From Nov 18th through 20th, 2010.
In their second collaboration, the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County and Mad Cat Theatre Company present Going Green the Wrong Way, a world premiere comedy. Created by and starring trouble-making funny lady Kristina Wong and directed by Mad Cat Theatre’s founder and resident prankster, Paul Tei, Going Green the Wrong Way recounts the hilarious and misfortunate adventures of Wong’s life-long attempt at sustainable living, and the challenges and triumphs of being eco-friendly.
Kristina Wong is a nationally-presented solo performer, writer, actor, educator, and self-proclaimed “culture jammer.” Noted for her quirky, offbeat, sometimes subversive and always brutally funny work, Wong tackles her fourth full-length solo show with the help of acclaimed actor/director Paul Tei, who first discovered Wong performing in Miami at the South Beach Comedy Festival. Kristina Wong found the lyrics to Kermit’s refrain to be all too true when she purchased a 1981 pink Mercedes that ran on vegetable oil. In her quest to pursue sustainable living, Wong endured a nightmare of never-ending car repairs and near-death pursuits for the used vegetable oil to fuel it. When the car finally burst into flames on an L.A. freeway, Wong lost the largest line item in her monthly budget, and gained the inspiration for this premiere production.
Going Green the Wrong Way brings our contemporary urban environment to life, revealing just how tricky it is to “do the right thing.” Based on Wong’s true-life adventures, but elevated to surrealist heights, the production takes us from Wong’s confrontational 6th grade science project, to her wandering years as a missionary of recycling, to her true calling as Los Angeles’ patron martyr of carbon-free living. Going Green the Wrong Way boasts expert direction by Paul Tei, who recently directed and appeared in Mad Cat’s extremely well-received run of BroadSword at the Adrienne Arsht Center.
“As one of the first performing arts centers in the U.S. to undertake the L.E.E.D certification process, the Adrienne Arsht Center is the perfect venue to premiere this wacky and wonderful work exploring the ups and downs of ‘going green,’” said M. John Richard, president and CEO of the Adrienne Arsht Center. “We are delighted to partner again with the exceptional Mad Cat Theatre Company to present a world premiere comedy tailor-made for Miami.”
Mad Cat’s award-winning design team includes original song stylins’ and sound effects of Matt Corey. The set design and props are done by Mad Cat newcomer but Adrienne Arsht Center regular, Elaine Bryan, and Wong’s costumes were inspired by the contents of a neighborhood dumpster.* All of the design elements for the show have been either donated, borrowed, or recycled. No animals were harmed in the creation of this production!
Kristina Wong is the recent recipient of a Creative Capital Grant and a Creation Fund grant from the National Performance Network in support of her last show Wong Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Her first solo show, Miss Chinatown 2nd Runner Up, was commissioned by TeAda New Works Festival and selected as an LA Times “Best Bet.” Her follow-up performance, Free? toured across the country, including performances at Miami’s South Beach Comedy Festival. In addition to Going Green the Wrong Way, Wong is currently developing a solo show inspired by her cat’s recent rash of spraying problems, entitled Cat Lady. Her work has been shown throughout the U.S. including venues such as The Public Theater (NY), the Painted Bride (PA), and Out North (AK). Wong is also an accomplished writer, teacher, filmmaker, and community activist.
Born and raised in Hollywood, Florida, Paul is the founder and Artistic Director of Mad Cat Theatre Company in Miami. An acclaimed director, actor, and writer, Paul Tei was most recently nominated for a Carbonell Award for Best Actor (Speed the Plow) and Best Director for BroadSword. As founder and director of Mad Cat, Tei has produced 27 shows in 10 years, mostly original works, written by himself and other company members, providing South Florida audiences with an opportunity to engage in the type of low budget/high value theater usually associated with Chicago, LA’s theatre row, and Off Off Broadway, positioning Mad Cat as a staple of Miami’s evolving cultural scene. As an actor/director/designer/writer, Paul has worked all over South Florida’s theaters ranging from GableStage, to Florida Stage, appearing in nearly 50 productions and collecting a dozen awards including seven Carbonell Awards (South Florida’s Tony Awards). He is a member of the Screen Actors Guild and has appeared in several films, national commercials, and has guest starred on the TV shows CSI Miami, CSI, Going to California, and most notably appears in a recurring role on USA’s Burn Notice as Barry the money launderer. Tei received his M.F.A. in directing at The Theatre School at De Paul University and his B.A. in Theatre from Barry University. He currently resides in LA.
Adrienne Arsht Center
1300 Biscayne Boulevard
Miami, FL 33132
305.949.6722
www.arshtcenter.org
Be the first to comment