The Wong Street Journal

MINNEAPOLIS (Jan. 26, 2016) — Part plushy TED lecture, part amateur hip-hop extravaganza, part travelogue, The Wong Street Journal breaks down the complexities of global poverty, privilege and economic theory using uneasy-to-read charts, live hashtag wars, and riveting slideshows from post-conflict Northern Uganda.

The Wong Street Journal is the creation of San Francisco-based performance artist, comedian and writer Kristina Wong. The award-winning Wong has been a commentator for American Public Media’s Marketplace, PBS, and Jezebel, among others and was recently featured in the New York Times’ Off Color series “highlighting artists of color who use humor to make smart social statements about the sometimes subtle, sometimes obvious ways that race plays out in America today.”

Her newest solo show The Wong Street Journal, coming to Intermedia Arts in March 2016, combines self-skewering personal narrative with a hilarious interrogation of America’s legacy on the rest of the world – against an all-felt, handmade backdrop of the New York Stock Exchange. The Wong Street Journal tells the true story of how Wong, as a not-so-white savior, became a hip hop star in Northern Uganda.

With a limited two-night run, audiences are encouraged to get their tickets early for this show that critics are calling “extremely entertaining,” “hilarious,” and “deeply thought-provoking.”

Intermedia Arts’ Catalyst Series is a platform for transformative, socially engaged new work. Through performing, media and visual arts, the Catalyst Series sparks lasting dialogue in provocative and visionary ways, showcasing work by artists whose voices are in motion. The series offers a pathway for traditionally underrepresented emerging artists and projects that ignite innovation.

Kristina Wong was recently featured in the New York Times’ Off Color series “highlighting artists of color who use humor to make smart social statements about the sometimes subtle, sometimes obvious ways that race plays out in America today.” She is a performance artist, comedian and writer who has created five solo shows and one ensemble play that have toured throughout the United States and UK.  Her most notable touring show- “Wong Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” looked at the high rates of depression and suicide among Asian American women and toured to over 40 venues since 2006. It’s now a broadcast quality film distributed by documentary juggernaut, Cinema Libre Studios. (More at www.flyingwong.com).  She’s been a commentator for American Public Media’s Marketplace, PBS, Jezebel, xoJane, Playgirl Magazine, Huffington Post and a guest on Comedy Central’s The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore, FXX’s “Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell,” Al Jazeera’s “The Stream” and AM Tonight on Fusion TV.  Her work has been awarded with grants from Creative Capital, The Map Fund, Center for Cultural Innovation, the Durfee Foundation, National Performance Network, five Artist-in-Residence grants from the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, and a residency from the MacDowell Colony.  Kristina has twice given the commencement speech at UCLA, her alma mater.  On television, she’s been on General Hospital, Nickelodeon’s “Nicky Ricky Dicky and Dawn,” and Myx TV’s “I’m Asian American and Want Reparations for Yellow Fever.” Her newest solo show “The Wong Street Journal” navigates privilege and economic disparity and premieres in June 2015.  She spent a month in Northern Uganda researching that show and recording“Mzungu Price” a rap album with local rappers. Kristina’s mail order bride website iswww.bigbadchinesemama.com. This Fall, she is a guest professor at Cal Arts in the MFA Creative Writing Program.