Bea Soong (filmmaker) was born and raised in New York City. She received a B.F.A. from NYU’s Tisch School Of The Arts and in the same year was the recipient of the regional Student Academy Award for best animated film “That Fruit Film” which became a national contender. While working as an assistant film editor, she began to study then pursue an acting career, performing in Off and Off Off Broadway productions. A move to Los Angeles led to work in commercials, film and television. She returned to New York in 2000 and to her theatre roots, whose community is the inspiration for “The Wives Of Henry Yuk”. www.beasoong.com
Ron Nakahara
NYC theaters include Pan Asian Repertory Theatre, The Second Stage Theatre, NYSF/Public Theatre, LaMaMa, ETC., NAATCO, Ma-Yi Theatre, and Ensemble Studio Theatre. Regional credits include The Shakespeare Theatre and The Studio Theatre (Washington DC), Hartford Stage Co., Fulton Opera House (Lancaster, PA), New York State Theatre Institute, The Guthrie Theatre, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, The Alliance Theatre (Atlanta), ACT (San Francisco), and Actors’ Theatre of Louisville. Film credits: COLLEGE ROAD TRIP, I THINK I LOVE MY WIFE, SKY, END OF THE LINE. Television: THE GOOD WIFE, FRINGE, 3 LBS., WHOOPI, LAW&ORDER, LAW&ORDER SVU, ONE LIFE TO LIVE, AS THE WORLD TURNS, THE COSBY MYSTERIES, PEARL: THE MINISERIES, and the original HAWAII 5-0. He is a member of SAG, AEA, AFTRA and SDC.
Tisa Chang was born in China and is a theatre professional for over 4 decades on and off Broadway, films and TV as dancer, actress, director and producer. She has performed opposite handsome, dynamic co-stars: Robert Reed, Hugh O’Brien, Robert DiNiro and Al Pacino, and in real life with James Lipton, Ernest Abuba and John King. She is the founding Artistic Director of Pan Asian Repertory the first and premiere professional theatre for Asian American artists, east of the Rockies, which is celebrating its 35th Season in 2012. Pan Asian Rep has given voice and platform to hundreds of fine artists, and she is proud of the many talents in this film especially veterans Henry Yuk and Bea Soong.
the wives of henry yuk cast and crew
Virginia Wing is a Chinese-American actress whose ancestors came to the “Gold Mountain” from Canton (now Guangzhou) in the mid-1800s to participate in the Gold Rush and the building of the railroads. She is currently writing about her experience growing up “southern” in pre-civil-rights Mississippi, where she was born and raised. Her performances have ranged from opera to nightclubs, from stage dramas to musical comedies, from TV to film and everything in between.
Mary Lee Aranas has performed in New York off-Broadway theater, and in regional theater ranging from Berkshire Theater Festival to Actors' Theater of Louisville to the McCarter Theater, to Cleveland Playhouse, Milwaukee Playhouse, and Cincinnati Playhouse. Mary moved to New York from Canada in 1984 and began her acting career that year in Pan Asian Rep's world premiere of "Empress of China" as the Pearl Concubine. She then performed in Pan Asian Rep mainstage and touring plays for over a decade, and became one of Pan Asian Rep's Resident Ensemble Members. Mary now fulfills her performing vocation as a yoga teacher and trainer and AcroYoga performer. When not traveling she lives in New York City with her actor husband and son, Raul and Raphael. Mary fully plans to return to stage and film work whenever the time ordains it.
Jo Yang is happy to be cast with the usual suspects in “Wives” who are less than six degrees of Henry Yuk and now inextricably linked. On imdb.com she is known for “Alfie,” “Brooklyn Lobster,” “The Namesake” and “If You Only Knew.” Her recent TV work has been on “The 2-2” and “Girls” and she’s also appeared on Law & Order, L&O: SVU and Criminal Intent, among other shows. Her selected stage credits include, “M. Butterfly” at the Seattle Repertory Theatre, “Comfort Women” at Urban Stages, “Joy Luck Club” at Pan Asian Rep and “Love Suicide at Schofield Barracks” at Odyssey Theatre Ensemble. Jo’s real life husband is artist/photographer, David Pruitt, and her daughter, Maya Ling Pruitt, is immortalized at age 7 in the film, “All The Real Girls.” Hats off to Bea for surprising us with her behind the camera talents!
Nina Zoie Lam- born and raised in NYC's Chinatown. Graduate of Hunter College High School and Brown University. Dancer, singer, actress for 29 years on Broadway and theatres across the U.S. and Taiwan. Associate directed musicals for City Opera at New York State Theatre and national tours of King and I, Bombay Dreams and Miss Saigon. Co-founder and Educational director of National Asian Artists Project with Baayork Lee and Steven Eng. Musical theatre director/instructor at P.S. 124 after school program in Chinatown. Yoga Works certified instructor and mom to beautiful 7 year old. So happy to have played one of Henry's wives! Thanks Bea!
Kitty Chen is an autodidact, playwright, and actress. She has worked in the theater since 1975—and she’s still here! She received an NEA playwriting fellowship for her first play, EATING CHICKEN FEET, and two NYFA grants for subsequent plays. She has recently returned to acting, and is having a wonderful time doing voice work and Shakespeare study, as well as whatever commercial/advertising work comes her way. As a writer, she is currently working on MISSUS MUSTARD and BLESSINGS OF CHAIRMAN M., the latter for over a decade.
Henry Yuk is a native New Yorker from Brooklyn. He was introduced to and developed a life-long interest in theatre while at Midwood High School. After a few years working in education, he became involved with Pan Asian Repertory Theatre, an important influence on his career. His work here included "Yellow Fever", "Teahouse" and "Yellow Is My Favorite Color." He has also worked with NAATCO ("The Cherry Orchard," "You Can't Take It With You") and Ma-Yi Theatre Co. ("The Square," "No Foreigners Beyond This Point"). His film work includes "Brooklyn Lobster" (with Danny Aiello), "Kundun" (directed by Martin Scorsese) and the cult classic "The Last Dragon". His TV work includes "The Sopranos,", "Cosby," "Dellaventura," various "Law and Order" episodes, soaps and commercials. He is most proud of the three most important women in his life, his wife, Holly Hyans, and their daughters, Amanda and Colette Lui. Website: www.henryyuk.com
Holly Hyans is the real wife of Henry Yuk! She is also a lawyer, a partner at Morrison & Foerster LLP in New York City, where she specializes in litigating state and local tax cases, and the mother of two terrific daughters, Colette and Amanda Lui.
Wai Ching Ho is delighted to be part of this project by Bea Soong. She was last seen on stage in Denver Centre Theatre's THE CATCH. She has performed in numerous NY productions with various theatre companies: the Pan Asian Rep., Ma-Yi Theatre, NAATCO and others. Regionally she has worked at the Long Wharf Theatre, Palo Alto Theatre Works, Pittsburgh Public Theatre and the Hangar Theatre. Television credits include various episodes of the LAW and ORDER series and DELLAVENTURA where she played Henry Yuk's wife. Most recent film credits include THE SORCEROR'S APPRENTICE and the upcoming PREMIUM RUSH. A native of Hong Kong, Ms. Ho now resides in NYC. Proud grandma of Kaan Chan Richardson!
