East Side Story https://eastsidestory.cheeyang.com en 147695 Each week, Cheeyang sits down with an Asian or Asian-American artist working in the New York Theatre scene and excavates their life story — how they grew up, how they got their start in theatre, as well as projects they've worked on and upcoming work that we should anticipate. https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/43de519c-cb06-11ea-bfca-1bf211a538ad/image/ess_logo.jpg?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&max-w=3000&max-h=3000&fit=crop&auto=format,compress East Side Story https://eastsidestory.cheeyang.com yes episodic Each week, Cheeyang sits down with an Asian or Asian-American artist working in the New York Theatre scene and excavates their life story — how they grew up, how they got their start in theatre, as well as projects they've worked on and upcoming work that we should anticipate. Broadway Podcast Network Each week, Cheeyang sits down with an Asian or Asian-American artist working in the New York Theatre scene and excavates their life story — how they grew up, how they got their start in theatre, as well as projects they've worked on and upcoming work that we should anticipate. Each week, Cheeyang sits down with an Asian or Asian-American artist working in the New York Theatre scene and excavates their life story — how they grew up, how they got their start in theatre, as well as projects they've worked on and upcoming work that we should anticipate.

]]> Cheeyang Ng alan@broadwaypodcastnetwork.com 7: Arpita Mukherjee // Decolonization https://broadwaypodcastnetwork.com/podcast/east-side-story/ Artistic Director of Hypokrit Theatre Company, an O'Neill and Lincoln Center Directing Fellow, Women's Project Lab (Director), Arpita's resume is endless. I have the extreme pleasure of working with Arpita on my musical, The Golden Threshold, and we sat down to dig deep into her story of coming to America, living in New York and how she's flourishing as a South Asian director. Our conversation veered into imagining what the world would be like if no country had been colonized. That's a play I'd want to see. Instagram: @eastsidestorypod @cheeyangmusic @pita625 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Mon, 14 Oct 2019 16:30:00 -0000 Arpita Mukherjee // Decolonization full 1 7 Broadway Podcast Network Artistic Director of Hypokrit Theatre Company, an O'Neill and Lincoln Center Directing Fellow, Women's Project Lab (Director), Arpita's resume is endless. I have the extreme pleasure of working with Arpita on my musical, The Golden Threshold, and we sat down to dig deep into her story of coming to America, living in New York and how she's flourishing as a South Asian director. Our conversation veered into imagining what the world would be like if no country had been colonized. That's a play I'd want to see.Full transcript available soon.Instagram: @eastsidestorypod / @cheeyangmusic / @pita625 Artistic Director of Hypokrit Theatre Company, an O'Neill and Lincoln Center Directing Fellow, Women's Project Lab (Director), Arpita's resume is endless. I have the extreme pleasure of working with Arpita on my musical, The Golden Threshold, and we sat down to dig deep into her story of coming to America, living in New York and how she's flourishing as a South Asian director. Our conversation veered into imagining what the world would be like if no country had been colonized. That's a play I'd want to see. Instagram: @eastsidestorypod @cheeyangmusic @pita625 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Artistic Director of Hypokrit Theatre Company, an O'Neill and Lincoln Center Directing Fellow, Women's Project Lab (Director), Arpita's resume is endless. I have the extreme pleasure of working with Arpita on my musical, The Golden Threshold, and we sat down to dig deep into her story of coming to America, living in New York and how she's flourishing as a South Asian director. Our conversation veered into imagining what the world would be like if no country had been colonized. That's a play I'd want to see.

Instagram:

  • @eastsidestorypod
  • @cheeyangmusic
  • @pita625

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

]]> 3687 yes 6: Eddy Lee // Being Hamilton (Part 2) https://eastsidestory.cheeyang.com/episodes/eddy2-qIByPEEU In just a month, we've surpassed 1000 downloads of our podcast. Thank you for supporting this endeavor! Back to regularly scheduled programming, Part 2 uncovers Eddy's experience being Asian, my philosophy of conversation vs. confrontation, his time at Hamilton and more. Eddy is not only a light on and off stage, he's also one of the nicest humans in New York City. I'm glad to get the opportunity to sit down with him and engage in thoughtful discussion about his life. Full transcript available soon. Instagram: @eastsidestorypod / @cheeyangmusic / @edru00 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Mon, 07 Oct 2019 11:00:02 -0000 6: Eddy Lee // Being Hamilton (Part 2) full 1 6 Broadway Podcast Network In just a month, we've surpassed 1000 downloads of our podcast. Thank you for supporting this endeavor! Back to regularly scheduled programming, Part 2 uncovers Eddy's experience being Asian, my philosophy of conversation vs. confrontation, his time at Hamilton and more. Eddy is not only a light on and off stage, he's also one of the nicest humans in New York City. I'm glad to get the opportunity to sit down with him and engage in thoughtful discussion about his life. Full transcript available soon. Instagram: @eastsidestorypod / @cheeyangmusic / @edru00 In just a month, we've surpassed 1000 downloads of our podcast. Thank you for supporting this endeavor! Back to regularly scheduled programming, Part 2 uncovers Eddy's experience being Asian, my philosophy of conversation vs. confrontation, his time at Hamilton and more. Eddy is not only a light on and off stage, he's also one of the nicest humans in New York City. I'm glad to get the opportunity to sit down with him and engage in thoughtful discussion about his life. Full transcript available soon. Instagram: @eastsidestorypod / @cheeyangmusic / @edru00 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

]]> 2199 yes 5: Eddy Lee // Being Hamilton (Part 1) https://eastsidestory.cheeyang.com/episodes/eddylee1-HDmYV8xC Making his Broadway debut through auditions in open calls without an agent, Eddy Lee is the success story everyone should know. Since the interview is a little longer than usual, I have split up the episode in two. Part 1 delves into Eddy's life growing up, how he feels like he has three mothers (his mother, his sister and grandmother who all raised him), to pursuing his passion in performing, to booking Hamilton. Eddy is not only a light on and off stage, he's also one of the nicest humans in New York City. I'm glad to get the opportunity to sit down with him and engage in thoughtful discussion about his life. Full transcript available soon. Instagram: @eastsidestorypod / @cheeyangmusic / @edru00 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Mon, 30 Sep 2019 10:00:05 -0000 5: Eddy Lee // Being Hamilton (Part 1) full 1 5 Broadway Podcast Network Making his Broadway debut through auditions in open calls without an agent, Eddy Lee is the success story everyone should know. Since the interview is a little longer than usual, I have split up the episode in two. Part 1 delves into Eddy's life growing up, how he feels like he has three mothers (his mother, his sister and grandmother who all raised him), to pursuing his passion in performing, to booking Hamilton. Eddy is not only a light on and off stage, he's also one of the nicest humans in New York City. I'm glad to get the opportunity to sit down with him and engage in thoughtful discussion about his life. Full transcript available soon. Instagram: @eastsidestorypod / @cheeyangmusic / @edru00 Making his Broadway debut through auditions in open calls without an agent, Eddy Lee is the success story everyone should know. Since the interview is a little longer than usual, I have split up the episode in two. Part 1 delves into Eddy's life growing up, how he feels like he has three mothers (his mother, his sister and grandmother who all raised him), to pursuing his passion in performing, to booking Hamilton. Eddy is not only a light on and off stage, he's also one of the nicest humans in New York City. I'm glad to get the opportunity to sit down with him and engage in thoughtful discussion about his life. Full transcript available soon. Instagram: @eastsidestorypod / @cheeyangmusic / @edru00 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

]]> 2617 yes Bonus 2: Meetu Chilana & Sorab Wadia // Be Human https://eastsidestory.cheeyang.com/episodes/bonus2-CLgxIY3d We're up in Salem, CT doing a workshop of my new musical, The Golden Threshold. Since episodes are being delayed, here's another bonus episode with some of the cast, Meetu Chilana and Sorab Wadia. Full transcript will be available soon. IG: @eastsidestorypod / @cheeyangmusic / @meetuchilana / @sorabwadia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Mon, 23 Sep 2019 10:00:00 -0000 Meetu Chilana & Sorab Wadia // Be Human bonus 1 Broadway Podcast Network We're up in Salem, CT doing a workshop of my new musical, The Golden Threshold. Since episodes are being delayed, here's another bonus episode with some of the cast, Meetu Chilana and Sorab Wadia.Full transcript will be available soon.IG: @eastsidestorypod / @cheeyangmusic / @meetuchilana / @sorabwadia We're up in Salem, CT doing a workshop of my new musical, The Golden Threshold. Since episodes are being delayed, here's another bonus episode with some of the cast, Meetu Chilana and Sorab Wadia. Full transcript will be available soon. IG: @eastsidestorypod / @cheeyangmusic / @meetuchilana / @sorabwadia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices We're up in Salem, CT doing a workshop of my new musical, The Golden Threshold. Since episodes are being delayed, here's another bonus episode with some of the cast, Meetu Chilana and Sorab Wadia. Full transcript will be available soon. IG: @eastsidestorypod / @cheeyangmusic / @meetuchilana / @sorabwadia

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

]]> 2189 yes Bonus 1: Kimberly Chatterjee, Jamen Nanthakumar & Kuhoo Verma // Not Cultural Consultants https://eastsidestory.cheeyang.com/episodes/bonus1-GEwfZ1Y_ We're up in Salem, CT doing a workshop of my new musical, The Golden Threshold. And since episodes are being delayed, here's a bonus episode with not one, but three cast members of the musical. Kuhoo Verma, who appeared in the first episode of the series, returns with Kimberly Chatterjee and Jamen Nanthakumar. Full transcript will be available soon. IG: @eastsidestorypod / @cheeyangmusic / @whatisakuhoo / @kimberlychatterjee / @jamen_nanthakumar Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Mon, 16 Sep 2019 10:00:21 -0000 Bonus 1: Kimberly Chatterjee, Jamen Nanthakumar & Kuhoo Verma // Not Cultural Consultants bonus 1 Broadway Podcast Network We're up in Salem, CT doing a workshop of my new musical, The Golden Threshold. And since episodes are being delayed, here's a bonus episode with not one, but three cast members of the musical. Kuhoo Verma, who appeared in the first episode of the series, returns with Kimberly Chatterjee and Jamen Nanthakumar. Full transcript will be available soon. IG: @eastsidestorypod / @cheeyangmusic / @whatisakuhoo / @kimberlychatterjee / @jamen_nanthakumar We're up in Salem, CT doing a workshop of my new musical, The Golden Threshold. And since episodes are being delayed, here's a bonus episode with not one, but three cast members of the musical. Kuhoo Verma, who appeared in the first episode of the series, returns with Kimberly Chatterjee and Jamen Nanthakumar. Full transcript will be available soon. IG: @eastsidestorypod / @cheeyangmusic / @whatisakuhoo / @kimberlychatterjee / @jamen_nanthakumar Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

]]> 1286 yes 4: Cynthia Meng // From Moulin Rouge to Hadestown https://eastsidestory.cheeyang.com/episodes/cynthiameng-mWIkRSZl Grappling with Otherness "Don't ever forget, you will be thought of as an other." - Cynthia Meng Within a year of freelancing, Cynthia has worked in rooms for musicals in-development on Broadway, Off-Broadway and out-of-town tryouts. What is her secret? Does it only have to do with luck, like she puts it? Or is it more? I believe there's certainly more to that and we investigate that in the episode. In This Episode, You Will Learn: What Cynthia thought of playing classical piano (3:05) What Cynthia studied at Harvard (13:45) How Cynthia got to work on Hadestown (21:19) The difference between Broadway and Off-Broadway for Cynthia's jobscope (29:12) How has Cynthia conquered being Asian and Female in this industry (34:03) And so much more… Some Questions We Discuss: What was classical piano competitions like? (3:52) Was musical theater part of family tradition? (8:41) Did she actively run away from what her parents associated with? (12:40) What was it like to work on a Tony Award winning musical? (23:37) Does seeing yourself represented on stage makes a difference in your career choices? (37:30) Links and Resources: Follow Cynthia on Instagram Follow Listening Party on Instagram Follow Canal Street Market on Instagram Harvard University - Computer Science Moulin Rouge (Musical) Lempicka (Musical) Hadestown (Musical) Follow East Side Story on Instagram Follow Cheeyang on Instagram Did You Enjoy the Podcast? If you did, please leave a review on iTunes! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Mon, 09 Sep 2019 10:00:08 -0000 4: Cynthia Meng // From Moulin Rouge to Hadestown full 1 4 Broadway Podcast Network Having music assisted on Hadestown (Broadway), In The Green (Off-Broadway) and Moulin Rouge (Pre-Broadway), Cynthia Meng has worked with some incredible composers, music directors and orchestrators. Every time I asked for recommendations for Asian music directors, Cynthia's name was mentioned. And even though I haven't had the chance to work with Cynthia on a full musical development process, she music directed a concert at Joe's Pub for Musical Theatre Factory and that's where I got to work with her. Only one year going from a full-time job to a freelance artist, Cynthia has been in rooms that other musicians can only dream to be in. I was curious as to how she got started, more insight on what music assistants do on Broadway, and how her identity has helped or hindered her. Full transcript available on website. Instagram: @eastsidestorypod / @cheeyangmusic / @cynthiameng Grappling with Otherness "Don't ever forget, you will be thought of as an other." - Cynthia Meng Within a year of freelancing, Cynthia has worked in rooms for musicals in-development on Broadway, Off-Broadway and out-of-town tryouts. What is her secret? Does it only have to do with luck, like she puts it? Or is it more? I believe there's certainly more to that and we investigate that in the episode. In This Episode, You Will Learn: What Cynthia thought of playing classical piano (3:05) What Cynthia studied at Harvard (13:45) How Cynthia got to work on Hadestown (21:19) The difference between Broadway and Off-Broadway for Cynthia's jobscope (29:12) How has Cynthia conquered being Asian and Female in this industry (34:03) And so much more… Some Questions We Discuss: What was classical piano competitions like? (3:52) Was musical theater part of family tradition? (8:41) Did she actively run away from what her parents associated with? (12:40) What was it like to work on a Tony Award winning musical? (23:37) Does seeing yourself represented on stage makes a difference in your career choices? (37:30) Links and Resources: Follow Cynthia on Instagram Follow Listening Party on Instagram Follow Canal Street Market on Instagram Harvard University - Computer Science Moulin Rouge (Musical) Lempicka (Musical) Hadestown (Musical) Follow East Side Story on Instagram Follow Cheeyang on Instagram Did You Enjoy the Podcast? If you did, please leave a review on iTunes! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices "Don't ever forget, you will be thought of as an other." - Cynthia Meng

Within a year of freelancing, Cynthia has worked in rooms for musicals in-development on Broadway, Off-Broadway and out-of-town tryouts. What is her secret? Does it only have to do with luck, like she puts it? Or is it more? I believe there's certainly more to that and we investigate that in the episode.


In This Episode, You Will Learn:

  • What Cynthia thought of playing classical piano (3:05)

  • What Cynthia studied at Harvard (13:45)

  • How Cynthia got to work on Hadestown (21:19)

  • The difference between Broadway and Off-Broadway for Cynthia's jobscope (29:12)

  • How has Cynthia conquered being Asian and Female in this industry (34:03)

  • And so much more…


Some Questions We Discuss:

  • What was classical piano competitions like? (3:52)

  • Was musical theater part of family tradition? (8:41)

  • Did she actively run away from what her parents associated with? (12:40)

  • What was it like to work on a Tony Award winning musical? (23:37)

  • Does seeing yourself represented on stage makes a difference in your career choices? (37:30)


Links and Resources:
Did You Enjoy the Podcast?
If you did, please leave a review on iTunes!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

]]> 3077 yes 3: David Park // The Dichotomy of being Korean-American https://eastsidestory.cheeyang.com/episodes/davidpark Am I American Enough? "When I'm speaking to my mom, I literally don't have the vocabulary to express the depth of my emotion to her." - David Park Having not been back to Korea in over 17 years, David has always identified as American. But when faced with the world telling him that he's a "flavored American" as he would say, how does that affect his outlook on life and his journey in theatre? In This Episode, You Will Learn: How David grew up in LA (2:41) David's passion for The Farewell (5:16) David's really surprising family tree (12:18) Why David started musical theatre late (20:11) Why David thinks that Asians are basically Switzerland (30:24) What career David can model his after (37:19) And so much more… Some Questions We Discuss: How would it be like, living in Korea? (10:36) When was the realization that being American had so many subsidiaries? (17:07) What was the real lesson since closing Off-Broadway? (24:37) What can people stand to hear from an Asian American actor living in New York? (31:48) Links and Resources: Follow David on Instagram NYU Tisch - Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Pace University - BFA Musical Theater Pioneer Theatre The Farewell Crazy Rich Asians Follow East Side Story on Instagram Follow Cheeyang on Instagram Did You Enjoy the Podcast? If you did, please leave a review on iTunes! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Mon, 02 Sep 2019 04:00:12 -0000 3: David Park // The Dichotomy of being Korean-American full 1 3 Broadway Podcast Network Last seen as Kenickie in Grease at Pioneer Theatre, actor-musician David Park made his Off-Broadway debut right out of college in Red Roses Green Gold, featuring the music of The Grateful Dead. I got to know David's work from that production and he has sung for multiple projects of mine, including my composer debut at Joe's Pub in the Fall of 2018. A lot of our conversations while we collaborated had to do with the struggle of how he identified in America and how he combats the negative stereotypes of Asian-American men. So, I thought it would exciting to share that conversation in this podcast. Full transcript available on website. IG: @eastsidestorypod / @cheeyangmusic / @davidhyunsoopark Am I American Enough? "When I'm speaking to my mom, I literally don't have the vocabulary to express the depth of my emotion to her." - David Park Having not been back to Korea in over 17 years, David has always identified as American. But when faced with the world telling him that he's a "flavored American" as he would say, how does that affect his outlook on life and his journey in theatre? In This Episode, You Will Learn: How David grew up in LA (2:41) David's passion for The Farewell (5:16) David's really surprising family tree (12:18) Why David started musical theatre late (20:11) Why David thinks that Asians are basically Switzerland (30:24) What career David can model his after (37:19) And so much more… Some Questions We Discuss: How would it be like, living in Korea? (10:36) When was the realization that being American had so many subsidiaries? (17:07) What was the real lesson since closing Off-Broadway? (24:37) What can people stand to hear from an Asian American actor living in New York? (31:48) Links and Resources: Follow David on Instagram NYU Tisch - Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Pace University - BFA Musical Theater Pioneer Theatre The Farewell Crazy Rich Asians Follow East Side Story on Instagram Follow Cheeyang on Instagram Did You Enjoy the Podcast? If you did, please leave a review on iTunes! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices "When I'm speaking to my mom, I literally don't have the vocabulary to express the depth of my emotion to her." - David Park

Having not been back to Korea in over 17 years, David has always identified as American. But when faced with the world telling him that he's a "flavored American" as he would say, how does that affect his outlook on life and his journey in theatre?


In This Episode, You Will Learn:

  • How David grew up in LA (2:41)

  • David's passion for The Farewell (5:16)

  • David's really surprising family tree (12:18)

  • Why David started musical theatre late (20:11)

  • Why David thinks that Asians are basically Switzerland (30:24)

  • What career David can model his after (37:19)

  • And so much more…


Some Questions We Discuss:

  • How would it be like, living in Korea? (10:36)

  • When was the realization that being American had so many subsidiaries? (17:07)

  • What was the real lesson since closing Off-Broadway? (24:37)

  • What can people stand to hear from an Asian American actor living in New York? (31:48)


Links and Resources:
Did You Enjoy the Podcast?
If you did, please leave a review on iTunes!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

]]> 2670 yes 1: Kuhoo Verma // Racial Awakening https://eastsidestory.cheeyang.com/episodes/kuhoo Embracing Her Indianness "It was a huge transition going from hating myself and hating my Indianness and finding out that in the process of white-washing myself, I was erasing my parents' existence in my life." - Kuhoo Verma From graduating NYU, to booking a movie, to starring Off-Broadway and working on multiple Broadway-bound workshops, Kuhoo Verma is a force to be reckoned with. There is an energy about her that is pure and open, and the perfect embodiment of light. In This Episode, You Will Learn: Why Kuhoo never really talked about her family growing up (4:06) Kuhoo's relationship with colorism within her community (7:53) What the name 'Kuhoo' means (9:52) Kuhoo's relationship with 'diverse casting' (11:49) How an education at NYU shaped Kuhoo (18:32) If anyone mentored Kuhoo in her first professional theatre experience (26:05) Kuhoo's experience working with Dave Malloy and Annie Tippe on Signature Theatre's Octet (33:08) How Kuhoo handles playing Indian characters (41:20) And so much more… Some Questions We Discuss: Was it kind of permission or racial awakening to start discussing her own relationship with race? (4:50) Was performing always in the plan? (15:59) How was the experience doing Monsoon Wedding at Berkeley Rep? (22:23) How was time on set of The Big Sick? (28:51) What advice would you give yourself? (44:36) Links and Resources: Follow Kuhoo on Instagram NYU Tisch - Graduate Musical Theatre Writing NYU Steinhardt - Vocal Performance Signature Theatre Dave Malloy Annie Tippe The Big Sick Shaina Taub Follow East Side Story on Instagram Follow Cheeyang on Instagram Did You Enjoy the Podcast? If you did, please leave a review on iTunes! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Mon, 02 Sep 2019 04:00:08 -0000 1: Kuhoo Verma // Racial Awakening full 1 1 Broadway Podcast Network Last seen at Signature Theatre's Octet, written by Dave Malloy and directed by Annie Tippe, Kuhoo Verma played Velma "the newcomer, [who] relates a quiet, heartfelt account of connecting with someone in a distant land." (The New York Times) I got the pleasure of working with Kuhoo on my new musical, The Golden Threshold, set in 1930s India. She recorded the demo of the very first song I wrote for the show, Outside/Inside, in the summer of 2018. Not only were her vocals completely transformative and elevated the song with perfect Carnatic music stylings, I was also overwhelmed by her joy and the way she carried herself at 21 years old. This made her the perfect candidate to kickstart this series. I was curious about her catapult to stardom right out of college, and how her background informed her intersection of art and activism. Full transcript available on website. IG: @eastsidestorypod / @cheeyangmusic / @whatisakuhoo Embracing Her Indianness "It was a huge transition going from hating myself and hating my Indianness and finding out that in the process of white-washing myself, I was erasing my parents' existence in my life." - Kuhoo Verma From graduating NYU, to booking a movie, to starring Off-Broadway and working on multiple Broadway-bound workshops, Kuhoo Verma is a force to be reckoned with. There is an energy about her that is pure and open, and the perfect embodiment of light. In This Episode, You Will Learn: Why Kuhoo never really talked about her family growing up (4:06) Kuhoo's relationship with colorism within her community (7:53) What the name 'Kuhoo' means (9:52) Kuhoo's relationship with 'diverse casting' (11:49) How an education at NYU shaped Kuhoo (18:32) If anyone mentored Kuhoo in her first professional theatre experience (26:05) Kuhoo's experience working with Dave Malloy and Annie Tippe on Signature Theatre's Octet (33:08) How Kuhoo handles playing Indian characters (41:20) And so much more… Some Questions We Discuss: Was it kind of permission or racial awakening to start discussing her own relationship with race? (4:50) Was performing always in the plan? (15:59) How was the experience doing Monsoon Wedding at Berkeley Rep? (22:23) How was time on set of The Big Sick? (28:51) What advice would you give yourself? (44:36) Links and Resources: Follow Kuhoo on Instagram NYU Tisch - Graduate Musical Theatre Writing NYU Steinhardt - Vocal Performance Signature Theatre Dave Malloy Annie Tippe The Big Sick Shaina Taub Follow East Side Story on Instagram Follow Cheeyang on Instagram Did You Enjoy the Podcast? If you did, please leave a review on iTunes! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices "It was a huge transition going from hating myself and hating my Indianness and finding out that in the process of white-washing myself, I was erasing my parents' existence in my life." - Kuhoo Verma

From graduating NYU, to booking a movie, to starring Off-Broadway and working on multiple Broadway-bound workshops, Kuhoo Verma is a force to be reckoned with. There is an energy about her that is pure and open, and the perfect embodiment of light.


In This Episode, You Will Learn:

  • Why Kuhoo never really talked about her family growing up (4:06)

  • Kuhoo's relationship with colorism within her community (7:53)

  • What the name 'Kuhoo' means (9:52)

  • Kuhoo's relationship with 'diverse casting' (11:49)

  • How an education at NYU shaped Kuhoo (18:32)

  • If anyone mentored Kuhoo in her first professional theatre experience (26:05)

  • Kuhoo's experience working with Dave Malloy and Annie Tippe on Signature Theatre's Octet (33:08)

  • How Kuhoo handles playing Indian characters (41:20)

  • And so much more…


Some Questions We Discuss:

  • Was it kind of permission or racial awakening to start discussing her own relationship with race? (4:50)

  • Was performing always in the plan? (15:59)

  • How was the experience doing Monsoon Wedding at Berkeley Rep? (22:23)

  • How was time on set of The Big Sick? (28:51)

  • What advice would you give yourself? (44:36)


Links and Resources:
Did You Enjoy the Podcast?
If you did, please leave a review on iTunes!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

]]> 3438 yes 2: Desdemona Chiang // Mortality and Your Mother https://eastsidestory.cheeyang.com/episodes/desdemona Subverting Eurocentric Theatre "Am I entering a field that doesn't have me in its legacy?" - Desdemona Chiang Being an only-child shaped the lives of both Cheeyang and Desdemona. They connected over their shared over-achieving nature, big identity questions as theater artists, and their different views on mortality. In This Episode, You Will Learn: How Desdemona grew up as an immigrant from Taiwan (2:17) Why Desdemona became a Biology major (7:44) What happened when Desdemona dissected cadavers (14:52) How Desdemona tackled post-graduation depression (18:16) When Desdemona came out as a Theatre Artist (21:17) If being Chinese shaped Desdemona's life (26:30) How Desdemona feels about doing art (35:01) Why Desdemona is afraid of dying (42:00) And so much more… Some Questions We Discuss: Did being an only child contribute to overachieving? (05:11) Was Biology undoing what theatre was doing and vice versa? (16:17) What do you do when your template for life is ripped away? (18:45) What are the qualities of a good director? (28:47) Why do people tell stories? (35:50) Links and Resources: Follow Desdemona on Instagram UC Berkeley - Biology University of Washington - MFA Directing Follow East Side Story on Instagram Follow Cheeyang on Instagram Did You Enjoy the Podcast? If you did, please leave a review on iTunes! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Mon, 02 Sep 2019 04:00:08 -0000 2: Desdemona Chiang // Mortality and Your Mother full 1 2 Broadway Podcast Network 2019 Princess Grace Award recipient, Desdemona Chiang, is well-known around the country as a prolific director, who works primarily in Shakespeare and new plays. I got the opportunity to work with her when she directed my musical, Eastbound, at the Village Theatre's Festival of New Musicals. I was not only struck by how insightful she is as a dramaturg, I was also completely enamored by how she worked with actors, myself included. When we sat down for this episode, I was very interested in finding out where this sensitivity to people came from, and also how she developed her directing style. What we uncovered was so much more than that. Full transcript available on website. IG: @eastsidestorypod / @cheeyangmusic / @deschiang Subverting Eurocentric Theatre "Am I entering a field that doesn't have me in its legacy?" - Desdemona Chiang Being an only-child shaped the lives of both Cheeyang and Desdemona. They connected over their shared over-achieving nature, big identity questions as theater artists, and their different views on mortality. In This Episode, You Will Learn: How Desdemona grew up as an immigrant from Taiwan (2:17) Why Desdemona became a Biology major (7:44) What happened when Desdemona dissected cadavers (14:52) How Desdemona tackled post-graduation depression (18:16) When Desdemona came out as a Theatre Artist (21:17) If being Chinese shaped Desdemona's life (26:30) How Desdemona feels about doing art (35:01) Why Desdemona is afraid of dying (42:00) And so much more… Some Questions We Discuss: Did being an only child contribute to overachieving? (05:11) Was Biology undoing what theatre was doing and vice versa? (16:17) What do you do when your template for life is ripped away? (18:45) What are the qualities of a good director? (28:47) Why do people tell stories? (35:50) Links and Resources: Follow Desdemona on Instagram UC Berkeley - Biology University of Washington - MFA Directing Follow East Side Story on Instagram Follow Cheeyang on Instagram Did You Enjoy the Podcast? If you did, please leave a review on iTunes! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices "Am I entering a field that doesn't have me in its legacy?" - Desdemona Chiang

Being an only-child shaped the lives of both Cheeyang and Desdemona. They connected over their shared over-achieving nature, big identity questions as theater artists, and their different views on mortality.


In This Episode, You Will Learn:

  • How Desdemona grew up as an immigrant from Taiwan (2:17)

  • Why Desdemona became a Biology major (7:44)

  • What happened when Desdemona dissected cadavers (14:52)

  • How Desdemona tackled post-graduation depression (18:16)

  • When Desdemona came out as a Theatre Artist (21:17)

  • If being Chinese shaped Desdemona's life (26:30)

  • How Desdemona feels about doing art (35:01)

  • Why Desdemona is afraid of dying (42:00)

  • And so much more…


Some Questions We Discuss:

  • Did being an only child contribute to overachieving? (05:11)

  • Was Biology undoing what theatre was doing and vice versa? (16:17)

  • What do you do when your template for life is ripped away? (18:45)

  • What are the qualities of a good director? (28:47)

  • Why do people tell stories? (35:50)


Links and Resources:
Did You Enjoy the Podcast?
If you did, please leave a review on iTunes!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

]]> 3403 yes 0: Trailer // East Side Story https://eastsidestory.cheeyang.com/episodes/trailer Highlights from the first 3 episodes of the season. Each week, Cheeyang sits down with an Asian or Asian-American artist working in the New York Theatre scene and excavates their life story — how they grew up, as well as projects they've worked on and upcoming work that we should anticipate. Guests (in order of appearance): 1: Kuhoo Verma (Octet); 2: Desdemona Chiang (2019 Princess Grace Award); and 3: David Park (Red Roses Green Gold). Full transcript available. IG: @eastsidestorypod / @cheeyangmusic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Mon, 26 Aug 2019 02:41:00 -0000 0: Trailer // East Side Story trailer 1 Broadway Podcast Network Highlights from the first 3 episodes of the season. Each week, Cheeyang sits down with an Asian or Asian-American artist working in the New York Theatre scene and excavates their life story — how they grew up, as well as projects they've worked on and upcoming work that we should anticipate.Guests (in order of appearance):1: Kuhoo Verma (Octet);2: Desdemona Chiang (2019 Princess Grace Award); and 3: David Park (Red Roses Green Gold).Full transcript available.IG: @eastsidestorypod / @cheeyangmusic Highlights from the first 3 episodes of the season. Each week, Cheeyang sits down with an Asian or Asian-American artist working in the New York Theatre scene and excavates their life story — how they grew up, as well as projects they've worked on and upcoming work that we should anticipate. Guests (in order of appearance): 1: Kuhoo Verma (Octet); 2: Desdemona Chiang (2019 Princess Grace Award); and 3: David Park (Red Roses Green Gold). Full transcript available. IG: @eastsidestorypod / @cheeyangmusic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Highlights from the first 3 episodes of the season. Each week, Cheeyang sits down with an Asian or Asian-American artist working in the New York Theatre scene and excavates their life story — how they grew up, as well as projects they've worked on and upcoming work that we should anticipate. Guests (in order of appearance): 1: Kuhoo Verma (Octet); 2: Desdemona Chiang (2019 Princess Grace Award); and 3: David Park (Red Roses Green Gold). Full transcript available. IG: @eastsidestorypod / @cheeyangmusic

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