La Jolla Playhouse has announced that Kristina Wong, Sweatshop Overlord, written and performed by Kristina Wong, and directed by Chay Yew, will replace Mother Russia in the 2022/23 season, running September 20–October 16. Mother Russia is now tentatively planned for the 2023/24 season.
Kristina Wong, Sweatshop Overlord previously enjoyed a successful run Off-Broadway at New York Theatre Workshop, where it was streamed to the digital public twice.
“Kristina Wong is a one-of-a-kind performer and activist whom we’re delighted to bring back to the Playhouse – this time in person,” said Christopher Ashley, the Rich Family Artistic Director of La Jolla Playhouse. “During the pandemic, Kristina started a volunteer mask-sewing group of ‘aunties,’ which inspired this acclaimed, wildly-funny new solo performance piece.”
In the piece, Wong navigates through thoughts on the coronavirus crisis—including finding community amid isolation. Early in the pandemic, Wong sewed masks out of old clothes and household materials, eventually leading a virtual cohort of volunteers that blurred the lines between “feminist care utopia” and “mutual aid doomsday cult.”
Ashley continued, “In consultation with the show’s creative team, the Playhouse has postponed the world-premiere play Mother Russia in light of current events still unfolding. The production is currently planned for 2023, allowing the creative team additional time for reconsideration of certain script and production elements. We remain excited to produce Lauren Yee’s timely exploration of the ongoing political systems we find ourselves in.”
For more information, please visit LaJollaPlayhouse.org.
