HELLO KITTY MUST DIE, a deliciously dark comedy with music
Based on novel Hello Kitty Must Die by Angela S. Choi
Adapted for the stage by Kurt Johns and Gail Rastorfer
Directed by Kurt Johns
Hello Kitty Must Die began it's ambition for the stage as a solo play, initially devloped by SoloChicago Theatre Company. HKMD has had developmental readings:
in Chicago at Stage 773, produced by SoloChicago
in L.A., at The Road theatre Summer Playwrights Fest
in New York City, produced by Davenport Theatricals
Kevin McCullom and Alchemation came to the table asking if it could be tried as a musical
I rewrote the solo play for five Asian women to portray all 20 characters, and we began to musicalize
We added to our creative staff:
Music by Cecilia Lin
Lyrics by Jessica Wu
Choreogrphy by Katie Spelman
Hello Kitty Must Die the musical's world premiere was a completely sold out & extended run
at the 2023 Edinburgh Fringe Festival!
See UK REVIEWS QUOTES
UK INTERVIEW WITH DIRECTOR, KURT JOHNS
READ AUDIENCE COMMENTS at READINGS HERE
To Learn More about the cast, creatives, news, and reviews visit hellokittymustdie.com
In this World Premiere transgressive darkly comedic show, Fiona Yu, the main character/narrator, is 30 yr old Chinese-American lawyer torn between traditional family, being a fetishized "hello kitty" and her righteous anger as a woman and desire to live her own life, her own way.To avoid parents' plan to marry her off and escape the burden of "family honor", Fiona decides to take her own virginity. In the process, she reunites with her with a long-lost friend, Sean.
While trying to avoid the "nice Chinese boys" her father tries to set her up with and navigate the murky waters of San Francisco’s legal world, Fiona tries out a new life with Sean which consists of fun but platonic dates that always seem to take place the night before a murder victim is discovered. Fiona's father throws her new life into chaos when he dupes her into an engagement to Don Koo, the spoiled son of a wealthy chef. Her world starts to spiral out of control as she battles her bullying new boss, her new fiancé and Sean pulling her farther outside her comfort zone.
Fiona's journey of self-discovery is biting and clever as she embraces her true nature and creates her own version of the American Dream, eliminating--without fear or remorse--anyone who stands in her way. It's a feminist manifesto for Asian women. Think Wednesday Addams meets Dexter.
