Joanna Wan-Ying Chan papers, 1970-2020
Collection context
- Creator:
- Chan, Joanna
- Abstract:
- The Joanna Wan-Ying Chan papers (陳尹瑩檔案) document the tale of a Hong Kong native, a US immigrant, a Maryknoll sister, and ultimately an artist and a trail-blazing playwright and stage director in Chinese-American theatre as well as Cantonese-language theatre in Hong Kong. The collection consists of Joanna Chan's personal materials as well as the records for three theatrical repertories: Four Seas Players, Yangtze Repertory Theatre of America, Hong Kong Repertory Theatre, dating from 1970-2020. Also included are files related to her collaborative and inspiring work and involvement in the Sing Sing Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) program, dating from 2001-2020. The highlight and the bulk of the collection is in Series IV: Production Files, which focuses on the creative theatrical productions directed and produced by Joanna Chan.
- Extent:
- 20 Linear Feet (38 manuscript boxes, 1 audiocassette box, 2 CMI boxes, 1 flat box)
- Language:
- English , Chinese , Chinese .
- Scope and content:
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The Joanna Wan-Ying Chan papers (陳尹瑩檔案) document the life and activities of Joanna Chan, who is a Chinese-American and Cantonese speaking Maryknoll sister, the Director of Youth Services at the Transfiguration Church in New York's Chinatown from 1969 to 1976, and she is also an artist, playwright and stage director, at the Four Seas Players 四海劇社, which she founded in 1970 in New York City and led for 22 years; the Yangtze Repertory Theatre of America 美國長江劇團 which she founded in 1992 in New York City and led for 24 years; the Hong Kong Repertory Theatre 香港話劇團 of which Joanna was the Artistic Director in the 1980s and where she worked as a guest director and playwright for 25 years; and the Sing Sing Rehabilitation Through Arts program in Westchester, New York, for which she served as guest playwright and director. The collection contains personal materials, business records of the three theatrical repertories she worked at, and production files of the plays she produced and directed, dating from 1970 to 2020. The materials comprise correspondence, minutes and agendas, business and financial records, printed materials, and theatrical production files including programs, scripts, casts, schedule, scenery plans, clippings, research materials, photographs, and memorabilia. Among other formats are some born-digital records and audiovisual materials. Series I-III contain materials related to her career as a prolific playwright and her involvement in various theatrical repertories as well as her activities within the larger Chinese-American and Asian American community in New York City. The highlight and the bulk of the collection is in Series IV: Production Files, which focuses on the creative theatrical productions produced and directed by Joanna Chan, many of which feature traditionally known Chinese stories throughout the generations as well as new and innovative plays which challenge the beliefs and norms within the Chinese American and Cantonese speaking community.
- Biographical / historical:
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Joanna Wan-Ying Chan (Chinese: 陳尹瑩) is a trail-blazing playwright, producer, and stage director in Asian American and Chinese American theatre in New York, as well as Cantonese-language theatre in Hong Kong.
Joanna was born on August 14, 1939 in Fanling, New Territories East of Hong Kong. The family moved to Guangzhou due to Japanese invasion. She grew up in Guangzhou and moved to Hong Kong with her family in 1949. She attended the Tack Ching Girls' Middle School/德貞女子中學, in Hong Kong, from 1950 to 1956, and then attended and graduated from Chung Chi College at The Chinese University of Hong Kong/香港中文大學崇基學院 from 1956 to 1960, with a Bachelor degree in mathematics and she also taught at math at her alma mater. She later received a diploma from the Northcote Teachers College/羅富國師範學院 in 1961, and between 1963 and 1967, she studied theology and mathematics in the Maryknoll College in Quezon City, Philippines. In 1967, she professed a Maryknoll sister.
In 1968, she immigrated to the United States, first in Chicago, Illinois, and then moved to New York City in 1969. As a Maryknoll sister, she was appointed as the Director of Youth Services at the Transfiguration Church in New York's Chinatown from 1969 to 1976. From there, she began her career in performing arts as a playwright and a stage director, and founded the Four Seas Players in 1970. From 1970 to 1977 and 1983 to 1992, Joanna was the Artistic Director at Four Seas Players. In addition, to further her passion and studies, she attended and graduated from Teachers College at Columbia University, with a M.A. in Communications (1971), M.Ed. in Communications (1974), and Ed.D. in Communications with a major in Theatre, minor in Arts and Design. Her Doctoral dissertation was titled "The Four Seas Players: Toward an Alternative Form of Chinese Theatre" (1977) and she received the honor of a Distinguished Alumni Award in 1994 from Teachers College at Columbia University. In 1993, she was an honoree at "An All-Star Salute to Chinese American Cultural Pioneers" at City Hall, NYC, and the City declared July 9 to be named Joanna Chan Day in New York City.
Joanna Chan returned to Hong Kong in 1977. From 1977 to 1981, she worked as the Developer and Supervisor at the Overseas Producer at Diocesan Audio-Visual Centre in Hong Kong. In 1985, she was the Guest Director of Production and a Commissioned Playwright for the Hong Kong Repertory Theatre. She was appointed as the Artistic Director of Hong Kong Repertory Theatre from 1986 to 1990. At the same time, she worked as a Columnist for the New Evening Post in Hong Kong from 1986 to 1997, working and traveling between Hong Kong and the US.
After she left her Artistic Director position at the Four Seas Play in 1992, she co-founded the Yangtze Repertory Theatre of America. Much of her work at Yangtze has been to dramatize the forces of Chinese history. The Life and Times of Ng Chung-Yin (NY premiere 1998) was a controversial portrait of a journalist/activist. Joanna Chan's bilingual drama, The Story of Yu-Huan (world premiere 1998), dealt with the celebrated beauty (708-746 AD) whose hanging death exposed the injustices of a society not governed by law. In addition, Joanna's The Soongs: By Dreams Betrayed, caused an uproar in the Chinese communities in 1992, examined the collective responsibility of the populace in the rise of tyranny, the myth-making machinery of modern media, and the delusions of the missionary movement and U.S. foreign policy. Joanna Chan left her role in Yangtze in 2014.
Joanna started working as a volunteer coach in the Sing Sing Correctional Facility in 2002. She coached RTA members on theatrical writing and directing, taught Catholic and Chinese language and literature classes, and produced and directed plays inspired by RTA members' life stories. She has presented plays with RTA members, some of the titles include: In the Silence of the Heart (2008), Jitney (2004), and Oedipus Rex (2006). Moreover, Joanna is featured as a New Yorker with significant impact on the Chinese/Asian New York community at the Museum of NYC's permanent exhibition in 2020.
She is currently living in Ossining, New York.
Access and use
- Restrictions:
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This collection is located off-site.
This collection has no restrictions.
Audiovisual content must be digitized prior to use. Some unique time-based media items have been reformatted and are available onsite via links in the container list. Commercial materials are not routinely digitized. Email rbml@columbia.edu for more information.
The collection also includes an extensive amount of digital material which has been preserved but is not described or processed. Please contact the RBML at rbml@columbia.edu to discuss access options.
- Terms of access:
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Single reproductions may be made for research purposes. It is the responsibility of the user to secure permission for publication or use from the appropriate copyright holder.
- Preferred citation:
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Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Joanna Wan-Ying Chan papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.
- Location of this collection:
- Before you visit:
- Researchers interested in viewing materials in the RBML reading room must must book an appointment at least 7 days in advance. To make the most of your visit, be sure to request your desired materials before booking your appointment, as researchers are limited to 5 items per day.
- Contact:
- rbml@library.columbia.edu