The Mark of Han

- Director + Writer

@ Shanley Pavilion, Northwestern University (2025)

Summary

What: A large-scale participatory theater piece utilizing live-performance, heightened environmental storytelling, and A LOT OF FOG!

Story: Young Ji-Yeon invites guests to help her in a shaman ritual to see her deceased American GI father. An innocent act opens a Pandora's box of grief as guests learn the irrevocable atrocities committed by the US against Korea.

What I learned

This experience was so rewarding, retelling an untold historical event all while learning more about my culture. Managing a budget of over $6000, we were able to create a realistic interior house and forest set infusing striking lighting and sound design. Oh, and did I mention... a mechanical collapsible tree. The rehearsal process for this participatory theater piece was new for me, juggling scripted and unscripted elements.

"Shanley’s limited space was used to its advantage, facilitating well-coordinated movement between different rooms as the story progressed. Audience participation was seamlessly integrated into the show."
- Avantika Singh of The Daily Northwestern"The plot of “The Mark of Han” follows Ji-Yeon, a Korean-American teen who becomes the target of haunting visions from her father, a fallen American soldier. Visitors are invited to enter Ji-Yeon’s house and solve the historical mystery before it’s too late."
- Miguel Tsang of The Daily Northwestern

Credits

CAST
Ji Yeon - Sopheen Lee
Father - Jordan Wilhelm
Mak-nae - Michah Kier
Hal-mi - Tai Duong
Chu-mi - Claudia Tianyi Li

PRODUCTION
Director, Writer - Ghino Lee
Producer - Mina Kim
Stage Manager - Alvin Wang
Technical Director - Alyssa Sun
Scenic Painter - Henry Carson
ATD + Fight/Intimacy Coordinator - Jack Shadden
Co Lighting Designer - Angella Ma
Co Lighting Designer - Kyle Vetter
Engineer - Wendy Lichtenberg
Assistant Engineer - Sofia Flores
Assistant Producer - Emma Kuhlman
Puppet / Costume Designer - Laura Fajardo-Riascos
Puppet Designer - Adelia Hubbard
Sound Designer / Composer - Leo Garcia
Sound Designer / Composer - Tyler Shaver
Assistant Sound / Makeup - Sasha Durta
Assistant Sound - Alex Rice
Props Designer - Jackeline Maya
Dramaturg - Sayuki Layne
Build Help - Lauren Nishi

Special Thanks
Robert Pachman - AJ Ji - Zoe Scheuer - Sophia Cheng - Claude Wei Zhang - Moonage Band - Bryan Fagan - Jill Shadden
- Alvin Wang - Drew Slager - Abida Chowdhury - Karen Sebastiao - Antone Sebastiao - Tyler Neufeld - Jeff and Andy Crocker
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