The Dance and the Railroad

William Yuekun Wu and Ruy Iskandar. Photo by Joan Marcus for Signature Theatre, 2013

Set against the backdrop of the Chinese American railroad workers’ strike of 1867, The Dance and the Railroad rejects the stereotype of submissive immigrant laborers, and depicts assertive men who demanded their rights despite great personal risk. The play compares the optimistic and idealistic Ma to the pragmatic and independent Lone, and juxtaposes the hard labor of working on the railroad with the dream to practice traditional Chinese Opera.

The Dance and the Railroad premiered at the New Federal Theatre in 1981, directed by John Lone, before moving to the Public Theater, and received a 1982 Drama Desk Nomination for Best New Play. It was revived at Signature Theatre in 2013, directed by May Adrales, in a production which received its Chinese premiere at the Wuzhen Festival later that year.

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Photos from the 2013 revival at Signature Theatre. Photos by Joan Marcus.

William Yuekun Wu and Ruy Iskandar. Photo by Joan Marcus for Signature Theatre, 2013

Ruy Iskandar and William Yuekun Wu. Photo by Joan Marcus for Signature Theatre, 2013

William Yuekun Wu and Ruy Iskandar. Photo by Joan Marcus for Signature Theatre, 2013

Photos from the 1981 production at the Public Theatre. Photos by Martha Swope.

Actor John Lone. Photo by Martha Swope for the Public Theatre, Courtesy NYPL

Actor John Lone. Photo by Martha Swope for the Public Theatre, Courtesy NYPL

Actor John Lone. Photo by Martha Swope for the Public Theatre, Courtesy NYPL

Actor Tzi Ma. Photo by Martha Swope for the Public Theatre, Courtesy NYPL

Actors (L-R) John Lone and Tzi Ma. Photo by Martha Swope for the Public Theatre, Courtesy NYPL

Actors (L-R) John Lone and Tzi Ma. Photo by Martha Swope for the Public Theatre, Courtesy NYPL

Actors (L-R) Tzi Ma and John Lone. Photo by Martha Swope for the Public Theatre, Courtesy NYPL

Actors (L-R) Tzi Ma and John Lone. i Photo by Martha Swope for the Public Theatre, Courtesy NYPL

Playwright David Henry Hwang (L) with actors (2L-R) John Lone and Tzi Ma in a publicity shot. Photo by Martha Swope for the Public Theatre, Courtesy NYPL