Indiana Repertory Theatre

About the Play

The Paper Dreams of Harry Chin
by Jessica Huang
April 20 – May 15, 2022
Upperstage

Available for streaming May 2 – 15, 2022
BuY VIRTUAL TICKETS

The final performance of The Paper Dreams of Harry Chin, scheduled for May 15 at 2 pm, is cancelled due to breakthrough COVID-19 cases in the company. We appreciate your understanding and will work with patrons on ticket exchanges or refunds. If you have any questions, please contact the Ticket Office at 317.635.5252 or ticketoffice@irtlive.com.

COMMUNITY CONVERSATION SPONSORED BY FAEGRE DRINKER: PLAYWRIGHT OF THE PAPER DREAMS OF HARRY CHIN JESSICA HUANG WITH IRT'S ASSOCIATE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR BENJAMIN HANNA
Saturday, April 23, 2022 | Following the 5 PM performance of The Paper Dreams of Harry Chin

Please join us for a post-show conversation with Playwright Jessica Huang and IRT’s Associate Artistic Director Benjamin Hanna about the creation and significance of The Paper Dreams of Harry Chin play. Learn about how the play was inspired by an oral history discovery, Jessica’s research process and connection with Harry Chin’s actual daughter Sheila, and the importance of studying Asian American history and understanding how the Chinese Exclusion Act still impacts us today.

COMMUNITY CONVERSATION SPONSORED BY FAEGRE DRINKER: INTERGENERATIONAL IDENTITIES & STORIES OF IMMIGRATION
Thursday, April 28, 2022 | Following the 7:30 PM performance of The Paper Dreams of Harry Chin

Please join us for a post-show conversation with University of Indianapolis professor and award-winning author Leah Milne, Julia Zhou of Lilly and the Lilly Chinese Cultural Network, and writer Victoria Xiao, who will moderate the panel. The panelists will discuss the importance of passing on oral history, how we share (or don’t share) stories of immigration, and the complexity of intergenerational and intersectional identities.

COMMUNITY CONVERSATION SPONSORED BY FAEGRE DRINKER: EXAMINING THE MIXED-RACE EXPERIENCE IN THE UNITED STATES
Tuesday, May 10, 2022 | Following the 6:30 PM performance of The Paper Dreams of Harry Chin

Please join us for a post-show conversation with Katherin Chi, Senior Director of Operations and Development at RISE Indy, food industry maven Connie Lee, and Moderator André Zhang Sonera, the City of Indianapolis' Project Manager for Neighborhood Engagement. This wide-ranging discussion will cover the mixed-race experience, the recent rise in hate and violence against the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community, and the resonance of Harry Chin’s immigration and family story.

a surreal journey through past & present

Despite the US ban against Chinese immigrants, Harry Chin forged a new identity to earn precious American dollars to send home to his starving village. Now he is trapped between two families and two worlds. Seasoned with magic and mystery, this hauntingly theatrical tale from our overlooked history considers the personal and political repercussions of making a group of people illegal.

*Part of IRT's INclusion Series: Celebrating Diverse Storytelling

APPROXIMATE RUN TIME: 2 hours, including a 15-minute intermission.

The Paper Dreams of Harry Chin is a family drama that contains profanity and references to suicide. Recommended for patrons 9th grade and above. Due to content and length, children under 4 years of age are not permitted in the OneAmerica Mainstage and Upperstage Theatres. Learn more about our attendance policies here.

Health & Safety Guidelines:

All IRT patrons attending public performances must show a photo ID and proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 PCR test (administered no more than 72 hours prior to the performance), in addition to wearing a mask. By purchasing a ticket, you acknowledge and agree to comply with the terms of our policies. Please see our full Health & Safety information and policies on our FAQs page.

Artistic Note:
“The Paper Dreams of Harry Chin is a beautiful play skillfully woven from the story of a man who immigrated to the United States in the 1930s despite the Chinese Exclusion Act. Watching the play is like putting together an elaborate puzzle as Chin's journey unfolds through striking flashbacks and memories. Playwright Jessica Huang has vividly illuminated with great care a period of our American history often intentionally under examined. It is a timely piece that asks us to think deeply about our current immigration policies and how our ancestors gained access to the land we live on.” – Benjamin Hanna, Associate Artistic Director

faqs: season, safety, and streaming

read the study guide

Read the free digital program below or click here.