Disorientalism Part 6: Year of the Dragon Ladies

A4 newsletter subscribers can receive FREE tickets to the event on May 6, 7PM, at Joe’s Pub by contacting katerigg1@gmail.com. Your name will be added to the exclusive artist guest list and tickets can be picked up at the box office.

Kick off Asian American Heritage Month at The Public Theater with this eclectic and inspiring variety extravaganza – back by popular demand after five sold-out shows.

disOrientalism brings New York City’s premier AAPI performers together from Broadway, Stand Up Comedy, Dance, and Music curated into one spectacular all-star show. It is year of the Dragon, so the lineup is featuring scorching talent from the incredible voices of Broadways Grace Yu and Shea Renne, street infused modern dance infused with Asian rhythms from members of IMGE dance, musical sensasians Arkai, and comedy Mic Nguyen.

Curated and hosted by New York’s original dragon ladies – notorious comedienne/rapper Kate Siahaan-Rigg alongside child star-turned-Broadway-actress Olivia Oguma – the program lasts about 75 minutes and is designed to boost your immunity against boredom, inaction, xenophobia, orientalism and bowl cuts.

ARKAI is an award-winning electroacoustic duo that has inspired audiences around the world through its genre-defying string music. Graduates of The Juilliard School, their past engagements have included performances at the Abu Dhabi Culture Summit, Met Museum, US Air Force Academy, World Trade Center, Lincoln Center, Chateau Marmont, Carnegie Hall and TED. Recent highlights include opening for Oscar and Grammy-winning musician Jon Batiste at NYC’s Javits Center. In collaboration with Grammy-winning producer Jonas W. Karlsson, ARKAI’s debut album will be released in 2024.

Mic Nguyen is a writer, podcaster and stand-up comedian living in Brooklyn. His stand-up has been featured on Netflix and he was the opening act in Ronny Chieng’s special, “Speakeasy.” Mic’s writing can be found in McSweeneys, Esquire, and NBC News and he’s contributed to NPR’s “Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me”. He’s co-host of the popular podcast “Asian Not Asian” where he discusses Asian American funny stuff like the PSAT and gold. He performs all over the country.

SHEA RENNE–Broadway: Here Lies Love OBC; Hadestown (Fate, u/s Persephone); Allegiance. Broadway Tour: Hadestown. Select Regional: Gatsby, A.R.T.; Here Lies Love, Seattle Repertory Theatre; South Pacific, Maltz Jupiter Theatre, Cape Playhouse, Music Theatre Wichita; The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Mamma, Mia!, Little Shop of Horrors, Footloose, Fulton Theatre; Seussical the Musical, The Muny; Spring Awakening, Hangar Theatre. Education/Training: BFA, University of Michigan.

GRACE YOO (she/her) is a Los Angeles native, born and raised in Koreatown. She grew up singing in Korean churches and karaoke rooms. Grace has toured with Todd Rundgren (who is not Korean) on two album tours and had the amazing chance to perform all across the US, Canada, and at the Fuji Rock Festival in Japan. Connecting with people on a deeper level through music and storytelling is her greatest passion. Broadway: Hadestown. Tour: A Christmas Carol. Regional: East West Players, Mark Taper, LA Phil/Hollywood Bowl.

Kate Siahaan-Rigg (@kateriggnyc): A star on the Manhattan comedy scene, host and curator Kate Rigg graduated from Juilliard’s drama division and immediately began moonlighting in comedy and spoken word club stages around the country, creating solo shows (Zombie Asian Moms, Happy Lucky Golden Tofu Panda Dragon Good Time Fun Fun Show) and creating wild events like this one all over the city. She is the lead singer and lyricist for legendary Nuyorasian power duo Slanty Eyed Mama, and has had her original works invited to the Smithsonian, The Comedy Central Theater, HBO Time Warner Workspace, LA Grand Performances, and many International Festivals. As a comic you have seen her on Comedy Central, Showtime, NBC, PBS, and in dive bars and comedy clubs all over. She is currently the chief creative officer for the newly formed Center for Diversity, Disability & Inclusion (DD&I) in Cincinnati and professor emeritus of the LGBTQ+ stand-up class at Manhattan Comedy School.

Olivia Oguma (@olioguma): Co-host Olivia was the first Asian-American Young Cosette in Les Misérables and has been wowing New York audiences ever since in the Broadway casts of Mamma Mia, A Christmas Carol, Disney’s High School Musical and many off Broadway shows. She has appeared in many, many productions of Miss Saigon (and zero productions of King and I. ) She does a lot of plays where she is usually crying or playing a 14 year old and sometimes, she plays a crying 14 year old. She has also been on a bunch of TV shows where she usually plays the token Asian assistant who drops something at inopportune times.

Music Director and token white guy Cody Owen Stine is a songwriter, composer, performer, musician, and music director working on and off Broadway. He is currently the Associate Music Director of Hadestown on Broadway. As a composer/lyricist, his work has been produced at Ars Nova, Prospect Theatre, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Joe’s Pub, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Second City, LA, and others. Cody Owen Stine