UGA Theatre examines the Asian-American experience with BFE

Beginning Tuesday March 20, UGA Theatre presents “BFE” by Julia Cho, directed by professor Farley Richmond:

Panny is an ordinary 14-year-old Korean American girl living in a typical suburb, but not everything is as idyllic as it first appears. Her low self esteem is exacerbated when her agoraphobic mother offers plastic surgery to soften her Asian features as a birthday present. Panny’s world constricts around itself, tightening with each passing moment, her only solace coming from a Korean pen pal and a potential romance on the other end of a misdialed phone call. While Panny contends with the various ups-and-downs of her existence, a mysterious serial killer stalks her Arizona suburb.

Playwright Julia Cho, a Korean American who lived in Arizona during her youth, drew from her own life to create the play. “We are excited to present a play that attempts to reach out to younger audiences and shows them characters that they probably haven't seen on the stage before,” said Richmond, professor in the department of the theatre and film studies.

Assistant director Lukas T. Woodyard, who is Japanese American, feels a personal connection to the play. “Prior to casting this show, people who identified as Asian American told me that this play is their life; “BFE” is a replication of our collective experience growing up and who we are as people,” he said.

Performances will be held at Seney Stovall Chapel March 20-24 at 8 p.m. and March 25 at 2:30pm. Tickets are $16, $12 for students, and can be purchased at drama.uga.edu/box-office, by phone at 706-542-4400, or in person at the Performing Arts Center or Tate Center box office. See you there.