The Heart Sellers

NEWLY ARRIVED IMMIGRANTS OFFER HUMOROUS,
TOUCHING PERSPECTIVE OF AMERICA IN
THE HEART SELLERS AT NORTH COAST REPERTORY THEATRE
Written by Lloyd Suh
A San Diego Premiere Directed by Kat Yen
January 8 – February 2, 2025

Solana Beach, Calif. – THE HEART SELLERS is making its San Diego debut at North Coast Rep. Playwright Lloyd Suh creates a captivating portrayal of intelligent, curious and creative women navigating the challenges of a new country. A reflection on the Asian immigrant experience, the play explores complex, emotionally charged themes withing the human condition. Relationships, desires, and the intricacies of the heart are scrutinized with a blend of drama and humor that keeps audiences engaged. With strong character development and sharp dialogue, this appealing play invites compassion and insight into their unique experiences. Reserve your tickets now for this often hilarious, thought-provoking play.

Kat Yen directs Jin Park and Marielle Young* in THE HEART SELLERS. Kailey Agpaoa is the understudy. The Design Team includes Marty Burnett (Scenic Designer), Matthew Novotny (Lighting Designer), Grace Wong (Costume Designer), Daniella Hart Uptownworks (Sound Designer), and Audrey Casteris (Props). Matthew Bantock* is the Stage Manager and Victoria Hua is the Production Assistant.

*The actor or stage manager appears through the courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association.

THE HEART SELLERS previews begin on Wednesday, Jan. 8. Opening Night is set for Saturday, Jan. 11, at 8 pm. The play runs Wednesday, Jan. 8, to Sunday, Feb. 2, with performances on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7 pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm, and Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2 pm and Sundays at 7 pm. Added matinee performances at 2pm on Friday, Jan. 10, and Wednesday, Jan. 29. A talkback session with the director and cast is scheduled for Jan. 17.

BIOS:

LLOYD SUH (Playwright) is the author of The Chinese Lady, Charles Francis Chan Jr.'s Exotic Oriental Murder Mystery, American Hwangap, The Wong Kids in the Secret of the Space Chupacabra Go!, Jesus in India, and others, produced with Ma-Yi, Magic Theatre, EST, NAATCO, PlayCo, Denver Center, Milwaukee Rep, ArtsEmerson, Children's Theatre Co, and more, including internationally at the Cultural Center of the Philippines and with PCPA in Seoul, Korea. He has received support from the NEA Arena Stage New Play Development program, Mellon Foundation, NYFA, NYSCA, Jerome, TCG, Dramatists Guild, and residencies including NYS&F and Ojai. He is an alum of Youngblood and the Soho Rep Writer/Director Lab, and was a recipient of a 2016 Helen Merrill Award and the 2019 Herb Alpert Award in the Arts. From 2005-2010 he served as Artistic Director of Second Generation and Co-Director of the Ma-Yi Writers Lab, and has served since 2011 as the Director of Artistic Programs at The Lark, and since 2015 as a member of the Dramatists Guild Council.

KAT YEN (Director) is a Taiwanese-American theater director, born and raised in NYC. Recent productions include Pipe Dream by Rodgers and Hammerstein at Berkshire Theatre Group, Heart Strings by Lee Cataluna at Atlantic Theater for Kids, and Happy Life by Kathy Ng at Walker Space/ The Hearth. Recent associate directing credits include Redwood written and directed by Tina Landau and conceived with Idina Menzel, The Untitled Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson Musical by Joe Iconis and directed by Christopher Ashley, and The Comeuppance by Branden Jacobs- Jenkins and directed by Eric Ting. Upcoming productions include The Weather Busters of Beachcastle by Christin Eve Cato at La Jolla Playhouse: POP TOUR and All The Men Who’ve Frightened Me by Noah Diaz at La Jolla Playhouse. Kat is the inaugural Directing Fellow at La Jolla Playhouse, a former Resident Director at The Flea Theater, a Van Lier Directing Fellow at Second Stage Theater and the co-founder and former Artistic Director of Spookfish Theatre Company. MFA in Directing: Yale School of Drama. www.katyen.com

JIN PARK (Jane) (she/her) is grateful to make her North Coast Rep debut. Other Regional credits include: Aubergine (Theatreworks Colorado Springs). Chicago credits include: In Quietness (A Red Orchid Theatre), Dory Fantasmagory (Young People’s Theatre of Chicago), Among The Dead (Jackalope Theatre), First Love Is The Revolution, Red Rex (Steep Theatre); Spirits To Enforce (The Passage Theatre); You For Me For You (Sideshow Theatre); Don’t Look Back/Must Look Back (Pivot Arts); and Really Really (Interrobang Theatre). TV/Film credits include: “Chicago PD” (NBC), “Waiting For The Light To Change,” and “Sun King.”

MARIELLE YOUNG* (Luna) (she/her) is a Filipina-American actor from Queens. She has worked at theaters all over the U.S. including Portland Center Stage, Pittsburgh Public Theater, Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, The Acting Company, Chester Theatre Company, Capital Repertory Theatre, Kitchen Theatre Company, and more. She has developed new work with or been part of world premieres by Lauren Yee, Kate Hamill, Will Arbery, Lauren Gunderson, Nightdrive, Clubbed Thumb, Ensemble Studio Theater, Ars Nova, and more. TV includes “Blue Bloods”

(CBS), “Major Crimes” (TNT), “The Blacklist” (NBC), “The Equalizer” (CBS), and “Bonding” (Netflix). SUNY Purchase and Fiorello H. LaGuardia Performing Arts High School alum. She teaches acting and Shakespeare in NYC. This one’s for mom. marielleyoung.org

MATTHEW BANTOCK* (Stage Manager) North Coast Rep debut! Regional Credits: The Rocky Horror Show, tick, tick... BOOM!, Natasha, Pierre, & the Great Comet of 1812; Cabaret, La Cage aux Folles, Marie and Rosetta, Spamalot, A Little Night Music, A Christmas Carol (Cygnet Theatre); Babbitt, Is It Thursday Yet?, The Outsiders, As You Like It, WOW Festival (2019-2024), Bhangin’ It, Hoopla!, Escape To Margaritaville, #SuperShinySara, Miss You Like Hell, Tiger Style! (La Jolla Playhouse); Knots (The Old Globe); Young Frankenstein, Miracle On 34th Street (‘17, ‘16), Pump Up the Volume (SDMT); An Octoroon (The Wilma); Estuary: an artist/mother story (Kimmel Center). Graduate of the University of the Arts. theaterworkersforaceasefire.com

KAILEY AGPAOA (Understudy — Luna) (she/they) is a multi-hyphenate theatre-maker based out of San Diego! She is a Miranda Family Fellow. Kailey is passionate about telling important stories, being a proud representative of the LGBTQ+ and global majority communities in her work, accessibility and EDIB, collective liberation, and all around, spreading joy and truth through creation. She has done work at various theatres around San Diego (including La Jolla Playhouse, Moxie Theatre, New Village Arts, Blindspot Collective, Bocón Arts, and Coronado Playhouse) and is represented by Shamon Freitas Model and Talent Agency. Her most recent role was Lucy Cratchit u/s in Your Local Theater Presents: A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens, Again at La Jolla Playhouse. She’d love to send love to her family and friends, and gratitude to Kat and David for having her for this incredible show!

JEE KANG (Understudy — Jane) is thrilled to be a part of The Heart Sellers at the North Coast Repertory Theatre. Her recent credits include Barry, Dave, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and Seal Team. Jee is Meisner-trained and fluent in Korean with a background in biology, data analysis, and marketing. When not on set or on stage, Jee enjoys going to the movies with a bucket of popcorn and a soft drink, writing novels and screenplays, cross-stitching, and playing with her three adorable dogs: Merry, Rocket, and Skipper.