Common Space Initiative: “Flower Drum Song” Film Screening
Join Philadelphia Asian Performing Artists and the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival for a free community screening of the classic 1961 movie-musical “Flower Drum Song.” As part of the PAPA Member Monday Series, this event centers the collaborative community building of Asian American and Pacific Islander Performing artists, but all who are interested in learning about and supporting this movement are welcome to attend.
Common Space Initiative is Fleisher’s newest neighborhood-based program designed to help community members find and keep a sense of place in a culturally diverse and rapidly changing South Philadelphia. In a time of increasing gentrification and tensions over the use of South Philadelphia’s limited public space, Fleisher will create a place where inclusive, community-driven projects are made and shared. All programs in this series will be developed by the community organizations or artist collectives that host them, and are free and open to the public.
Before “Crazy Rich Asians” and before “Joy Luck Club,” “Flower Drum Song” was truly the first Hollywood studio film to star an all Asian cast. This 1961 adaptation of the 1958 Rodgers and Hammerstein Broadway musical about missed connections and intergenerational conflict helped boost the careers of an entire generation of Asian American actors into mainstream stardom. Academy Award winning actress Miyoshi Umeki stars as Chinese immigrant Mei Li, a young woman who arrives in San Francisco’s Chinatown with the intention of marrying a rakish nightclub owner Sammy Fong (Jack Soo). Things soon become complicated when Sammy wants to marry showgirl Linda Low (Nancy Kwan). In an effort to get out of his arranged marriage, Sammy tries to pawn her off to wealthy Master Wang (Benson Fong) as a fiancée for his son, Wang Ta (James Shigeta). However, as the elder generation begins taking an interest in the marital futures of their children it is unclear whether any of them will be able to marry for love.
Schedule:
7:05: short preview of the Philly Asian Histories Project
7:15: introduction to “Flower Drum Song” by Fleisher Programs Director (and PAAFF Festival Director) Rob Buscher
7:20: film starts
About PAPA:
We are a collective of theatre artists who seek to enhance and strengthen the presence of Asian Americans in the Philadelphia theatre community. Our goal is to provide consistent, focused training with workshops and mentorship for their members through partnerships with professional theaters and artists. As a result of sustaining and increasing the skill levels of this group, we hope to empower and retain emerging Asian American theater artists in Philadelphia. As PAPA grows and strengthens, we aim to encourage and create performance opportunities for PAPA members and also reflect the greater diversity of this city and its stories.
About PAAFF:
Philadelphia Asian American Film & Filmmakers is a nonprofit organization founded in 2008 to celebrate and elevate the voices of the Asian American & Pacific Islander experience in cinema. For over a decade we have presented captivating year-round programs that engage and inspire Asian communities while building bridges between diverse communities throughout Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival, traditionally held in November, is our marquee event and prides itself as the largest film festival on the East Coast dedicated to AAPI content. The festival brings in audience members from around the country and AAPI filmmakers, actors, and leaders from around the world.