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World Premiere Event

The Heart Sellers

By Lloyd Suh
Directed by Jennifer Chang

February 7 – March 19, 2023

Stiemke Studio

Approximate Running Time: 1hr and 35 minutes with no intermission
Recommended Age: 12 and up

Finding Direction in the Land of Opportunity

Funny and deeply moving, this World Premiere by Lloyd Suh (The Chinese Lady) gives voice to the Asian immigrant experience in the 1970s when the landmark Hart-Celler Act granted thousands of professional workers a new path to citizenship. But for new Americans Jane and Luna, life in the USA with their workaholic husbands has left them feeling isolated and invisible. One Thanksgiving – over sips of wine and a questionable frozen turkey – they reminisce and dream of spreading their wings together in the land of opportunity: disco dancing, learning to drive and even a visit to Disneyland. With grace and dignity, this powerful play asks: “Would you give up your heart to make a new home?”

A John (Jack) D. Lewis New Play Development Program Production

Executive Producers
Rhonda & Greg Oberland • Mara & Craig Swan

Associate Producer
Krista Kile

The Stiemke Studio Season is presented by Four-Four Foundation

Sponsored in part by

This production is part of World Premiere Wisconsin, a statewide festival celebrating new plays and musicals from March 1 – June 30, 2023, presented by the Ten Chimneys Foundation. To learn more visit www.worldpremierewisconsin.com.

Special Dates

Audio Described Performance
Thursday, February 23, 7:30pm

ASL Performance
Thursday, March 2, 7:30pm

TalkBacks

Thursday evenings after the 7:30pm performance
February 16, 23 and March 2

Resources

Program

PlayGuide

Teacher Guide

Media Gallery

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Photo Gallery

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Milwaukee Rep presents The Heart Sellers in the Stiemke Studio February 7 – March 19, 2023. Pictured: Nicole Javier and Narea Kang. Photo by Michael Brosilow.
Milwaukee Rep presents The Heart Sellers in the Stiemke Studio February 7 – March 19, 2023. Pictured: Narea Kang and Nicole Javier. Photo by Michael Brosilow.
Milwaukee Rep presents The Heart Sellers in the Stiemke Studio February 7 – March 19, 2023. Pictured: Nicole Javier and Narea Kang. Photo by Michael Brosilow.
Milwaukee Rep presents The Heart Sellers in the Stiemke Studio February 7 – March 19, 2023. Pictured: Nicole Javier and Narea Kang. Photo by Michael Brosilow.
Milwaukee Rep presents The Heart Sellers in the Stiemke Studio February 7 – March 19, 2023. Pictured: Narea Kang and Nicole Javier. Photo by Michael Brosilow.

Reviews

"A stunning comedy…breathtaking. I would sign up today for a whole season of shows about Luna (Nicole Javier) and Jane (Narea Kang), the young immigrant wives who become friends in Lloyd Suh warmhearted comedy The Heart Sellers."
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"The Heart Sellers is a commentary on immigration, yes, but most of all it celebrates the joy and fulfillment that comes with good friends. So grab your dear ones for a theatrical experience that's a love letter to friendship. Like those friends, The Heart Sellers is something to treasure."
BroadwayWorld
“★★★★” 
“Every moment in this play is purposeful and powerful…the dialogue is some of the most real I’ve seen in scripted theater… meticulous and beautiful.”
AroundTheTownChicago
"A joy to watch, filled with heartfelt humor and high-running emotions that captivate… excellent writing…as eye-opening as it is entertaining."
Shepherd Express
"Winning World Premiere… smartly audacious and stirringly theatrical."
Urban Milwaukee

Cast

Headshot photo of Nicole Javier*
Nicole Javier*
Luna
Headshot photo of Narea Kang*
Narea Kang*
Jane
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Headshot photo of
Nicole Javier*
Luna
Headshot photo of
Narea Kang*
Jane

Creative Team

Headshot photo of Lloyd Suh
Lloyd Suh
Playwright
Headshot photo of Jennifer Chang
Jennifer Chang
Director
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Headshot photo of
Lloyd Suh
Playwright
Headshot photo of
Jennifer Chang
Director
Tanya Orellana
Scenice Designer
Anthony Tran
Costume Designer
Noele Stollmack
Lighting Designer
Sun Hee Kil
Sound Designer
Joy Lanceta Coronel
Voice & Dialect Coach
Christine Mok
Dramaturg
Jonathan Hetler
Casting Director
Jade Bruno*
Stage Manager
Emily Pfaff
Stage Management Resident
Emily Newmark
Assistant Director
Jeffrey Mosser
Line Producer
Annika Perez-Krikorian
Line Producer
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Tanya Orellana
Scenice Designer
Anthony Tran
Costume Designer
Noele Stollmack
Lighting Designer
Sun Hee Kil
Sound Designer
Joy Lanceta Coronel
Voice & Dialect Coach
Christine Mok
Dramaturg
Jonathan Hetler
Casting Director
Jade Bruno*
Stage Manager
Emily Pfaff
Stage Management Resident
Emily Newmark
Assistant Director
Jeffrey Mosser
Line Producer
Annika Perez-Krikorian
Line Producer

* Member of Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

Featured Events

The Heart Sellers – Living History
The Heart Sellers – Living History
Experience the humor, hopes, fears and surprises of emigrating to the US as part of The Hart-Cellar Act from four different AAPI elder storytellers, adapted for and spoken through a youth voice. Audio and ASL versions now available.
Learn More
Dinner Dialogues Series Announced
Dinner Dialogues Series Announced

Join us this season for a series of Dinner Dialogues around Rep productions. Enjoy a delicious meal with fellow community members in relevant and impactful conversations around the themes our productions. Space is limited. Register today.

The Heart Sellers Dinner Dialogue
Monday, February 27, 5pm-8pm
Maharaja
1550 N Farwell Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53202

Learn More

Featured Articles

Milwaukee Rep Opens World Premiere Wisconsin with Heart-Filled Play
Milwaukee Rep Opens World Premiere Wisconsin with Heart-Filled Play
It’s hard to imagine a better beginning for World Premiere Wisconsin than Milwaukee Rep’s production of Lloyd Suh’s The Heart Sellers. Alongside Door County’s Northern Sky Theater and Madison’s Forward Theater Company, Milwaukee Rep is one of WPW’s three lead producing theaters for a reason: Milwaukee Rep Artistic Director Mark Clements’ passion for new plays.
Full Story
The Hart-Celler Act
The Hart-Celler Act

Milwaukee Rep’s production of The Hearts Sellers focuses on two women who have come to the United States with their husbands in the early 1970s as part of the Hart-Celler Act. Learn more below about this important piece of legislation passed in 1965.

Learn More
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