AAPI Affinity Night: Wednesday, April 3 at 7pm
The Let Out: Sunday, April 7 at 2 pm
Relaxed Performance: Wednesday, April 10 at 2 pm
Aurora Circle: Thursday, April 11 at 7pm
Open Mic: Monday, April 15 at 7pm
Open Caption/Audio Description: Saturday, April 20 at 2 pm & Sunday, April 21 at 2 pm
Cafe Chats: After the performances on April 11, 12, 18, 19
by Bertolt Brecht
translated by Wendy Arons
adapted by Tony Kushner
directed by Justin Jain
April 2–21, 2024
Three Gods come to the city of Setzuan looking for one good person. They cross paths with Shen Te, a downtrodden young woman trying to lead a “good” life amid the chaotic thrum and bustle of the shantytown. She offers the Gods shelter and, in return, they reward Shen Te with money that is intended as both a gift and a test. Shen Te initially attempts to maintain her charitable nature, but the hectic life of the city combined with the mounting needs of her neighbors lead her to assume an uncompromising alter ego who becomes consumed by the Gods’ challenge. The Good Person of Setzuan dares audiences to question what it means to be good and who gets to adjudicate right from wrong.
Working from an adaptation by playwright Tony Kushner (Angels in America), Bertolt Brecht’s classic parable is retold and radically reclaimed through the vision of director Justin Jain with original live music and members of the Wilma HotHouse Acting Company.
Learn More about the themes and history of the play by visiting our Dramaturgy page.
WHYY: Wilma Theater Spoofs Asian Cultural Ignorance With a Wall of Trash
6ABC Interview with Bi Jean Ngo
Broad Street Review: REVERSING ORIENTALIST TROPES
Zoe Writes Theatre: (Review) The Good Person of Setzuan
Zoe Writes Theatre: Artist Spotlight: Bi Jean Ngo
Billy Penn: On a mission: Making Philly theaters more sustainable, less wasteful
thINKingDANCE: Reimagining Brecht and Being a ‘Good Person’ in 21st Century Capitalism
Justin Jain
Director
Cat Ramirez
Assistant Director
Steven Dufala
Set Designer
Ariel Wang
Costume Design
Krista Smith
Lighting Designer
Eugene Lew
Sound Designer
Kellie Mecleary
Dramaturg
Josiane M. Lemieux
Stage Manager
Chloe Kincade
Assistant Stage Manager
Bi Jean Ngo
Shen Te/Shui Ta
Jungwoong Kim
Wang
Jered McLenigan
First god, Unemployed Man, The Policeman
Ross Beschler
Second god, Carpenter, Shu Fu
Matteo Scammell
Third god, The Husband, The Old Man
Makoto Hirano
The Brother, Yang Sun
Campbell O’Hare
The Wife, The Old Woman
Sarah Gliko
Sister-in-Law, Mrs. Yang
Melanye Finister
Mrs. Shin, The Niece, The Landlady
Mel Hsu
Co-Composer and Musical Director, The Bonze
Jordan McCree
Co-Composer and Musical Director, Waiter
THE GOOD PERSON OF SETZUAN
Our digital productions are made possible with generous support from the John S and James L Knight Foundation.
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