GAF Glam Bang is a collection of vignettes on the style, personalities, fun facts AND fiction of the Grant Avenue Follies. Written by the Follies’ own playwright and Clarion’s executive director Clara Hsu, this theatrical play was premiered in Honolulu for the Hong Kong Business Association on September 26, 2023; and again in San Francisco on November 10, 11, &12. Excerpts of Glam Bang can be seen in the PBS documentary, The Express Way with Dulé Hill, Episode I.
SYNOPSIS
Grant Avenue Follies is actually a secret gang disguised as a cabaret entertainment troupe. Their true gang name is Glam Bang and the head of Glam Bang is Empress. However, there is a small dissenting group within Glam Bang. They privately called themselves Glam Bang-Bang. Glam Bang-Bang is led by Lady OxSay.
Whenever the Follies greet each other privately they would use the word “bang” (instead of “hi”), but the dissenting group would say “bang-bang”—almost the same salut, you see, but not quite; so regular members of Glam Bang would not notice the difference except the Glam Bang-Bang themselves.
Trouble begins when Empress shows off a glittery diamond crown. A cat fight ensues amid everyone’s effort in putting together “THE PRE-SEN-TA-TION.”
ACTORS
- Doris Grover, Narrator / Madam Lola
- Cynthia Yee, Empress, head of Glam Bang Gangster
- Pat Chin, Glam Bang Gangster aka Ms. Patty
- Mimi Chin, Glam Bang Gangster / Fan Tan
- Emily Chin, Glam Bang Gangster aka Lotus Buns
- Marleen Luke, Glam Bang Gangster
- Ruby Fong, Glam Bang Gangster
- Colleen Quen, Glam Bang Gangster
- Pat Nishimoto, Lady OxSay, head of Glam Bang-Bang Gangster
- Louise Ow-Ling, Glam Bang-Bang Gangster
- Clara Hsu, Glam Bang-Bang Gangster
- Dennis Tom, singer
- Allen Ogi, hula instructor
TECH & CREW
- Giray Guntel—-sound and video operator
- Inga Chernogradskaia—-light board operator
CREDITS
- Kelly Ka Wing Li, director and video editor
- Miki Katsuyama Novitski, choreographer
- Karl Force, music composer of Glam Bang Rap and Penny Wong Rap
- Outpost Recording Studio
- Video Clips of Penny Wong courtesy of GOOD MEDICINE PICTURE COMPANY & CHINATOWN SHORTS
- Photos of Penny Wong courtesy of Janice L. Quan
- Animation of Colleen Quen’s couture designs by Colleen Quen. Music by Greg Landau.
- Tina Kwok, wardrobe consultant
- Follies’ robes designed by Judith Nunan of Velvetzephyr
- Inga Chernogradskaia, visual designs
