A collaboration with
When You Trap a Tiger
MARCH 14 - 30, 2025
Based on the book by Tae Keller
Script by Katie Hae Leo
Directed by Emma Y. Lai
CAST | CREATIVE TEAM
RECOMMENDED FOR: Ages 7+
LOCATION: Jaycees Studio Theatre
SHOW RUN TIME: Approximately 85 minutes, with no intermission.
RESOURCE GUIDE: Click to Read!
What stories do you keep with you?
Would you make a deal with a magical tiger? This uplifting story brings Korean folklore to life as a girl goes on an adventure to unlock the power of stories and save her grandmother. Based on the #1 New York Times best-selling, Newbery Medal-winning novel, When You Trap a Tiger.
CONTENT ADVISORY:
This production contains subject matter about illness and the death of a loved one. It is recommended for AGES 7+ and may not be suitable for all patrons.
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About Theater Mu
Theater Mu (pronounced MOO) is the premier Asian American theater company in the Midwest and one of the largest in the nation. Founded in 1992, Mu’s continuing goal to celebrate and empower the Asian American community through theater is achieved through mainstage productions, emerging artist support, and educational outreach programs. Theater Mu is a member of the Consortium of Asian American Theaters & Artists, as well as a member of the Twin Cities Theatres of Color Coalition, proudly standing alongside New Native Theatre, Pangea World Theater, Penumbra Theatre, and Teatro Del Pueblo.
SPECIAL EVENT!
MEET TAE KELLER
THE AUTHOR OF WHEN YOU TRAP A TIGER!
Saturday, March 29, 2025
12:00 PM until the start of the 1:00 PM performance
Ticketholders for either performance of When You Trap a Tiger on March 29th are invited to attend a book signing with Tae Keller, the author of When You Trap a Tiger. This event will occur in the lobby, and patrons will have the opportunity to have their copy of the book autographed! Books will be available for purchase at the box office, while supplies last. Book today, space is limited!
VIDEOS
Teaser Trailer
The Cast
The Creative Team
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR STC - Sandy Boren-Barrett
INTERIM ARTISTIC DIRECTOR THEATER MU - Katie Bradley
DIRECTOR - Emma Y. Lai
PUPPET DESIGNER - Marc Berg
COMPOSER / SOUND DESIGNER - Rachel Brees
SET DESIGNER - Yunzhu (Jessica) Chen
PROPS DESIGNER - Calvin Friedman
COSTUME & MAKE-UP DESIGNER - Samantha Fromm Haddow
LIGHTING DESIGNER - Grant E. Merges
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR - Jim Hibbeler
SOUND TECHNICIAN - Gretchen Katt
WARDROBE SUPERVISOR - Christa Ludwig
PRODUCTION MANAGER - Melanie Salmon-Peterson
STAGE MANAGER/ASSISTANT DIRECTOR - Janae Lorick
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER - Hailey Ballard
SOUND BOARD OPERATOR - David Gamache
LIGHT BOARD OPERATORS - Jonah Anderson & Bonnie Ray
SCENIC ARTIST - Cinde Ashley, Yvonne Ring, Eme Stenbeck
MASTER ELECTRICIAN - Lucas Martin
ELECTRICIANS - Samantha Brown, Michael Remucal, Justin Sharbono
VOLUNTEERS - Jeff Aune, Jenny Brown, Scott Brown, Warren Glidden, Ron Kline, Donna Meyer, Mariann Wolf
BIPOC YOUTH MENTEE COSTUME DESIGN - Erykah Lee
KOREAN LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL CONSULTANT - Aerin Park
THEATRE MU STAFF
INTERIM ARTISTIC DIRECTOR - Katie Bradley
MANAGING DIRECTOR - Anh Thư T. Phạm
DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR - Wesley Mouri
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR - Lianna McLernon
PROGRAMS MANAGER - Morgen Chang
OFFICE & LITERARY MANAGER - Jane Peña
MELLON FOUNDATION
PLAYWRIGHT-IN-RESIDENCE - Saymoukda Duangphouxay Vongsay
CREATIVE TEAM BIOS
Tae Keller
Author
Tae Keller is the Newbery award winning and New York Times bestselling author of When You Trap a Tiger and The Science of Breakable Things. She grew up in Honolulu, Hawaii, where she subsisted on kimchi, purple rice, and stories. Now, she writes about biracial girls trying to find their voices, and lives in Seattle with her husband and a multitude of books. Courtesy of taekeller.com
Katie Hae Leo (she/her)
Playwright
Katie Hae Leo (she/her) is thrilled to adapt Tae Keller’s beautiful novel for two of her artistic homes, Theater Mu and Stages Theatre Company, and to work with this wonderful creative team. As a playwright, her previous works include Four Destinies, adaptations of Baseball Saved Us and A Single Shard, and N/A, which was part of The Origins Project, as well as “The New Kid” audio story for Mu’s You Shall Hear Me series. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from The University of Minnesota. Katie is currently based in Savannah, Georgia and works for The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), a consumer advocacy watchdog working on food and nutrition policy, public health, and food equity based in Washington, D.C. katiehaeleo.com
Emma Y. Lai
Director
EMMA Y. LAI (she/her) is a Taiwanese new works director, writer, and producer. Emma has worked with Mu as its directing fellow on Hells Canyon and was a part of its emerging playwrights’ circle. Favorite directing/assisting credits include the world premieres of devoured: notes on love and enmeshment by Liqing Xu (Southern Theater/Playwrights’ Center), The Garden by Hannah Bakke (Childrens’ Theatre Company T.A.T.), Your Own Personal Exegesis by Julia May Jonas (dir. Annie Tippe/LCT3 at Lincoln Center), An American Tail by Itamar Moses, Michael Mahler, and Alan Schmuckler (dir. Taibi Magar/Childrens’ Theatre Company), and COWBOY BOB by Molly Beach Murphy, Jeanna Phillips, and Annie Tippe (dir. Annie Tippe/Alley Theatre). | emmaylai.com
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