The Chinese Lady

Inspired by the true story of the first Chinese woman to step foot in America, Lloyd Suh’s critically-acclaimed play, The Chinese Lady, is a tale of dark poetic whimsy and a unique portrait of the United States as seen through the eyes of a young Chinese girl. In 1834, 16-year-old Afong Moy sailed into New York Harbor and was immediately put on display for a paying public who were mesmerized by her exotic ways and horrified by her tiny bound feet. As audiences follow Moy’s travels through America as a living exhibit for decades, The Chinese Lady reveals centuries of America’s shameful colonial history. The Chinese Lady premiered at Barrington Stage Company in July 2018, featuring Daniel K. Isaac (“Billions”) and Shannon Tyo. In a co-production of Ma-Yi Theater Company and Barrington Stage Company, the show premiered in New York in November 2018.