Matthew Chong

Matthew Chong is a Korean-American playwright. His work explores how oppressive systems can make its victims complicit in their own oppression. His plays include The Aughts (Yale Cabaret), Lessons (Paul Stephen Lim Playwriting Award 2025), and Jung (Samuel French Off Off Broadway Short Play Festival 2023). He was a Writer in Residence at The New Harmony Project. He has worked in production at MTV and Netflix. MFA: Yale.

Matthew Chong is a Korean-American playwright. His work explores how oppressive systems can make its victims complicit in their own oppression. His plays include The Aughts (Yale Cabaret), Lessons (Paul Stephen Lim Playwriting Award 2025), and Jung (Samuel French Off Off Broadway Short Play Festival 2023). He was a Writer in Residence at The New Harmony Project. He has worked in production at MTV and Netflix. MFA: Yale.

Scripts

What Rough Beast

by Matthew Chong

Synopsis

When Jia makes a wish to save her dying mother, a mysterious creature grants her desire. But the woman who returns from the hospital is nothing like the gentle woman Jia once knew.

When Jia makes a wish to save her dying mother, a mysterious creature grants her desire. But the woman who returns from the hospital is nothing like the gentle woman Jia once knew.

Reps

by Matthew Chong

Synopsis

A group of ambitious 20-somethings are working out at a Los Angeles gym on New Years Eve when they discover that they cannot leave.

A group of ambitious 20-somethings are working out at a Los Angeles gym on New Years Eve when they discover that they cannot leave.

Charity

by Matthew Chong

Synopsis

After her home is destroyed in a California wildfire, seventeen year old Charity moves in with her wealthy Aunt Bonnie, Uncle John, and cousin Lydia. In this conflict between haves and have-nots, Charity explores survival in the impending climate crisis.

After her home is destroyed in a California wildfire, seventeen year old Charity moves in with her wealthy Aunt Bonnie, Uncle John, and cousin Lydia. In this conflict between haves and have-nots, Charity explores survival in the impending climate crisis.

The Aughts

by Matthew Chong

Synopsis

Lina, a young Korean girl, moves to the States in 2007. Pressured to assimilate by parents and classmates, she devours the pop culture of the time to figure out how to become the ideal American teenager.

Lina, a young Korean girl, moves to the States in 2007. Pressured to assimilate by parents and classmates, she devours the pop culture of the time to figure out how to become the ideal American teenager.

Jung

by Matthew Chong

Synopsis

An elderly Korean woman with a prickly disposition tries to communicate with a young American nurse who doesn’t speak the language.

An elderly Korean woman with a prickly disposition tries to communicate with a young American nurse who doesn’t speak the language.

Lessons

by Matthew Chong

Synopsis

Yuri is a sixteen year old Korean-American girl with aspirations of becoming the premier concert pianist of her generation.

Yuri is a sixteen year old Korean-American girl with aspirations of becoming the premier concert pianist of her generation.

The Company of Spiders

by Matthew Chong

Synopsis

Prudence is a young woman living in Georgian era England. Her father, a demented physician, insists that she is too sickly to leave the house and keeps her locked up to serve as a guinea pig for his claptrap remedies.

Prudence is a young woman living in Georgian era England. Her father, a demented physician, insists that she is too sickly to leave the house and keeps her locked up to serve as a guinea pig for his claptrap remedies.

Plague Year

by Matthew Chong

Synopsis

In Medieval England a young woman named Mabel ends up quarantined with her boorish husband and newborn daughter in their London home as the Black Plague comes rolling in.

In Medieval England a young woman named Mabel ends up quarantined with her boorish husband and newborn daughter in their London home as the Black Plague comes rolling in.