APN | Marty Chan


Site Links: APN Home Catalogue Index List of playwrights List of plays Search for a play Create a profile/ Submit a play Submit changes to your profile or play or send us a photo Other on-line catalogues: Playwrights Development Centres of Canada The Dramatic Exchange International Centre for Women Playwrights La Ronde - Playwrights Ring Playwrights' Workshop Montreal Playmarket - New Zealand Playwrights Playwrights Guild of Canada Virtual Library & Bookstore Playwrights Canada Press New Theatre Publications (England) Samuel French Catalogue ProPlay (British Columbia) Victorian Drama League (Australia) Dramatists Play Service (USA) Play Bureau (New Zealand) Theatrebooks (Toronto) Playscripts Inc. (USA) Find a play.com (USA)	Marty Chan Jump to list of plays Raised in Morinville - a small town north of Edmonton, Alberta - Marty Chan is a playwright, radio writer, television story editor, and young adult author. Much to the chagrin of his mother, he does not include engineer on his resume. He attended a year of the Engineering Program at the University of Alberta (U of A), but received the Dean's Vacation (a quaint way of saying don't let the door hit you in the butt on your way out). After a year, Marty returned to the U of A and graduated in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree (English Major/Drama Minor). He fell into improv comedy when he joined Edmonton Theatresports, but his paralyzing stage fright resulted in "penguin arm" acting, forcing him to abandon performing and take up writing. His signature play, Mom, Dad, I'm Living with a White Girl, has been produced across Canada, published three times, and recorded as a radio drama. The stage play won an Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award for Best New Work and the Adams Chinese Theatre Award at Harvard University. Marty was a regular contributor to CBC Radio Edmonton from 1994 to 2000. His weekly commentary series, The Dim Sum Diaries, recounted his misadventures as the only Chinese kid in a small prairie town. These weekly commentaries served as fodder for a half hour television program (The Orange Seed Myth) which won a Gold Medal for Best Television Pilot at the Charleston World Film and Television Festival, and earned Marty a Gemini nomination for writing in a children's program. The commentaries also inspired Marty's first young adult novel, The Mystery of the Frozen Brains. Marty was the first playwright in residence at the Citadel Theatre. He also served as Chair of the Edmonton Arts Council and taught playwriting at the U of A. He received an Arts Achievement Award from the City of Edmonton and a Horizon Award from the University for his contributions to theatre. However, his mother still wishes he stayed in Engineering. Currently, Marty resides in Edmonton with his wife Michelle and their cat Jake. Selected plays In alphabetical order by title: A Hero for All The Bone House The Forbidden Phoenix Maggie's Last Dance Mom, Dad, I'm Living with a White Girl Polaroids of Don The Sword in the Stone To request a copy of any of these plays please contact the playwright directly via email. To inquire about performance rights for any of these plays please contact the playwright directly via email. A Hero for All by Marty Chan Style: Theatre for Young Audiences Number of Acts: One act Length: 40 mins Total actors required: 3 Men: 2 Women: 1 Synopsis: Kenny goes back to school after a successful round of chemotherapy treatments, but he's afraid of telling his friends what he's been through. He explains the change in his appearance by lying; he claims he has received super hero powers and that he is now Captain Blasto. The play bounces between Kenny's real life school problems and his super hero fantasies, until he is forced to confront his disease. The real hero that emerges is Kenny, the brave leukemia patient. Production History: Premiered at Fringe Theatre Adventures, Edmonton, 1998 Notes: Awards: Sterling Award- TYA Production Jessie Nom. - TYA Production Return to list The Bone House by Marty Chan Style: Drama Number of Acts: One act Length: 75 mins Total actors required: 4 Men: 3 Women: 1 Synopsis: An audience comes to hear a lecture about serial killers. Self-proclaimed mind hunter, Eugene Crowley, recreates gruesome murders to convince the audience that a serial killer is on the loose. As the lecture progresses, the audiences suspects Crowley might actually be the killer himself. But before they can act, members of the audience are shuffled throughout the lecture hall so that they sit beside strangers. Crowley presents his final proof, an inkblot that the audience must scrutinize for a full minute. The lights are turned off and the negative image of the inkblot forms the face of the killer. However, in the blackout, the true killer makes his presence known and proceeds to eviscerate Crowley, leaving the audience's imaginations to create the picture to go along with the sounds and sensations in the dark. This play is a psychological experiment about the nature of fear, imagination, and deification of serial killers. Production History: Premiered at the Running with Scissors Theatre, Edmonton, 1999 Notes: Awards: - Sterling Nom for Best New Fringe Play - Sterling Nom for Best Actor in Fringe Play - Sterling Nom for Best Fringe Play - Sterling Nom for Best Fringe Director Return to list The Forbidden Phoenix by Marty Chan Style: Drama Number of Acts: Two acts Length: 120mins Total actors required: 5 Men: 3 Women: 2 Synopsis: An allegory for the early Chinese immigrants to Canada, this myth tells the story of the Monkey King's journey west. Looking for food for his people, this classic Chinese Opera character faces discrimination in a prosperous land run by a lonely ruler who only wants to bring the Iron Dragon to his kingdom. This play is a hybrid of Chinese Opera and North American Theatre, using martial arts, music, costumes, and magic to convey a mythical story with historical relevance. Production History: Premiered at Running with Scissors Theatre, Edmonton, 2003 Notes: Award: Gwen Pharis Ringwood Award for Drama Return to list Maggie's Last Dance by Marty Chan Style: Drama Number of Acts: One act Length: 80 mins Total actors required: 6 Men: 3 Women: 3 Synopsis: A high school reunion brings together old friends and nemeses to relive the past. Old crushes are revisited along with regrets and hopes. The play jumps between the present-day reunion when people are wiser and more experienced, and the high school hey days when youthful exuberance and naivete ruled. Production History: Premiered at Paper Tiger Productions, Edmonton, 1996 Return to list Mom, Dad, I'm Living with a White Girl by Marty Chan Style: Drama Number of Acts: Two acts Length: 85 mins Total actors required: 4 Men: 2 Women: 2 Synopsis: Mark Gee moves in with his Caucasian girlfriend Sally, but is too afraid of telling his traditional Chinese parents about his new living arrangements. Instead, he hides the truth as he introduces Sally to Mom and Dad in the hopes that they will like her. Fears turn into fantasies as the real time scenes are interwoven with scenes from the Yellow Claw, a satire on the racist movie series about a Chinese overlord trying to invade the west. The play skewers Asian stereotypes and examines the trials and tribulations of inter-racial romances. In the end, Mark must choose between his family and Sally. Production History: Premiered at Cahoots Theatre Projects, Toronto, 1995 Notes: Awards: - Sterling Award for Best New Play - A.C.T. Award, Harvard University - Sterling Award for Sound Design Return to list Polaroids of Don by Marty Chan Style: Comedy Number of Acts: One act Length: 90 mins Total actors required: 5 Men: 2 Women: 3 Synopsis: An aspiring male romance novelist convinces a female friend to pose as his living pseudonym to get published. Sparks fly when their manuscript is accepted by a female publisher who hates men. As the charade continues, the lying couple start to fall in love, but the changes in the manuscript drive them apart. Their rollercoaster romance is echoed by overheated scenes from the romance novel. Production History: Premiered at Paper Tiger Productions, Edmonton, 1994 Notes: Awards: - Sterling Nomination - Best Fringe Play Return to list The Sword in the Stone by Marty Chan Style: Theatre for Young Audiences Number of Acts: One act Length: 40 mins Total actors required: 4 Men: 2 Women: 2 Synopsis: Two young friends, Fisher and Falon, meet up with the grumpy and bungling wizard Merlyn and hound him until he tells them the secret of the sword in the stone. Whoever draws the blade from the rock will become the ruler of all the realms. The two pals embark on a quest to vanquish Morgala, the creature of the dark woods and prove themselves worthy of the Sword in the Stone. However, Fisher discovers that Morgala is no monster and must prevent his friend from destroying the creature of the dark woods. Production History: Premiered at the Citadel Theatre, Edmonton, 2002 Notes: Awards: - Sterling Nom. - TYA Production Return to list

Marty Chan

Raised in Morinville - a small town north of Edmonton, Alberta - Marty Chan is a playwright, radio writer, television story editor, and young adult author. Much to the chagrin of his mother, he does not include engineer on his resume. He attended a year of the Engineering Program at the University of Alberta (U of A), but received the Dean's Vacation (a quaint way of saying don't let the door hit you in the butt on your way out).

After a year, Marty returned to the U of A and graduated in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree (English Major/Drama Minor). He fell into improv comedy when he joined Edmonton Theatresports, but his paralyzing stage fright resulted in "penguin arm" acting, forcing him to abandon performing and take up writing.

His signature play, Mom, Dad, I'm Living with a White Girl, has been produced across Canada, published three times, and recorded as a radio drama. The stage play won an Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award for Best New Work and the Adams Chinese Theatre Award at Harvard University.

Marty was a regular contributor to CBC Radio Edmonton from 1994 to 2000. His weekly commentary series, The Dim Sum Diaries, recounted his misadventures as the only Chinese kid in a small prairie town. These weekly commentaries served as fodder for a half hour television program (The Orange Seed Myth) which won a Gold Medal for Best Television Pilot at the Charleston World Film and Television Festival, and earned Marty a Gemini nomination for writing in a children's program. The commentaries also inspired Marty's first young adult novel, The Mystery of the Frozen Brains.

Marty was the first playwright in residence at the Citadel Theatre. He also served as Chair of the Edmonton Arts Council and taught playwriting at the U of A. He received an Arts Achievement Award from the City of Edmonton and a Horizon Award from the University for his contributions to theatre. However, his mother still wishes he stayed in Engineering.

Currently, Marty resides in Edmonton with his wife Michelle and their cat Jake.

Selected plays
In alphabetical order by title:

A Hero for All

The Bone House

The Forbidden Phoenix

Maggie's Last Dance

Mom, Dad, I'm Living with a White Girl

Polaroids of Don

The Sword in the Stone

To request a copy of any of these plays please contact the playwright directly via email.

To inquire about performance rights for any of these plays please contact the playwright directly via email.

A Hero for All

by Marty Chan

Style: Theatre for Young Audiences
Number of Acts: One act
Length: 40 mins
Total actors required: 3
Men: 2
Women: 1

Synopsis:
Kenny goes back to school after a successful round of chemotherapy treatments, but he's afraid of telling his friends what he's been through. He explains the change in his appearance by lying; he claims he has received super hero powers and that he is now Captain Blasto. The play bounces between Kenny's real life school problems and his super hero fantasies, until he is forced to confront his disease. The real hero that emerges is Kenny, the brave leukemia patient.

Production History:
Premiered at Fringe Theatre Adventures, Edmonton, 1998

Notes:
Awards:

Sterling Award- TYA Production
Jessie Nom. - TYA Production

Return to list

The Bone House

by Marty Chan

Style: Drama
Number of Acts: One act
Length: 75 mins
Total actors required: 4
Men: 3
Women: 1

Synopsis:
An audience comes to hear a lecture about serial killers. Self-proclaimed mind hunter, Eugene Crowley, recreates gruesome murders to convince the audience that a serial killer is on the loose. As the lecture progresses, the audiences suspects Crowley might actually be the killer himself. But before they can act, members of the audience are shuffled throughout the lecture hall so that they sit beside strangers. Crowley presents his final proof, an inkblot that the audience must scrutinize for a full minute. The lights are turned off and the negative image of the inkblot forms the face of the killer. However, in the blackout, the true killer makes his presence known and proceeds to eviscerate Crowley, leaving the audience's imaginations to create the picture to go along with the sounds and sensations in the dark. This play is a psychological experiment about the nature of fear, imagination, and deification of serial killers.

Production History:
Premiered at the Running with Scissors Theatre, Edmonton, 1999

Notes:

Awards:

- Sterling Nom for Best New Fringe Play
- Sterling Nom for Best Actor in Fringe Play
- Sterling Nom for Best Fringe Play
- Sterling Nom for Best Fringe Director

Return to list

The Forbidden Phoenix

by Marty Chan

Style: Drama

Number of Acts: Two acts
Length: 120mins
Total actors required: 5
Men: 3
Women: 2

Synopsis:
An allegory for the early Chinese immigrants to Canada, this myth tells the story of the Monkey King's journey west. Looking for food for his people, this classic Chinese Opera character faces discrimination in a prosperous land run by a lonely ruler who only wants to bring the Iron Dragon to his kingdom. This play is a hybrid of Chinese Opera and North American Theatre, using martial arts, music, costumes, and magic to convey a mythical story with historical relevance.

Production History:

Premiered at Running with Scissors Theatre, Edmonton, 2003

Notes:

Award:

Gwen Pharis Ringwood Award for Drama

Return to list

Maggie's Last Dance

by Marty Chan

Style: Drama
Number of Acts: One act
Length: 80 mins
Total actors required: 6
Men: 3
Women: 3

Synopsis:
A high school reunion brings together old friends and nemeses to relive the past. Old crushes are revisited along with regrets and hopes. The play jumps between the present-day reunion when people are wiser and more experienced, and the high school hey days when youthful exuberance and naivete ruled.

Production History:

Premiered at Paper Tiger Productions, Edmonton, 1996

Return to list

Mom, Dad, I'm Living with a White Girl

by Marty Chan

Style: Drama
Number of Acts: Two acts
Length: 85 mins
Total actors required: 4
Men: 2
Women: 2

Synopsis:
Mark Gee moves in with his Caucasian girlfriend Sally, but is too afraid of telling his traditional Chinese parents about his new living arrangements. Instead, he hides the truth as he introduces Sally to Mom and Dad in the hopes that they will like her. Fears turn into fantasies as the real time scenes are interwoven with scenes from the Yellow Claw, a satire on the racist movie series about a Chinese overlord trying to invade the west. The play skewers Asian stereotypes and examines the trials and tribulations of inter-racial romances. In the end, Mark must choose between his family and Sally.

Production History:
Premiered at Cahoots Theatre Projects, Toronto, 1995

Notes:
Awards:
- Sterling Award for Best New Play
- A.C.T. Award, Harvard University
- Sterling Award for Sound Design

Return to list

Polaroids of Don

by Marty Chan

Style: Comedy

Number of Acts: One act
Length: 90 mins
Total actors required: 5
Men: 2
Women: 3

Synopsis:
An aspiring male romance novelist convinces a female friend to pose as his living pseudonym to get published. Sparks fly when their manuscript is accepted by a female publisher who hates men. As the charade continues, the lying couple start to fall in love, but the changes in the manuscript drive them apart. Their rollercoaster romance is echoed by overheated scenes from the romance novel.

Production History:
Premiered at Paper Tiger Productions, Edmonton, 1994

Notes:

Awards:

- Sterling Nomination - Best Fringe Play

Return to list

The Sword in the Stone

by Marty Chan

Style: Theatre for Young Audiences

Number of Acts: One act
Length: 40 mins
Total actors required: 4
Men: 2
Women: 2

Synopsis:
Two young friends, Fisher and Falon, meet up with the grumpy and bungling wizard Merlyn and hound him until he tells them the secret of the sword in the stone. Whoever draws the blade from the rock will become the ruler of all the realms. The two pals embark on a quest to vanquish Morgala, the creature of the dark woods and prove themselves worthy of the Sword in the Stone. However, Fisher discovers that Morgala is no monster and must prevent his friend from destroying the creature of the dark woods.

Production History:
Premiered at the Citadel Theatre, Edmonton, 2002

Notes:

Awards:

- Sterling Nom. - TYA Production

Return to list

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Marty Chan