King of the Yees

by Lauren Yee

Take any Chinese last name, and there exists a corresponding "family association" with branches in each major American city: Chinese men's clubs formed over a hundred years ago after the building of the Transcontinental Railroad. The Wongs, the Chans, and -most importantly - the Yees.

For nearly twenty years, playwright Lauren Yee's father Larry has been a driving force in the Yee Family Association. And now Lauren is writing a play. Or trying to. About legacy, about obsolescence, about the great and powerful house of Yee! Or something like that.

Amid a backdrop of crumbling Chinatowns and all-too-lifelike museums, Lauren races through history, space, and the fourth wall to find her father's story and chronicle this disappearing piece of American culture. KING OF THE YEES is a new play about the communities we choose and the communities we inherit.

Genres: Plays

113 pages, PDF draft

Reviews

[Tory Cross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Does seeing the play count as reading it? Because I saw it, I LOVED it, and it was absolutely incredible. Lauren Yee's work was beyond outstanding, and I can't wait to go see it again.

[Anna Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have only recently been introduced to Ms. Yee's work through New Play Exchange and really enjoy her writing! I recommend this one and The Tiger Among Us.

[Talya Braverman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crying in the theater building!