SUBMIT UPDATES
The title Mr. Yunioshi refers to the name of the character portrayed by Mickey Rooney in the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany’s, directed by Blake Edwards (Rooney’s former roommate). Rooney portrays Audrey Hepburn’s neighbor. It is a cringe-inducing characterization, in which Rooney dons yellowface and wears appliances to “play Asian.”
Our play Mr. Yunioshi reverses the real-life event by casting Asian American actor J. Elijah Cho to play Mickey Rooney.
Rooney is depicted here as something of a narcissist, at first believing he is being cast as the romantic lead opposite Ms. Hepburn. When it becomes apparent that he is being tapped to play the role of Mr. Yunioshi, Rooney has to deal with the question: Should he play the Asian character? We know from the cinematic record what he ultimately did, but our play shows how he arrived there.
Mickey Rooney acted in his first film in 1926 and his last in 2014. With over 100 film roles, his acting career is the longest in cinematic history. He received Oscars ® in 1939 and 1983. Unlike his frequent comedic movie personae, in real life he was a romantic leading man: The first of his eight wives was screen star Ava Gardner, and he had affairs with Norma Shearer, Betty Grable, Elizabeth Taylor, Lana Turner and others.
Breakfast at Tiffany’s won Oscars for composers Henry Mancini, Johnny Mercer and their song Moon River.
J. Elijah Cho is the writer, director and star of Mr. Yunioshi.
Videos
Spring Awakening
The Broadwater Mainstage (4/26 - 5/11) | ||
Change The Game
McCadden (6/9 - 6/16) NEW MUSICAL
PHOTOS
VIDEOS
| ||
Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka Jr.
Nobel Middle School (5/2 - 5/4)
PHOTOS
| ||
What The Constitution Means To Me
International City Theatre (5/2 - 5/19) | ||
Footloose The Musical
Mira Costa High School (4/26 - 5/4)
PHOTOS
| ||
VOX Cabaret
Catalina Jazz Club (5/5 - 5/5) | ||
PRELUDE TO A KISS, THE MUSICAL
South Coast Repertory (4/5 - 5/4) | ||
Emilia
City Theatre (4/26 - 5/11) | ||
A Chorus Line
Norris Theatre (4/26 - 5/5) | ||
All-Beethoven
Hollywood Bowl (7/25 - 7/25) | ||
Hairspray
Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts (5/10 - 5/12) | ||
Fire and Blue Sky
Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at the Los Angeles Music Center (6/6 - 6/6) | ||
VIEW SHOWS ADD A SHOW FIND A JOB |
Recommended For You