Specially Processed American Me at BRIClab
Ping Chong and Company and Free Rein Projects are co-producing a BRIClab technical residency of Specially Processed American Me, a new play by former Creative Fellow Jaime Sunwoo that uses SPAM, the canned meat, as a portal into her Asian American upbringing and her family's experiences of the Korean War. It investigates SPAM's legacy in the military, its significance in the Asia-Pacific, and its influence on Asian cuisine through music, shadowplay, and cooking. Oscillating wildly between absurd humor and sober tragedy, Specially Processed American Me is a thought-provoking exploration of one of America's most misunderstood foods.
Specially Processed American Me is written by Jaime Sunwoo and co-directed by Jaime Sunwoo and Karim Muasher. Music, Lyrics and Sound Design are by Matt Chilton; Lighting Design by Sarah Lurie; Prop/Puppet/Costume/Projection Graphic Ilustration by Jaime Sunwoo; Projection Design by Cinthia Chen; Music Direction by Adrianna Mateo; Technical Direction by Justin Perkins; Stage Management by Zoe-Eve Rhinehart; and Dramaturgy by Alex Lee. The cast features Adrianna Mateo, Vanessa Rappa, Juella Baltonado, Monica Goff, Sarah Shin, Eunji Lim, and Nathaniel Basch-Gould.
This two week BRIClab residency will culminate with a work-in-progress presentation on October 7th and 8th at 7pm.
In addition to performances, Specially Processed American Me holds food history and storytelling workshops. On Saturday, October 9th from 3-4pm, Jaime Sunwoo and Ping Chong will be at hosting a casual community conversation about food and storytelling at FABnyc's Open Arts Outside on Avenue B between 8th and 9th Streets. Stop by to share your story and to participate in performances and workshops with other Lower East Side artists.