The East Side: A New Musical

The East Side, a new coming-of-age musical comedy, tells the story of 17-year-old Ryan and his developing identity as an American-born Chinese, artist, and son. As New York City Chinatown becomes increasingly gentrified, Ryan and his immigrant mother, Ms. Chen, must decide whether to reimagine their restaurant to appeal to American interests or go bankrupt. Jaded by life at the restaurant, distracted by romance, and full of idealistic fantasies, Ryan struggles to balance spending time with friends, studying for the SATs, working at the Dumpling House, and investing in his hobby – the visual arts. The East Side explores themes of authenticity, identity, acceptance, and love of all kinds.