King of the Yees event image
Signature Theatre (Pershing Square Signature Center), Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan

King of the Yees

Kelly Marie Tran plays a playwright hunting her missing dad through Chinatown myth in Lauren Yee's 'kind of true' comedy at Signature.

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Now in PreviewsComedyOff-Broadway

Star Wars' Kelly Marie Tran plays a New York playwright named Lauren whose father vanishes from San Francisco's Chinatown, sending her on a surreal quest through the myths of the Yee family association he's run for two decades. Lauren Yee, the writer behind Cambodian Rock Band, calls it a 'kind of true' story, and Francis Jue reprises the dad role he's played in earlier productions. If you want an off-Broadway comedy with heart and a recognizable lead, previews are just getting started.

What to expect

A hilarious and heartfelt comedy that starts with a father-daughter clash over a Chinatown family association and turns into a surreal, magical quest through the history and myths of the Yee lineage. A five-person cast carries the story, with three actors credited simply as Actor #1, #2 and #3.

Good to know

  • The Pershing Square Signature Center is at 480 West 42nd Street; take the A/C/E to 42 St–Port Authority.
  • Performances run Tuesday through Sunday.
  • Early performances are previews ahead of the official opening.
  • Lauren Yee is a Signature resident playwright, and this production is part of that residency.
  • Theatre Row and Hell's Kitchen restaurants are a short walk away.

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Common questions

Who is in King of the Yees?

Kelly Marie Tran plays Lauren and Francis Jue plays Larry, with Jon Norman Schneider, Maureen Sebastian and David Shih.

Is King of the Yees a true story?

Lauren Yee describes it as 'kind of true', inspired by her own father and his Chinatown family association.