WHEN THE SUN MELTS AWAY
Friday, November 18, 2022, at 10pm
and
Saturday, November 19 2022, at 2pm & 4:30pm
Greenhouse Theater
2257 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago, IL 60614
Tickets: $10 (including all fees)
Inspired by the poetry of Kashmiri mystic Lal Ded, devised play WHEN THE SUN MELTS AWAY takes on the search for identity and understanding.
Feeling trapped between the worlds we all inhabit, a young Asian American woman in When the Sun Melts Away seeks a deeper awareness, and strives to, in the words of 14h century Kashmiri poet Lal Ded, “focus on the self”. Token Theatre’s fall production is inspired by the themes found in Ded’s spiritual poetry, which often questioned society’s focus on the external. A magical journey to find identity, the piece illuminates – and interrogates – the process many young Asian Americans encounter in the constant struggle to define themselves.
“WHEN THE SUN MELTS AWAY is a rare story, and a moving introspection we’re delighted to share with audiences,” said Token Artistic Director David Rhee. “Generations later, Lal Ded’s powerful words perfectly encapsulate what so many Asian Americans experience – finding, and sometimes losing, yourself in another world that feels just as nonsensical as your own.”
Devised by: Simran Deokule, Coco Huang, Juliet Huneke, Karina Patel, and Emily Zhang
Director: Karina Patel
Featuring: Simran Deokule, Juliet Huneke, Emily Zhang
Stage Manager: Payton Shearn
Lighting Designer: Haley Groth
Set, Props, and Costume Designer: Coco Huang
Karina Patel (she/her) is a theatre-maker, director and actor born in London, based in Chicago, and raised everywhere else. Recently, she has been directing and devising with Token Theatre, The Actor’s Gymnasium, The 24 Hour Plays, Pocket Theatre VR and is a 2022-2023 Directing Apprentice at PlayGround Chicago. She is currently assistant directing BALD SISTERS at Steppenwolf Theatre Company. Other credits include HOUSE OF JOY at the Repertory Theatre of St Louis (Associate Director) and LOOKINGGLASS ALICE (Assistant Director). She is a graduate of Northwestern University, and spends her free time making excuses to get bubble tea for the third time that week. Karina loves playtime with Emily, Juliet, Simran and Coco! https://www.karinapatel.me/
Simran Deokule (she/her) is a Chicago based actor and producer represented by Shirley Hamilton Agency. Recently, she was seen as Summer in Men on Boats at the Wirtz Center, produced the 79th Annual Dolphin Show, and is looking forward to inaugurating the role of Anjani in the world premiere of Radial Gradient at Shattered Globe Theater. When she is not making theater, you can find her catching up on her Goodreads list or applying to law school :P She is so grateful to David, Wai, and the Token team for trusting her with our Fall Slot, and never wants to stop making magical theater with her friends!
Juliet Kang Huneke (she/her) is an actor, playwright, and teaching artist. She graduated from Northwestern University in 2022, and has recently performed in The Ugly One at Trap Door Theatre and in The 24 Hour Plays: Nationals at Theatre Row in New York City (directed by the one and only Karina Patel!!!). Some other favorite past roles include Betty 2 (Collective Rage: A Play in Five Betties), Little Stone (Eurydice), and Clarisse (The Lightning Thief). When she's not acting, Juliet teaches silly classes at Chicago Children's Theatre and is writing a play about the queer Taylor Swift conspiracy theory, aliens, and Sally Ride. Juliet would like to devise with Karina, Emily, Simran, and Coco forever and ever and ever <3 https://www.julietkanghuneke.com/
Emily Zhang (she/her) is an actor based in Chicago. She recently graduated from Northwestern University with a double major in Theatre and Psychology and is represented by Gray Talent Group. Most recently, she was seen as Julie in WOO GIRLS at The Factory Theater and Bechdel Fest 9 at Broken Nose Theatre. She is also currently understudying for Number Four in AMONG THE DEAD at Jackalope Theatre. She is passionate about thoughtfully diverse representation, mental health and illness education, and aside from theatre, dinosaurs. These poems found her at a challenging yet crucial time in her life, and she hopes this piece can move you to get to know yourself the same way it did for her.
Wenke (Coco) Huang (she/her) graduated from Northwestern University in June 2022 with a B.A. in Performance Studies and Art History. As an artist-scholar, she sees practice as research, and works as a scenic/costume designer, a dramaturg, and a puppeteer. Born and raised in Beijing, China, she values her international upbringing, intercultural experience, and interdisciplinary art-making. Recent works include The Seagull (asst. dramaturg) at Steppenwolf Theatre, The Garden of the Phoenix (puppet short film) for Lookingglass Theatre’s 50 Wards Series, and The Island (asst. director) at Court Theatre.
Payton Shearn (she/her, they/them) is a recent graduate of Northwestern University where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre with a minor in Gender and Sexuality Studies and a module in Theatre Management. They are currently living and working in Chicago. Selected credits: MEN ON BOATS (PSM, Northwestern University), MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG (PSM, The Dolphin Show), MAMMA MIA! (Producer, Arts Alliance), SPAMALOT (ASM, Lovers & Madmen). Special thanks to her friends, family and mentors for everything, always.
Haley Groth (she/her) is a Junior studying Theatre and Creative Writing at Northwestern. She is so excited to be a part of this team! :)