Factory presents the triumphant return of BANANA BOYS

Factory is proud to present the triumphant return of BANANA BOYS, adapted from Terry Woo’s game-changing novel by Leon Aureus, and one of the hit shows from Factory’s Naked Season. Factory Artistic Director Nina Lee Aquino will close the current season with her highly inventive reimagining of BANANA BOYS, which she first directed in 2004 for fu-Gen Asian Canadian Theatre Company.

“Aquino’s direction of Banana Boys shows her at her best. She’s totally connected to the material, gets great performances out of her cast and stages it in a really imaginative way… If you feel like you don’t belong at most plays in the city, try this one out.” Toronto Star

Five Asian-Canadian men must confront unrealized potential, devastating loss, and time travel . . . all while trying not to punch too many white boys in the face. “Yellow on the outside and white on the inside,” BANANA BOYS delves deeply into Asian-Canadian stereotypes while also dealing with death, rage, addiction, racism and familial expectations.

Wickedly funny and incredibly fresh, BANANA BOYS is set for an extended run in celebration of Asian Heritage Month in May.

Returning cast members include Darrel Gamotin (Monday Nights/The Theatre Centre) as Sheldon Kwan, the man in search of love; Matthew Gin, (One Good Morning/Toronto Fringe) as reluctant med student Mike Chao; and Oliver Koomsatira (Comfort/Red Snow Collective) as the frightening and violent Dave Lowe.

New cast members include Jonathan Kim (the CBC TV series 21 Thunder) in the pivotal role of Rick Wong; and actor and sound designer Miquelon Rodriguez (Cowboy Versus Samurai/Soulpepper) as Luke Yeung, the boy who won’t grow up.

Playwright Leon Aureus is a founding Artistic Director of fu-GEN and current Artistic Producer of Carlos Bulosan Theatre, a Filipino-Canadian theatre company which just produced Anak in Toronto. BANANA BOYS was his debut play in 2004.

Canadian-born Chinese, Terry Woo wrote the original Banana Boys novel which was shortlisted for the 1999 Asian-Canadian Writer’s Workshop Award. An engineering graduate from the University of Waterloo, Woo has also studied Journalism at Ryerson, and is working on his next novel.

Director Nina Lee Aquino is an award-winning director, dramaturge, the current Artistic Director of Factory, and the first director of Asian descent to run one of Toronto’s flagship theatres. Recent credits include James and the Giant Peach/YPT, acquiesce/Factory, and The Wanderers/Cahoots Theatre Company and Buddies in Bad Times Theatre.

Founded in 1970, Factory was the first theatre company in the nation to devote itself to producing 100% Canadian content. 46 years later, Factory continues to lead in the development and sharing of Canadian stories having produced more than 300 productions from a diverse source of Canadian playwrights and launching the careers of countless theatre professionals.

The 2016/17 Factory season looks beyond Canadian borders to navigate new identities and redefine the meaning of home, as citizens, residents, and visitors, in six plays charting new Canadian experiences.

FACTORY presents the 2016/17 Season “Beyond the Great White North”

BANANA BOYS Written by Leon Aureus, Adapted from the Novel by Terry Woo Directed by Nina Lee Aquino April 18 – May 4, 2017 (Previews April 18 & 19)

OPENING NIGHT: Thursday, April 20, 2017 @ 8pm Factory Studio, 125 Bathurst Street Return Engagement

Starring Darrel Gamotin as Sheldon Kwan, Matthew Gin as Mike Chao, Jonathan Kim as Rick Wong, Oliver Koomsatira as Dave Lowe, and Miquelon Rodriguez as Luke Yeung

Lighting Design by Jennifer Lennon
Tuesday – Saturday @ 8pm, Sunday @ 2pm
Ticket prices range from $25-$55 including Student, Arts Worker and Senior Prices
Purchase in person at Factory, 125 Bathurst Street,
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