Inside Chinese Theater of 19th Century California

In December we are delighted to welcome Professor Nancy Yunhua Rao of the Rutgers University, Department of Music. She will speak on the topic “Inside Chinese Theatre of 19th Century California,” examining the history of Chinese opera performance venues in the US. Professor Rao has conducted extensive research on the history of Cantonese opera in America. Drawing on diaries ,newspapers, and cultural artifacts, she reconstructs the historical landscape of Chinese theatres in California and the western United States during the 19th century and analyzes how costumes, vocal styles, stage design, and narratives shaped the Chinese community’s identity.