East West Players Announces Ensemble and Understudy Cast for ‘Flower Drum Song’ Revival

Los Angeles, CA – East West Players (EWP) has announced the full cast, including ensemble and understudy members, for its upcoming production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Flower Drum Song. The production will feature a newly updated book by Tony Award-winning playwright David Henry Hwang and will run from April 16 to May 31, 2026, at the Aratani Theatre at the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center in Little Tokyo.

A Revitalized Classic

This production marks the grand finale of EWP’s 60th Anniversary Diamond Legacy season and precedes a major renovation of the Aratani Theatre. Hwang’s 2026 revision of Flower Drum Song explores themes of immigration, assimilation, and cultural identity within the Chinese American community in 1960s San Francisco Chinatown. The story centers on Mei-Li, a young Chinese opera performer who arrives in America and navigates the world of nightclubs and evolving traditions. Playbill notes that Hwang’s adaptation aims to reclaim the story for Asian Americans, illuminating the complexities of their experiences.

Casting Announcements

Previously announced principal cast members include Grace Yoo as Mei-Li and Emily Kuroda as Madame Liang. The ensemble and understudy cast features:

• Joven Calloway
• Ethan Yaheen-Moy Chan (Ta/Chao/Ensemble Understudy)
• IJay Espinoza
• Sierra Goria (Ensemble Female Swing)
• Sally Hong (Ensemble, Dance Captain)
• Tony Jin (Ensemble Male Swing)
• Esther Lee (Ensemble, Linda Understudy)
• Brian Liebson
• Emma Park
• Gemma Pedersen (Ensemble/Mei-Li & Linda Understudy)
• Avelina Sanchez
• Hillary Tang
• Ai Toyoshima
• Haoyi Wen
• Paul Wong (Ensemble/Chin & Wang Understudy)

Performance Details

Preview performances are scheduled from Wednesday through Sunday, with opening night set for Thursday, April 23, 2026, at 7:00 PM. Regular performances will seize place on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, with select weekday shows and matinees on Saturdays and Sundays. East West Players will offer “Masked Matinees” on Saturdays at 2:00 PM for patrons who prefer a masked environment. A Pay-What-You-Will performance will be announced in late April 2026. Special events include a Student Night on April 30 and an Artist Talkback following the performance on April 26.

The Aratani Theatre is located at 244 San Pedro St, Los Angeles, CA 90012.