Stages shares a remarkable story with "The Chinese Lady," running from February 27 to March 22, 2026. January 27, 2026
HOUSTON (January 20, 2026) – Stages continues its 2025—26 season with The Chinese Lady, written by Lloyd Suh. Running from February 27 to March 22, 2026, on the Lester and Sue Smith Stage at The Gordy, this critically acclaimed play is inspired by the true story of the first Chinese woman to arrive in the United States.
In 1834, 14-year-old Afong Moy was brought to America by promoters and toured across the country as a living curiosity.. As she travels across America over the decades, The Chinese Lady shares her witty, poignant and occasionally heartbreaking observations of a young nation, touching on themes of identity, exploitation and anti-Asian racism. The play unfolds entirely through Moy’s perspective, balancing moments of humor with stark historical realities as she navigates life as both an object of fascination and a woman determined to be heard.
“This play deftly balances intellectual wit, emotional depth, and bold theatricality to give Afong Moy a powerful, resonant voice,” says Stages’ artistic director, Derek Charles Livingston. “What emerges is a life story that’s immediate and personal, even across centuries, and encourages us to consider who we are today.”
Intimate in scale and rich in emotion, The Chinese Lady unfolds as a direct and engaging conversation with the audience, blending historical storytelling with moments of quiet humor and sharp insight. Produced in the round on Stages’ intimate Lester and Sue Smith Stage, the audience is the gazer and gazed, underscoring the play’s intimacy as just two characters–Afong Moy and Atung her translator and factotum–take us on an emotionally rich journey.
The production is supported by collaborations with local community organizations and scholars from Rice University and the University of Houston, with lobby displays and program materials highlighting Houston’s Chinese community. Afong Moy is portrayed by Alexandra Szeto-Joe, whom the Houston Press has called one of the city’s leading actors, returning to Stages after her acclaimed performance last season in Lloyd Suh’s The Heart Sellers.
PERFORMANCE DETAILS
Performances run from February 27 to March 22, 2026. The performance schedule is:
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ABOUT STAGES
Founded in 1978, Stages makes plays and tells stories that invite everyone to live more deeply and love more boldly. Guided by core values of Courage, Intimacy, Generosity, Inclusion and Tenacity, Stages’ intimate productions forge lasting connections while holding up a mirror to the community, sparking contemplation on the question: “What does it mean to be human?”
As Houston’s sixth-largest nonprofit performing arts producer, and the largest beyond the downtown theater district, Stages produces approximately 12 productions annually, totaling 430+ performances and drawing 75,000+ visitors per season. In January 2020, Stages unveiled The Gordy, a cutting-edge three-theater venue, redefining how Houston experiences theater.