2019-20 Season
Out of concern for the continued health and safety of our audiences, artists, and staff, we have decided to postpone all upcoming performances of Salesman 之死.
The decision was not made lightly, but we believe it is important to share this vital piece of theater in an environment when our artists and audiences feel safe in gathering together.
We continue to monitor the public health situation in NYC, and will keep you updated as things develop.
Ticket holders for Salesman 之死 can contact Target Margin Box Office: boxoffice@targetmargin.org for further assistance.
Thank you for your understanding. Stay safe and healthy.
Target Margin Theater presents
Salesman之死: The (Almost!) True Story of the 1983 Production of Death of a Salesman at the Beijing People’s Art Theatre Directed by Mr. Arthur Miller Himself From a Script Translated By Mr. Ying Ruocheng Who Also Played Willy Loman
Written by Jeremy Tiang
Directed and developed by Michael Leibenluft
Produced by Yangtze Repertory Theatre + Gung Ho Projects
Featuring: Julia Brothers, Chun Cho, Julia Gu, Claire Hsu, Kristen Hung, and Wei-Yi Lin.
In 1983, Arthur Miller traveled to Beijing to direct his most famous play, despite not speaking a word of Chinese. The Chinese ensemble, newly out of the Cultural Revolution, had never met “a salesman.” What could possibly go wrong? Sort of based on true events, Salesman之死 is an irreverent tale of cross-cultural mayhem in a time before Google Translate. Performed in both English and Mandarin (with surtitles!) by an all-female cast.
This production was developed through residencies and support from the Brooklyn Arts Exchange, the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, LABA: A Laboratory for Jewish Culture at the 14th Street Y, and the Rough Draft Festival at LaGuardia Performing Arts Center. This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the city council.
Set Design: Fufan Zhang
Costume Design: An-lin Dauber
Lighting Design: Yi-Chung Chen
Sound Design: Megumi Katayama
Projection Design: Ray Sun
Images: Kristen Hung, Julia Gu, Julia Brothers, Claire Hsu and Chun Cho.
Photography by Maria Baranova
Commissioned Project
STEP ONE - WE COMMISSION THE PLAYWRIGHTS
Partner theaters commission a handful of playwrights each to write 5-10 minute plays that can be performed - by any definition! - at home.
STEP TWO - YOU DOWNLOAD THE PLAYS
Scripts are posted and available for free, immediate download at playathome.org.
STEP THREE - YOU READ THE PLAYS
You read the plays. At home, by yourself, in your pajamas. In the living room with your family or roommates. While cooking dinner or waiting for delivery from local businesses.
STEP FOUR - HILARITY ENSUES
These plays are JOYFUL. These plays are meant to exist in your imagination, beyond the usual limits of what might be “possible” onstage at your local theater. They’re family-friendly world premieres that can exist in their fullness from your living room.
STEP FIVE - YOU SHARE WITH US
You share images, videos, and soundbites on social media by tagging #PlayAtHomePlays and @yz_rep
THE CHALLENGE
By Yilong Liu
A single father finds his college daughter on the Tik Tok drop-the-towel challenge, in which people drop the towel and get naked in front of their boyfriends while they are playing video games. He decides to have the "talk" with her on the phone, but the challenge only just begins...
To be performed by 2 humans. Contains mature content.
Yilong Liu is a playwright originally from Chongqing, China. He has found lots of joy in watching the Towel Drop Challenge on TikTok while self-isolating in his apartment in Brooklyn with his stuffed cats Jasper & Jasper's Brother. His recent play, The Book of Mountains and Seas, was cancelled in San Francisco after only one preview due to the reason we all know. Yilong studied playwriting in Hawaii. No, he doesn't know how to surf, but he would like to learn once this is over. @longkji
TAYLOR SWIFT WON’T EAT FISH HEAD
By Marcus Yi
Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift try Malaysian food while immigrant workers worry about their future. Three sea creatures wait to be served as lunch. No one is unscathed.
To be performed by 7 humans. Contains mature content.
Marcus Yi is writing to you from the valley of the dolls. He is currently writing a musical Lucky 88 with an out of tune piano. He refuses to get an MFA. marcusyi.com
A PLAY FOR YOUR BEDROOM
By Zhu Yi
How many lovers do you need to prepare for the love of your life? The two spent their entire lives to find out.
To be performed by 2 humans.
Contains explicit content and language. Recommended for humans over 18.
Zhu Yi is New York-based writer, originally from China. Member of Ma-Yi Writers Lab and Royal Court Theatre's International Playwrights Programme. Alumni of Ensemble Studio Theatre's playwrights group Youngblood, and Emerging Artist Fellow at New York Theatre Workshop. Her work has been produced in various languages in Asia, Europe, and Americas. MFA in Playwriting, Columbia University. Recent productions include: I Know You (Dear Ireland Project, Abbey Theatre, Ireland) You Never Touched The Dirt (Clubbed Thumb, NYC), A Deal (Chippen St Theatre, Australia; Urban Stages, NYC), I Am a Moon (National Performing Arts Center of China), Holy Crab! (Círculo de Tiza, Mexico), and Apene i Himalaya (Hålogaland Teater, Norway).