Chalk Repertory Theatre & Ensemble Studio Theatre/LA

Present 
World Premiere Companion Productions

PANG SPA & TWO STOP

INFORMATION ONLY

NOT AN A/PGF EVENT

Written by David Johann Kim

Community collaboration centered around themes related to the 1992

L.A. Uprising Presented during AAPI Heritage Month at Atwater Village Theatre

Atwater Village Theatre

3269 Casitas Avenue

Los Angeles   90039

Free parking in the ATX (Atwater Crossing) lot one block south of the theater

When:  May 2nd through June 9th

TICKET PRICES:

●    $35

●    Previews: $25

●    Students, Veterans, Seniors $25

SPECIAL DOUBLE-FEATURE PERFORMANCE DAYS:
For those who would like to attend both PANG SPA and TWO STOP on one day, there is a discount of $25 per performance on either Sunday, May 26, June 2, or June 9, use Code 2spa at checkout.

Los Angeles theater survives and thrives on community collaboration now more than ever. In conjunction with AAPI Heritage Month, Chalk Repertory Theatre will present the world premiere of PANG SPA directed by Reena Dutt in collaboration with EST/LA’s world premiere production of TWO STOP directed by Tracey A. Leigh. Penned by David Johann Kim, these two world premieres are companion pieces centered around themes related to the 1992 L.A. Uprising. Both plays will be presented during AAPI Heritage Month between May 2 and June 9, 2024, at Atwater Village Theatre. This collaboration is a part of Center Theatre Group’s L.A. Artist Residency program, a division of the new CTG:Forward initiative.

“In the wake of George Floyd’s murder, it was clear to me that TWO STOP not only had characters I’d never seen before onstage, but as a story of transformation, it would be perfect for EST/LA’s first full production since the pandemic,” explained TWO STOP director Tracey A. Leigh. “I’m constantly surprised by TWO STOP’s immediacy; the writing is superb – the play crackles with intensity while being grounded in the deep humanity of each character. I am so excited to share our production alongside Chalk Rep’s production of David Johann Kim’s other multi-award-winning play, PANG SPA.”

TWO STOP takes place on the verge of the ’92 L.A. Uprising. A Korean market. A murder scene. A store owner and a neighborhood teenage girl face off. When her wild card mother arrives, secrets from the past explode in this tiny store. History and histories go head-to-head as L.A. starts to burn. Together they reach back decades and across the globe through war, strife and love, finding connection and even hope.

In PANG SPA, Daniel Pang returns home to L.A.’s Koreatown stepping into an unexpected life. Twenty years after the L.A. Uprising, the family business is gone, his brother is gone, and his parents are disappearing with dementia. As Daniel juggles his parents’ care and idiosyncratic neighbors a flinty young army vet arrives on a mission forcing him to confront his past. PANG SPA is a Los Angeles, K-town dramedy celebrating family, memory and identity through a journey of healing.

TWO STOP stars Suzen Baraka, JuneSoo Ham, and Iyanna Lott.

The creative team for TWO STOP includes Ashley Weaver, Stage Manager; Maria Hong, Costume Design; Justin Huen, Set Design; Xinyuan Li, Light Design; Austin Quan, Sound and Video Design; and Chuma Gault, Video Effects Design.

PANG SPA stars Christopher Callen, Ben Carroll, Hahn Cho, Edward Hong, Jasmine Kimiko, and Dian Kobayashi.