Long Island, NY
We have a lot more exciting plans for this year, including some story revisions, new songs, and readings/workshops. We hope to have your continued support as we work towards our goal of a 2022 production to commemorate the 140th Anniversary of the Chinese Exclusion Act.
SKYLER CHIN 