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Tiger Style!

Chicago Premiere

  • Written by Mike Lew
  • Directed by Brian Balcom

A witty and laugh-out-loud adventure about two siblings joining forces to overcome the outrageous pressures of adulthood.

Award-winning playwright Mike Lew (Teenage Dick) pens this hilarious comedy about Chinese American heritage and belonging that will leave you howling with laughter. Traveling the globe from California to Shenzhen, Tiger Style! uproariously tackles the immigrant experience, cultural stereotypes and what it really means to feel successful—and at home. 

Synopsis

Tiger Style!

Squabbling siblings Albert and Jennifer Chen reached the pinnacle of academic achievement when they were kids. But as adults, they can’t seem to get things right: he's just been passed up for a promotion and she's been dumped by her less-than-ideal boyfriend. To fix the sorry states of their lives, they turn to the one thing they know they can blame: their parents. Or America. Or maybe China? It’s someone else’s fault, that’s for sure.

Cast

Aurora Adachi-Winter

Jennifer

Rammel Chan

Dad/Tzi Chuan/Melvin/General Tso

Garrett Lutz

Russ the Bus/Reggie/Customs Guy

Deanna Myers

Mom/Therapist/Cousin Chen/Matchmaker

Christopher Thomas Pow

Albert

Chad Bay

Understudy Albert

Adam Benjamin

Understudy Russ the Bus/Reggie/Customs Guy

Peter Sipla

Understudy Dad/Tzi Chuan/Melvin/General Tso

Harmony Zhang

Understudy Jennifer & Mom/Therapist/Cousin Chen/Matchmaker

Creative

Mike Lew

Author

Brian Balcom

Director

Lee Fiskness

Lighting Designer

Forrest Gregor

Sound Designer

Rae Watson

Properties Designer

Courtney Abbott

Intimacy & Fight Director

Michelle N. Huang

Cultural Consultant

Olivia Sullam

Assistant Stage Manager

Michaela "Mikee" Parangalan

Assistant Director

Lauren M. Nichols

Scenic Designer

At Writers Theatre: Dhaba on Devon Avenue, The Hot Wing King and Tiger Style!

Lauren is a Jeff-nominated freelance designer and model-maker native to Chicago. Writers credits include: The Hot Wing King and Tiger Style. Other credits include designs for Paramount Aurora, Steppenwolf for Young Adults, Marriott, Remy Bumppo, UIC, U Chicago, Rivendell, Lifeline, Steep, Jackalope, Harper College, Shattered Globe, Renaissance Theatreworks, Village Theatre in Seattle, Metropolis, The Gift Theatre, Firebrand, Teatro Vista, Raven, and BoHo. As an associate, she has worked on dozens of productions all over the country. She is currently finishing her 4th year as an adjunct professor at The Theatre School-DePaul University. MFA Northwestern. Member USA829. laurenangeldesigns.com

[Bio as of June 2025]

Christine Pascual

Costume Designer

Christine is delighted to be back at Writers Theatre. Previously at Writers she designed East Texas Hot Links and Tiger Style! Recent credits include East Texas Hot LinksThe Lion In Winter at Court Theatre, Twelfth Night at Chicago Shakespeare, Black SundayNotes From The FieldTrouble in MindRelentlessBoulevard of Bold DreamsOslo at Timeline Theatre. Other theaters she has designed at include Goodman, Steppenwolf, A Red Orchid, Teatro Vista, Congo Square,Victory Gardens, Remy Bumpo, Raven, American Players, Centerstage, Geva and McCarter. In 2018 she became a 3Arts Awardee. In 2022 she was nominated for a Jeff Award for Relentless. In 2025 she received the Michael Merritt Award in Costume Design for Excellence in Design and Collaboration. Her website is ChristinePascual.carbonmade.com

Bio as of June 2025

Rae Watson

Properties Designer
Rachel Watson

Katie Klemme

Production Stage Manager

WT: The Hot Wing KingEurydiceA Distinct SocietyTiger Style!Wife of a Salesman, and Into the Woods. National Tours: HamiltonSorin: A Notre Dame Story; Regional: Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, Geva Theater Center, ArtsEmerson. Select Chicago credits: Prayer for the French RepublicThe Heart SellersLittle WomenThe Flying Lovers of VitebskBrooklyn LaundryDial M for MurderThe Porch on Windy HillGeorgiana & KittyIntimate ApparelMr. Dickens' HatThe WickhamsLandladies, and You Can’t Take It With You; Notes from the Field (TimeLine); Villette (Lookingglass); and productions with Theater Wit, About Face Theatre, Victory Gardens, and 10 seasons at American Theater Company.

Special Events

The Asian American Dream: A panel discussion of the Asian American experience in the United States


TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18 AT 7PM

Ready to dive deeper into the themes and issues of Tiger Style!? Northwestern University professor and Tiger Style! Cultural Consultant, Michelle Huang, is joined by fellow NU professor Shalini Shankar and Abbey Eusebio from the Anti-Hate Action Center for this conversation about stereotypes, cultural expectations, and the generational experience of immigrants. This program is offered in collaboration with the Chinese American Service League and the Glencoe Council for Inclusion and Community.