Moon Bear

by Nina Ki

Silver and Richie are siblings without parents. As the two grow up, they cling to one another as each other's family, and help one another navigate their positions as social outsiders - Silver as a genderqueer weirdo, and Richie as a drug dealing gangbanger. In a parallel world, Bear is ousted from his clan and through a gesture of filial piety, is turned by Hwanung, a gay Korean god, into a human woman. S/he is...

Silver and Richie are siblings without parents. As the two grow up, they cling to one another as each other's family, and help one another navigate their positions as social outsiders - Silver as a genderqueer weirdo, and Richie as a drug dealing gangbanger. In a parallel world, Bear is ousted from his clan and through a gesture of filial piety, is turned by Hwanung, a gay Korean god, into a human woman. S/he is then coerced into being Hwanung's pregnant beard, and has Hwanung's child. As family bonds begin to disintegrate, and the god-world begins to crumble, Silver and Bear must redefine home for themselves, to find power through the magic of stories.

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Moon Bear

Recommended by

  • Christopher Gould: Moon Bear by Nina Ki
    “

    a wonderful blending of two siblings’ coming-of-age with Korean folk characters. As always: some adventurous producer should take this play on!

    a wonderful blending of two siblings’ coming-of-age with Korean folk characters. As always: some adventurous producer should take this play on!

    ”
  • Enid Brain: Moon Bear by Nina Ki
    “

    Yasss to seeing nonbinary representation in a play that isn't fully about their gender identity and trauma with it! Also a really sweet and lived-in sibling relationship that warmed my heart

    Yasss to seeing nonbinary representation in a play that isn't fully about their gender identity and trauma with it! Also a really sweet and lived-in sibling relationship that warmed my heart

    ”
  • Nick Malakhow: Moon Bear by Nina Ki
    “

    Beautiful, beautiful piece! I loved tracking the simultaneous theatrical worlds of Silver/Richie/Dad and Bear. The moment they met was was so powerful, poignant, and such a perfect bookend to the piece. Nina Ki combines a wry sense of humorous, fabulistic/fantastical tropes and devices, and an incredibly moving human heart in Silver to create this transcendent piece. The exploration of gender, family, sense of self, and being an outsider in one's immediate sphere is complex and uniquely presented. I sincerely hope I get to see "Moon Bear" onstage in the future!

    Beautiful, beautiful piece! I loved tracking the simultaneous theatrical worlds of Silver/Richie/Dad and Bear. The moment they met was was so powerful, poignant, and such a perfect bookend to the piece. Nina Ki combines a wry sense of humorous, fabulistic/fantastical tropes and devices, and an incredibly moving human heart in Silver to create this transcendent piece. The exploration of gender, family, sense of self, and being an outsider in one's immediate sphere is complex and uniquely presented. I sincerely hope I get to see "Moon Bear" onstage in the future!

    ”
View all 8 recommendations

Character Information

  • SILVER/HYO-SONN
    Silver ages in the play, from child to adult.
    20s
    korean / korean american,
    Korean
    AFAB nonbinary
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Non-binary
  • RICHIE
    Richie ages in the play, from child to young adult.
    20s
    Korean/Korean American
    AMAB (relevant to the plot)
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • FATHER
    40s-50s
    Korean
    AMAB (relevant to the plot)
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • BEAR
    Bear is a bear. Surprise!
    20s-40s
    Any Race/Ethnicity,
    Asian American/Korean American
    Almost any gender,
    Non-binary/genderfluid,
    Genderfluid
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American,
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American,
      Indigenous, First Nation, or Native American,
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic,
      Middle Eastern, North African, or Arab American,
      Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander,
      South Asian or South Asian American
  • TIGER
    Tiger is a tiger. Surprise!
    20s-30s
    Any (but probably BIPOC)
    AFAB or transfem
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American,
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American,
      Indigenous, First Nation, or Native American,
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic,
      Middle Eastern, North African, or Arab American,
      Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander,
      South Asian or South Asian American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female,
      Non-binary
  • MOON
    Moon is the moon. Surprise!
    any age
    Any (but probably BIPOC)
    Any gender
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American,
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American,
      Indigenous, First Nation, or Native American,
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic,
      Middle Eastern, North African, or Arab American,
      Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander,
      South Asian or South Asian American
  • HWANUNG
    Hwanung is a closeted gay Korean god. Please find a queer actor for this role.
    20s-30s
    Asian American/Korean American
    AMAB (relevant to the plot)
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male,
      Non-binary

Development History

  • Workshop, Stay True Theatre, 2021
  • Reading, Brave New World Rep's Brave New Works, 2020
  • Reading, Brave New World Repertory Theatre, 2019
  • Reading, HBMG Foundation, 2018
  • Workshop, Jason Fong's Writer's Workshop Series, 2015

Awards

  • Writing Fellowship
    The Playwright's Realm
    Finalist
    2021
  • Relentless Award
    American Playwrighting Federation
    Honorable Mention
    2018