Reviving Old Musicals: New Books for Flower Drum Song and Brigadoon

other · 2026-05-10

Two Los Angeles revivals tackle the challenge of updating classic musicals with problematic books. David Henry Hwang's revised 'Flower Drum Song' at East West Players (Aratani Theatre, through May 31) updates his 2001 adaptation, moving the action to the mid-1960s to contextualize immigration under the Cultural Revolution and Hart-Celler Act. The production, directed by Lily Tung Crystal, is likely the first major staging helmed by a Chinese American. Meanwhile, Alexandra Silber's new adaptation of 'Brigadoon' at Pasadena Playhouse (May 13-June 14) addresses gender roles and Scottish authenticity, flipping the wise elder Mr. Lundie to Widow Lundie (played by Tyne Daly) and fleshing out female characters. Silber, a Broadway performer, also adds Scots dialogue. The article also surveys May world premieres nationwide, including 'Girl, Interrupted' (Public Theater, May 13-June 21) with songs by Aimee Mann, book by Martyna Majok, direction by Jo Bonney; and 'Black Swan' (American Repertory Theater, May 25-June 28) adapted by Jen Silverman with music by Dave Malloy, directed by Sonya Tayeh. Other notable premieres include 'The Fear of 13' with Adrien Brody, 'Innocence' at the Met Opera, and numerous regional productions.

Key facts

David Henry Hwang's revised 'Flower Drum Song' runs at East West Players through May 31.
Alexandra Silber's 'Brigadoon' adaptation runs May 13-June 14 at Pasadena Playhouse.
Lily Tung Crystal directs 'Flower Drum Song', likely first major production directed by a Chinese American.
Silber's 'Brigadoon' features Tyne Daly as Widow Lundie.
'Girl, Interrupted' musical runs May 13-June 21 at Public Theater with songs by Aimee Mann.
'Black Swan' musical runs May 25-June 28 at American Repertory Theater.
'Innocence' by Kaija Saariaho ran at Metropolitan Opera directed by Simon Stone.
Adrien Brody stars in 'The Fear of 13' on Broadway.

Entities

Artists

David Henry Hwang
Alexandra Silber
Lily Tung Crystal
Tyne Daly
Aimee Mann
Martyna Majok
Jo Bonney
Jen Silverman
Dave Malloy
Sonya Tayeh
Kaija Saariaho
Simon Stone
Susanna Mälkki
Adrien Brody
Cinco Paul
Richard Greenberg
Richard LaGravenese
Savion Glover
John O'Hara
Aaron Sorkin
Lerner
Loewe
Rodgers
Hammerstein
C.Y. Lee
George Takei
Lloyd Suh
Danny Burstein
Rebecca Luker
Chloe Lamford
Rose Byrne
Kelli O'Hara
Joe Mantello
Laurie Metcalf
Debbie Allen
Cedric the Entertainer
Ruben Santiago-Hudson
Chris Wells
Jeremy Bass
Katie Finneran
Michael Oluokun
James Clement
Danilo Gambini
Baron Vaughn
Evren Odcikin
Nora Sørena Casey
Arthur Makaryan
Julián Mesri
Rebecca Martínez
Beto O'Byrne
Sara Ornelas
Meropi Peponides
Felicia Lobo
Pete Boisvert
Maggie Cino
Scott C. Sickles
Montserrat Méndez
Anthony P. Pennino
Mike Keller
Eliya Smith
Chloe Claudel
Suli Holum
Melissa Crespo
Chaz T. Martin
Rebecca Wright
Ella Hickson
Ian Rickson
Hugh Jackman
Marianna Gailus
Sepideh Moafi
Damen Scranton
Laura Wickens
Jessica Burr
Katherine Reis
Juliana Canfield
Dana Leslie Goldstein
Brandon M. Weber
Talene Monahan
Aileen Wen McGroddy
Will Brill
Susanna Centlivre
John J. Caswell Jr.
Stephen Spinella
Dustin Wills
Eliana Theologides Rodriguez
Miranda Cornell
Tami Workentin
Jim Pickering
Laura Braza
Melissa Ross
Jessica Fisch
Barbara Brooks
Raymond Berg
Shelli Place
Douglas Lyons
Teisha Bankston
Torie Wiggins
Steven J. Scott
Andrew Kramer
Chris Saunders
Anthony Drewe
Ryan Fielding Garrett
Michael Barakiva
Netta Walker
McKenzie Chinn
Paul Heller
Alberto Lomnitz
Leah Smith
Eva DeVirgilis
Rebecca Wahls
Liz Duffy Adams
Shelley Butler
matthew paul olmos
Brenda Palestina
Amy Tofte
Beki Baker
Steven Dietz
J. Barry Lewis
Maryum Ali
Muhammad Ali
Jemal Mcneil
Somnia Mari Feral
Alma Davenport
Gloria Estefan
Emilia Estefan
Karen Zacarías
Michael Greif
Carissa Atallah
Mia Torres
Henry Ong
Diana Wyenn
Angela Poe Russell
Dionne McClain-Freeney
Amy Poisson
Ritesh Batra
Rachel Chavkin
Kristina Wong
David Cote
Justin Davidson
Jason Zinoman
Zachary Stewart
Misha Berson
Rebecca Frecknall
Leni Riefenstahl
Oliver Sipple
Sara Jane Moore
Gerald Ford
Rodman Philbrick
Dylan Godwin
Lynn Lane
Baize Buza
Alexia Haick
Joan Marcus
Lia Chang

Institutions

East West Players
Aratani Theatre
Pasadena Playhouse
Lincoln Center Theater
Encores!
42nd Street Moon
Reprise Theatre
Arena Stage
Metropolitan Opera
Roundabout Theatre Company
Manhattan Theatre Club
Second Stage Theater
Public Theater
American Repertory Theater
Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Alley Theatre
Alliance Theatre
Atlantic Theater Company
Azuka Theatre
Bishop Arts Theatre Center
Boundless Theatre Company
Bushwick Starr
Cadence Theatre
Chain Theatre
Cleveland Play House
Definition Theatre
Detroit Repertory Theatre
Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati
Firehouse Theatre
Flea Theatre
Geva Theatre
Goat Exchange
La MaMa
Latinx Playwrights Circle
Makers' Space
Milagro
Milwaukee Repertory Theater
Minetta Lane Theatre
Nashville Rep
New York Theatre Workshop
Northern Stage
Palm Beach Dramaworks
People's Light
Phoenix Theatre
Playwrights Horizons
Portland Center Stage
Radical Evolution
Rivendell Theatre Ensemble
Seattle Public Theater
Six Points Theater
Skylight Theatre
Sol Project
SOOP Theatre Company
St. Luke's Theater
Stages
Strand Theater Company
the cell theatre
Try For Baby Productions
Unicorn Theatre
Unlimited Stages
What Will the Neighbors Say? Productions
American Theatre
TCG
Rodgers & Hammerstein estates
Lerner and Loewe estates
Audible
MST3K
Actors' Gang

Locations

Los Angeles
California
United States
Little Tokyo
San Francisco
Chinatown
New York City
Broadway
Brooklyn
Flatbush
Manhattan
Pasadena
Cambridge
Massachusetts
Houston
Texas
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Georgia
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Illinois
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Cleveland
Dallas
Detroit
Michigan
Indianapolis
Indiana
Kansas City
Missouri
Malvern
Pennsylvania
Milwaukee
Wisconsin
Nashville
Tennessee
New York
Philadelphia
Palm Beach
Florida
Portland
Oregon
Richmond
Virginia
Rochester
St. Paul
Minnesota
White River Junction
Vermont
Baltimore
Maryland
Paris
France
Portugal
Scotland
China
Paraguay
Arizona
Ireland
Estonia

Sources

ArtsJournal — 2026-05-10