Watch a recorded performance of Alliance Theatre's production of The Chinese Lady.

By Lloyd Suh 
Directed by Jess McLeod 
 

Inspired by the true story of Afong Moy, The Chinese Lady is a darkly poetic yet whimsical portrait of our collective past seen through the eyes of a young Chinese woman. Afong is only 14 years old when she’s brought to the United States in 1834 and displayed as “The Chinese Lady” – the first to step foot on U.S. soil. Decade after decade, she performs as a living exhibit, showing curious white visitors how she eats and what she wears as merchants sell tea and Chinoiserie in the lobby. As time wears on, the lines between her performance and her identity begin to blur. Described as "moving and often sharply funny" (The New York Times), The Chinese Lady examines the ongoing struggle for empathy and understanding across cultural divides. 

The Chinese Lady ran on The Hertz Stage at Alliance Theatre, September 18 – October 17, 2024.