East West Players (EWP) proudly announces the principal cast and creative team for the highly anticipated world premiere of Tony winner David Henry Hwang’s newly updated 2026 book for Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Flower Drum Song.”
Helmed by EWP Artistic Director Lily Tung Crystal, this reimagined golden-age musical will open April at the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center’s (JACCC) iconic Aratani Theatre, serving as the grand finale of EWP’s 60th Anniversary Diamond Legacy season and the final production before the 880-seat venue undergoes a major renovation.
The principal cast includes EWP veterans Grace Yoo (Broadway: “Hadestown”) as Mei-Li; Emily Kuroda (CW’s “Gilmore Girls”) as Madame Liang; Marc Oka (Broadway: “The King and I,” “Flower Drum Song”) as Wang; Scott Keiji Takeda (Off Broadway: “Sumo 相撲”) as Da; and Gedde Watanabe (Broadway: “Pacific Overtures”) as Chin.
Cast members making their EWP debut include Krista Marie Yu (Hulu’s “Reboot,” Fox’s “Last Man Standing”) as Linda Low; Kenton Chen (NBC’s “The Sing-Off”) as Harvard; and newcomer Cooper Bennett as Chao.
The creative team includes David Henry Hwang (writer of the 2002 and 2026 book, based on the original book by Oscar Hammerstein II and Joseph Fields, based on the novel by C.Y. Lee), Lily Tung Crystal (director), Lainie Sakakura (choreographer), Marc Macalintal (music director), Chen-Wei Liao (scenic designer), Ruoxuan Li (costume designer), three-time Tony nominee Jiyoun Chang (lighting designer), Brian Hsieh (sound designer), Naomi Kasahara (properties designer), Darlene Miyakawa (stage manager), Annie Jin Wang (dramaturg), Brandon Hong Cheng (assistant stage manager), Ruth Araujo (assistant costume designer), and Kevin Dajay (assistant properties designer). Music is by Richard Rodgers, with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II.
Hwang says, “My history with East West Players started when I was 10 years old. My mother was the pianist for one of their first productions, Menotti’s operetta ‘The Medium,’ directed by Mako. At an early age, I saw people who looked like me as actors and artistic leaders, which perhaps made it possible for me to envision myself as a playwright when I got to college years later. I’m thrilled to revisit and further revise this classic musical, working once again with the company that has been at the heart of my entire artistic life.”
Crystal says, “As a theater kid growing up, I’ll never forget the first time I saw ‘Flower Drum Song.’ It was pure magic to see faces like mine shine on the silver screen in a major Hollywood film. While the original has its flaws, it remains deeply meaningful to me. Witnessing David’s Tony Award-winning ‘M. Butterfly’ on Broadway showed me that a genuine path in theater existed for Asian American artists.
“Now, directing one of my most cherished musicals, written by a playwright I’ve long admired, in my first season as artistic director of East West Players is truly a dream. After staging David’s first adaptation in 2019, I’m honored to collaborate with him once again, and I’m especially excited to work with this extraordinary cast, whose talent and energy are bringing new life to a musical that means so much to our community.”
Themes of assimilation and tradition in 1960s San Francisco Chinatown take center stage in this long-beloved musical. The story follows Mei-li, a young Chinese opera artist fleeing communism, as she arrives in America and is swept up in the dazzling world of the Grant Avenue nightclubs. At a time when questions of identity, immigration, and cultural preservation feel especially urgent, Hwang’s reimagining of the book for the spring 2026 production gives Asian Americans a chance to reclaim this classic, offering new perspective and depth while honoring the community’s continuous evolution.
“Flower Drum Song” will be staged at the Aratani Theatre, located at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center (244 S. San Pedro St. in Little Tokyo) from April 16 to May 31. Preview performances are scheduled Wednesday through Sunday, with Opening Night set for Thursday, April 23, at 7:30 p.m. Regular performances take place on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, with additional select weekday shows and matinees on Saturdays and Sundays. All Saturday 2 p.m. shows will be designated as Masked Matinees, offering a more comfortable environment for patrons who prefer a masked experience. A Pay-What-You-Will performance date will be announced in April. Special events include Student Night on April 30 and an Artist Talkback following the performance on April 26. All dates and event details are subject to change.
Single tickets are available online at eastwestplayers.org or by calling (213) 625-7000. Preview performance tickets start at $59, and regular performance tickets start at $99. Group discounts are available by calling the box office or emailing boxoffice@eastwestplayers.org.
“Flower Drum Song” is sponsored in part by The David Lee Foundation, as well as Henry & Denise Byun, Caplin Foundation, Mercy & Howard Steenwyk, and Randall & Mari Tamura, with additional support from Employees Community Fund of Boeing and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Department of Arts and Culture. 60th Season Opening Night and Artist Mixer events are sponsored by Far Bar.
Recognized in 2020 by the Ford Foundation as one of America’s Cultural Treasures, EWP’s groundbreaking role as a catalyst for cultural change continues in its milestone 60th season. The season began with Lauren Yee’s “Cambodian Rock Band,” directed by Chay Yew, and was followed by Philip Kan Gotanda’s “Yankee Dawg You Die,” directed by Jennifer Chang. The National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere of Prince Gomolvilas’ “Paranormal Inside,” directed by Jeff Liu, opened in October 2025. “Tam Tran Goes to Washington,” written by Elizabeth Wong and directed by Rona Par, is the 2025-26 Theatre for Youth touring production, with performances across Southern California through June.
EWP, the largest producing organization of Asian American artistic work, was founded in 1965, at a time when Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders faced limited or no opportunities to see their experiences reflected outside of stereotypical and demeaning caricatures in the American landscape. Upon the theater’s 60th anniversary, EWP not only ensures that AAPI stories are told but works to increase access, inclusion, and representation in entertainment and media. Designated by the Ford Foundation as one of America’s Cultural Treasures in 2020, EWP continues its groundbreaking work through defining and expanding the representation and stories of the AAPI community. Learn more at eastwestplayers.org.