The Strand Theater Company proudly partners with Asian Pasifika Arts Collective to present Man of God by Anna Moench. The virtual production is directed by Elizabeth Ung.
About the play: During a mission trip to Bangkok, the four members of a Korean Christian girls’ youth group discover that their revered pastor has hidden a camera in their hotel bathroom. Their communal rage and disillusionment fuel increasingly violent revenge fantasies amid the no-holds-barred neon bubblegum sex-tourism mecca of Bangkok. Man of God is a funny feminist thriller about that moment when girls realize the male gaze has been watching all along—and decide they are definitely gonna do something about it.
The cast features Libbey Kim, Sydney Lo, Kelly Ng, Rebecca Kiser, Steve Lee, Daniella Ignacio (u/s), and Jaine Ye (u/s).
“One of the Strand primary goals over the past two years has been to choose stories that not only are written by women-identifying artists but also highlight perspectives that have been vastly underrepresented in our theater community,” said Strand Associate Artistic Director Erin Riley. “Stories like Man of God are integral to the fabric of women-identifying voices in theater.
“Our heroines, Samantha, Kyung-Hwa, Mimi, and Jen, could not be more different in terms of personality,” Riley continued, “but deep down, their shared values and cultural through-lines are remarkably similar. When their entire idea of what’s right is shattered by a shocking occurrence, we get the unique perspectives of each of these women sharing their innermost thoughts and need for justice in some pretty spectacular ways. I’m rooting for these women and think you will too!”
Man of God—a virtual presentation—opens Friday, March 26, and runs through April 11, 2021. Tickets ($20 general admission; $10 for students, seniors, and artists) are available at strand-theater.org. Viewing links will be provided following ticket purchase.
The performance, recorded in the theater, streams at the following times.
Friday, March 26, 7pm
Saturday, March 27, 7pm
Thursday, April 1, 7pm
Friday, April 2, 7pm
Saturday, April 3, 7pm
Saturday, April 3, 11pm
Friday, April 9, 7pm
Saturday, April 10, 7pm
Saturday, April 10, 11pm
Sunday April 11, 7pm
About the Playwright
Anna Moench is an award-winning playwright and screenwriter. Her plays have been produced at the Geffen Playhouse, the Playwrights Realm, East West Players, InterAct Theater, and many other theaters across the country and around the world.
Anna is a 2020 Steinberg Award winner and the recipient of a Gerbode Special Award in the Arts commission for a new play that will be produced at Magic Theater in 2022. She has been commissioned by NAATCO for a new play premiering in 2021.
In television and film, Anna has worked with Netflix, Apple TV+, HBO, UCP, eOne, PictureStart, and Universal. Anna lives in Los Angeles with her family.
About the Strand
The Strand Theater Company champions challenging and provocative theater that especially celebrates women’s diverse voices and perspectives while bringing together the creative talents of all genders as artists, technicians, and administrators. We invite patrons to experience some of the region’s best contemporary and reinterpreted works for the stage in our intimate North-East Baltimore theater.
Since launching in 2007, the Strand has presented over 50 full-length plays, including 15 World Premieres; offered 75% of the artistic positions on its productions—as playwrights, directors, designers, stage managers, and actors—to women; provided affordable theater space to many organizations and independent artists; and played an integral role in the revitalization of the Station North Arts & Entertainment District.
In August 2011, the Strand was honored as one of Baltimore magazine’s “Top 5 Baltimore Theaters,” along with CENTERSTAGE, Everyman, the Hippodrome, and Single Carrot. To learn more about the Strand Theater Company, visit www.strand-theater.org.
About APAC
Asian Pasifika Arts Collective (APAC) is a Baltimore-based organization that uses art of all platforms to ensure that the stories of Asian Americans and Pacific Indigenous Americans (AAPI) are seen, heard and valued. The organization was founded in 2018 to address the deep need for AAPI representation and advocacy throughout Baltimore.
In May 2020, APAC participated in and helped launch Unapologetically Asian. The campaign aims to change the conversation around Asian and Asian American belonging in America. In October 2020, APAC virtually produced its second AAPI Voices. The virtual storytelling event — titled “All American Asians” — was part of a larger Go Vote campaign, which aimed to encourage AAPI to participate in the 2020 Presidential Election.
APAC’s 2021 “New Beginnings” Virtual Art Gallery was recently featured in Baltimore Magazine and on WBAL TV. APAC announced in March 2021 that it would be launching its first AAPI artist contest in May for APA Heritage Month. The contest is a response to the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes throughout the United States since the COVID-19 pandemic started in 2020. “We hope to engage and empower our AAPI community to speak up and share their stories and experiences, especially during this unprecedented time.”
