ONCE UPON A (korean) TIME

ONCE UPON A (korean) TIME traces the journey of a Korean family from the wars in Korea to the riots in Los Angeles. Told with great humor, irreverence, and elements of magic, ONCE UPON A (korean) TIME uses traditional Korean fables to examine the thorny legacies of war and trauma.
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ONCE UPON A (korean) TIME

Recommended by

  • Cheryl Bear:
    7 Mar. 2021
    Beautiful, moving and rich storytelling that leaves a memorable and valuable mark on us all. Excellent!
  • Nick Malakhow:
    26 Jun. 2019
    A beautiful piece that ranges from the everyday to the fantastical with seamless shifts. Similarly, we go from the hilarious and whimsical to the heartbreaking and gutting sometimes within a few lines. Brilliantly theatrical storytelling. The various parables and folk tales are presented in unique and fascinating ways, and are stitched together with some very satisfying framing devices. As I finished the piece, I considered cultural inheritance, collective trauma/healing, the evolution of folklore, and the responsibility/inevitability of honoring, acknowledging, and passing lessons down. I hope to see this produced soon!
  • David Hansen:
    7 Apr. 2019
    Isaac stirringly traces a century of Korean history with characters who recount ancient folks tales to console, explain, or simply draw attention away from the grief and hardship which has affected the Korean peninsula and its people. His storytelling is magical, candid, and very funny. Highly recommended!

Character Information

  • STORYTELLER "TERESA"
    BETROTHED / 1, Monk, Woman at the Well 1, Sea Nymph, King / CAVE PERSON 2 / TERESA
  • STORYTELLER "SASHA"
    Magical Little Boy, 100 Beggars / 3 / BEAR / SASHA
  • STORYTELLER "JILLIAN"
    MODEL WIFE / 2, Woman at the Well 2, Sea Nymph / JILLIAN
  • STORYTELLER "SONNIE"
    100 Beggars / LADY GWAK / CHEONG
  • STORYTELLER "DAVE"
    Magical Old Man, 100 Beggars / SHIM THE BLIND, Japanese Soldier 3 / CAVE PERSON 1 / DAVE
  • STORYTELLER "JON"
    SOLDIER 1 / Sea Dragon, Japanese Soldier 2 / American Soldier / JON
  • STORYTELLER "DAVID LEE"
    SOLDIER 2 / Japanese Soldier 1, Sea Men Captain / TIGER / DAVID LEE

Development History

  • Workshop
    ,
    Ma-Yi Theater Company + MTC's Groundworks Lab
    ,
    2021
  • Workshop
    ,
    Ma-Yi Theater Company
    ,
    2021
  • Reading
    ,
    New York Theatre Workshop
    ,
    2019
  • Reading
    ,
    Ensemble Studio Theatre / Youngblood, NYC
    ,
    2018

Production History

  • Professional
    ,
    Ma-Yi Theater Company
    ,
    2022

Awards

Finalist
,
National Playwrights Conference
,
Eugene O'Neill Theater Center
,
2019
Semi-Finalist
,
Clubbed Thumb’s 2018 Open-Application Commission
,
Clubbed Thumb
,
2018