East West Players (EWP), the largest and longest-running Asian American theater in the country, announces the cast and creative team for the Los Angeles premiere of Lauren Yee’s groundbreaking play “Cambodian Rock Band,” to be performed from Feb. 13 to March 9 at the David Henry Hwang Theater, 120 Judge John Aiso St. in Little Tokyo.
The production marks a significant milestone as it brings this acclaimed work to Los Angeles County, home to the largest Cambodian population outside of Cambodia.
This part-play, part-rock concert tells the powerful story of a Khmer Rouge survivor returning to Cambodia after three decades. As his daughter prepares to prosecute one of the regime’s most notorious war criminals, they must confront their shared history through the healing power of music.
The production features the music of L.A.-based band Dengue Fever, whose performances initially inspired Yee to create this compelling work.
The production marks director Chay Yew’s 13th collaboration with EWP, bringing his signature vision to an extraordinary ensemble. After directing the world premiere of “Cambodian Rock Band” at South Coast Repertory and the off-Broadway run at Signature Theatre, Yew’s return to EWP continues a nearly 30-year artistic partnership.
The cast includes Kelsey Angel Baehrens as Neary/Sothea, Abraham Kim as Rom/Journalist, Tim Liu as Ted/Leng, Jane Lui as Pou/Guard, Joe Ngo as Chum, and Daisuke Tsuji as Duch. Understudies: Alex Hsu (Chum/Duch), Zandi De Jesus (Neary/Sothea/Pou), Kevin Vann (Ted/Leng/Rom).
The creative team includes Jane Lui and Matthew MacNelly, music directors; Ashphord Jacoway, additional costume design (original costume design by Linda Cho); Derek Jones, lighting design; Megumi Katayama and Mikhail Fiksel, co-sound designers; Mina Kinukawa, scenic design (original scenic design by Takeshi Kata); Jason H. Thompson, projections design; Yoko Haitz, hair and make-up design; Glenn Michael Baker, properties coordinator; Cesar Cipriano, fight director; Graham Schmidt, associate director; and Edward Khris Fernandez, stage manager.
“Bringing ‘Cambodian Rock Band’ to Los Angeles is a profound moment for East West Players and our community,” says EWP Artistic Director Lily Tung Crystal. “With Chay’s remarkable direction and this exceptional company, many of whom were part of the original world-premiere production, we’re not just presenting a play — we’re sharing a vital story that resonates deeply with our region’s vibrant Cambodian community. This production represents everything we strive for at EWP: powerful storytelling, authentic representation, and artistic excellence that bridges generations and cultures.”
In alignment with EWP’s mission of community representation and access, Crystal is working closely with leaders in the Greater L.A. Khmer community to reserve and significantly subsidize over 20% of all seats specifically for Khmer audiences. This initiative ensures that those most profoundly impacted by the story have the opportunity to experience the play.
Performance times are Thursdays (preview week only), Fridays, Saturdays, and select Mondays at 8 p.m., with additional 2 p.m. matinees on Saturday and 5 p.m. performances on Sunday. Opening Night is Sunday, Feb. 16, at 5 p.m. All Saturday 2 p.m. performances are “masked matinees,” making theater more accessible to audiences who prefer a masked experience. Monday, Feb. 24, at 8 p.m. is the pay-what-you-can performance. All performance dates and details are subject to change.
EWP 60th-anniversary season memberships and single tickets to “Cambodian Rock Band” are available online at eastwestplayers.org or by calling (213) 625-7000.