Esther Choi and the Fish that Drowned

by Stephanie Kyung Sun Walters

***NEWLY AND HEAVILY REVISED AS OF JULY 2023***
Esther Choi is your favorite all-American, overachieving-Asian teen except she has a ghost. Sunny is Esther’s “home” friend and (spoiler alert) he’s dead. Mr. Choi is Esther’s grandfather and he owns a haunted dry cleaner on Cheltenham Ave. In an (un)likely turn of events, Esther must grapple with grief, loneliness, and winning first chair in high school orchestra...

***NEWLY AND HEAVILY REVISED AS OF JULY 2023***
Esther Choi is your favorite all-American, overachieving-Asian teen except she has a ghost. Sunny is Esther’s “home” friend and (spoiler alert) he’s dead. Mr. Choi is Esther’s grandfather and he owns a haunted dry cleaner on Cheltenham Ave. In an (un)likely turn of events, Esther must grapple with grief, loneliness, and winning first chair in high school orchestra, all while decoding Sunny’s reasons for ignoring her at school, but being besties on the block.

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Esther Choi and the Fish that Drowned

Recommended by

  • Finn Gallagher: Esther Choi and the Fish that Drowned by Stephanie Kyung Sun Walters
    “

    Richly drawn characters, magical realism, and effective, even minimalist, dialogue all help to illustrate the power of the relationships that defy words. You feel this play like music.

    Richly drawn characters, magical realism, and effective, even minimalist, dialogue all help to illustrate the power of the relationships that defy words. You feel this play like music.

    ”
  • Zach Barr: Esther Choi and the Fish that Drowned by Stephanie Kyung Sun Walters
    “

    A touching ghost play about saying the unsayable and preparing for a future that may not come. Walters unfolds the play wonderfully, with seemingly insignificant details taking on greater weight as the play continues, until by the end every word is flooded with meaning. A challenging and rewarding trio of roles, with a musical undercurrent that gives the play a unique dimension. Well worth a read.

    A touching ghost play about saying the unsayable and preparing for a future that may not come. Walters unfolds the play wonderfully, with seemingly insignificant details taking on greater weight as the play continues, until by the end every word is flooded with meaning. A challenging and rewarding trio of roles, with a musical undercurrent that gives the play a unique dimension. Well worth a read.

    ”
  • Jenny Connell Davis: Esther Choi and the Fish that Drowned by Stephanie Kyung Sun Walters
    “

    Beautifully specific relationships, bringing new meaning to "haunted." Walters does a great job of taking characters we THINK we know and twisting them, just a little, into something we have to look at more deeply, to really see. Really nice work.

    Beautifully specific relationships, bringing new meaning to "haunted." Walters does a great job of taking characters we THINK we know and twisting them, just a little, into something we have to look at more deeply, to really see. Really nice work.

    ”
View all 13 recommendations

Character Information

Esther: A practical and driven high school student (but only because she knows she’s supposed to be). She’s tough on others, but tougher on herself. She is second generation. Asian-American, female, early 20s.

Sunny: A mischievous teen with a passion for lighting the match and running away. Korean-American/Asian-American, male, early 20s.

Mr. Choi: Esther’s grandfather and immigrant from Korea. He owns a dry cleaner. Asian/Asian-American, male, grandfather age
  • Esther
    A practical and driven high school student (but only because she knows she’s supposed to be). She’s tough on others, but tougher on herself. She is second generation. Asian-American, female, early 20s to play teen.
    teens
    Asian -- Korean
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • Mr. Choi
    Esther’s grandfather and immigrant from Korea. He owns a dry cleaner. Asian/Asian-American, male, grandfather age (let’s not be insulting here)
    Elderly
    Asian -- Korean
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      50s,
      60s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man

Development History

  • Reading, Phoenix Theatre Indianapolis, 2020
  • Reading, PlayPenn, 2019
  • Reading, Philadelphia Women's Theatre Festival, 2019

Awards

  • Kilroys List 2020
    The Kilroys
    Winner
    2020