The Monkey King 美猴王
World premiere at SF Opera in 2025, SF Opera commission
Composed by Huang Rho, libretto by David Henry Hwang, based on Journey to the West
Journey to the West is the second of the great Chinese literary classics commissioned to be adapted into a World Premiere opera. The first being Dream of the Red Chamber, which premiered in 2016. The Monkey King 美猴王 represents an episode for Journey to the West, wherein Sun Wukong (the monkey king of the title) wreaks havoc on the heavens in a bid for immortality.
The Monkey King character and his supernatural abilities have influenced pop culture for generations. There are countless iterations of the Monkey King story and figure, but American audiences may be most familiar with Goku in Dragon Ball whose monkey tail and staff are a direct reference to the wily hero.
Set to premiere at San Francisco Opera in the fall of 2025, The Monkey King 美猴王 will feature music by Huang Ruo and a libretto by David Henry Wang. Award-winning Director Diane Paulus will collaborate with scenic designer and puppeteer Basil twist in bringing the world of The Monkey King from page to stage.