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The happy trio: Welly as Wei Tung, Ma-anne as Wei Wei, and Tyley as Simon.


Pa Gao proudly toasts his son and new daughter-in-law at the wedding banquet.


A loving Gao family moment

Behind The Scenes:
(October 2004)
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(November 2003)
(September 2003)
(August 2003)
(July 2003)
(June 2003)
(May 2003)
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Meet The Artist:
(October 2004)
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October 2004 Newsletter : : Behind The Scenes : : Meet The Artist : : FAQ


Behind the Scenes: The Wedding Banquet - Meet the Principals

As the first performance of The Wedding Banquet approaches, designs are underway, choreography is in motion, and the book is being refined. Recently, the creative team completed the casting of the show's six principal roles. The team, including John Tillinger (Tony Award nominated director), Welly Yang (co-book writer), Brian Yorkey (lyricist and co-book writer), and Woody Pak (composer) traveled between New York, Los Angeles, and Seattle to meet with over 170 talented actors. Eight weeks after the process, the perfect six have been found. The roles cast include actors from all three cities, including some from Toronto, Canada.

Based on the movie directed by Ang Lee, The Wedding Banquet centers around the life of gay Taiwanese American Wai Tung, and his Caucasian partner, Simon. Wai Tung's parents, Pa Gao and Ma Gao, are eager to marry off their only son, and try to make a match with Little Sister Mao. Since Wai Tung can't tell his parents the truth, Simon dreams up the plan for Wai Tung to marry their friend Wei Wei, who needs a green card. Events take a complicating turn when Wai Tung's parents joyfully arrive from Taiwan to attend their son's wedding.

According to Welly Yang, one of the authors, the audition process was relatively conventional in nature (unlike the auditions for The Karaoke Show where the actors Karaoke'd amongst each other). Actors were asked to bring their own music and sing their own song (usually a ballad and up tempo) with accompaniment. Sometimes, they were asked to sing a second song. If one was called back for a second day, he or she would learn music from The Wedding Banquet and read a scene from the show, otherwise known as a side. The team paid special attention to each performer for their vocal and acting talent - a critical point because the music can be quite demanding. The actors also had to look the part, and be believable. Of the 170 actors, about 50 were called back. Collectively, the team narrowed the pool of talent down to the ultimate six. While the process may seem long, not a moment was wasted; the actors were so deliberately chosen that when combined they will surely set the stage alight with a dynamic performance. John Tillinger shares, "It's not just a matter of talent. They have to be believable in the role - the audience has to believe that they (Wai Tung and Simon) are in love with one another." The chemistry and interplay of the six principals is crucial to setting and staging a story that will ring true with audiences when they are sitting in the theater and resonate long after they leave their seats. Take a moment to meet each one:

Welly Yang (Wai Tung)

2g's founder made his Broadway debut at the age of twenty as the lead role of Thuy in Miss Saigon. He then went on to receive international acclaim in cultural capitals throughout Europe, Asia, and the U.S., in John Adams/Peter Sellars' Ceiling/Sky and in the title role of Cole Porter's Aladdin. He has also been a guest soloist of the New York Philharmonic, National Symphony Orchestra of Taiwan, and the Taipei Philharmonic. For Welly, the opportunity to play Wei Tung is especially exciting. He has had his eyes on this role since he conceived the project 4 years ago.

Tyley Ross (Simon)

Tyley made his debut playing the title role in Canada's premiere of The Who's Tommy. His performance brought critical acclaim, including a declaration by the Globe and Mail's Jack Kichoff: "If I had a million bucks, I'd bet it that Tyley Ross has just launched a fabulous career." Tyley's tie to 2g is an interesting one. He has supported several 2g shows including a performance in the first Concert of Excellence, singing The Perfect Woman, Simon and Wai Tung's duet, with Welly two years ago. He has also performed with Welly on Broadway. In fact, Welly reveals, "we used to play mortal enemies [in Miss Saigon], now we play lifelong lovers!" Who said enemies can't be friends?

Dina Morishita (Wei Wei)

Dina Lynne Morishita recently appeared with the national touring company of Les Miserables as Eponine. She also had the opportunity to play the role of Kim with the national touring company of Miss Saigon, as well as understudy the role of Ellen in a regional production.

Other credits include: Smokey Joe's Cafe (The Shimmy Girl), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Titania), South Pacific (Liat), and The King and I. Dina will be appearing in the BBC documentary of Les Miserables filmed in Shanghai, China. Prior to the stage, Dina was a mortgage specialist for a bank in California and a business development associate for an Internet company. She is currently working on her bachelor's degree in business administration.

Ming Lee (Pa Gao)

This Canadian/Malaysian/American has a long list of credits with works in theatre, TV, and film. He appeared in Miss Saigon on Broadway along with Welly and Tyley. He also took part in 2g's Making Tracks and Concert of Excellence. Other credits include The King and I, Chinese Waiter At the Funeral of His Daughter, Last Hand Laundry in Chinatown and At A Plank Bridge, Who Is Albert Woo, Return To Paradise, Foreign Ghost, Law & Order SVU, and the just released Thai feature, February. The decision to do this new piece with 2g was relatively easy for Ming. Not only is it something he can identify with (Pa Gao, his character, resembles his own father and he has attended wedding banquets all his life), but the opportunity to work with 2g again and with renowned director John Tillinger is "like a reunion and something different." More importantly, "society is getting intolerant," Ming says, and he feels that the story carries a strong message of acceptance that people need to be reminded of.

Kati Kuroda (Ma Gao)

Kati is a very busy New York actress. All the same, she is thrilled to make time for this project. "It's nice to see what young Asian Americans are coming out with," she says. "The songs stick with you, like an old time musical," Kati recalls from participating in the reading for the piece at the Public Theatre last fall. A senior actress with the Pan Asian Repertory Theatre, Kati has made appearances in productions for the Ma-Yi Theatre, Musicals Tonight, the Pittsburg Public Theatre, NAATCO, West Virginia's Public Theatre, Gateway Performing Arts, Long Wharf Theatre, Manhattan Theatre Club, Roundabout Theatre, The Guthrie, the Acting Company, and NYSF in the Park.

Mimosa (Little Sister Mao)

Mimosa joins the group from LA. She has worked in theatre, film, and television, including In Living Color and Killer Geishas: The Documentary. She met Welly while playing the role of Cordelia in Falsettoland in New York. She consequently auditioned and was cast in the role of Mother in 2g's Making Tracks at New York's Taipei Theater. Other works include Aldo and the Magic Lamp, A Visit From the Footbinder, A Chorus Line, and Testimony. Mimosa is the daughter of Mako, the only Oscar nominated Asian American actor. She also just celebrated her own wedding banquet.