Diane Paulus will direct the opera, based on the novel Journey to the West.
San Francisco Opera has announced that The Monkey King, a new opera by playwright David Henry Hwang and composer Huang Ruo, will have its world premiere November 14-30, as part of the company’s 2025-26 season. The opera, based on the 16th-century Chinese novel Journey to the West, will incorporate puppetry, dance, Peking opera, and Buddhist sutras. Get a first listen to the opera here.
Tenor Kang Wang will star as the Monkey King, alongside tenor Konu Kim as the Jade Emperor, soprano Mei Gui Zhang as Guanyin, baritone Jusung Gabriel Park as Subhuti/Buddha, bass Peixin Chen as Supreme Lord Laozi, baritone Joo Won Kang as Lord Erlang/Ao Guang, and mezzo-soprano Hongni Wu as Crab General/Venus Star. Tony-winning director Diane Paulus (Waitress, Pippin) will direct the production, which will feature puppets and scenic design by Basil Twist, choreography by Ann Yee, costumes by Anita Yavich, lighting by Ayumu “Poe” Saegusa, and projections by Hana S. Kim. Carolyn Kuan will conduct, making her San Francisco Opera debut.