A Girl Like This Only Comes Around Once a Dynasty
A New Hero Takes Center Stage in Disney’s Mulan, Jr., at Children’s Theatre Company

MINNEAPOLIS— She’s a beauty. She’s a brain. She’s a hero to the Chinese Dynasty, and beginning Friday, April 30, she’s taking charge at Children’s Theatre Company (CTC) in Minneapolis.  She is Disney’s Mulan, Jr., a princess like no other.

Set amid a gorgeous Chinese landscape, Roseville native Katie Bradley stars in the ever popular musical, directed by David Mann and based on the 1998 movie Mulan, as well as the Chinese tale Fa Mulan—in one of the largest productions of Disney’s Mulan, Jr., anywhere in the United States. 

Bradley, who was born in Seoul, South Korea, but grew up in Minnesota, returns from a six-month stay in Korea to star as the beauty, brawn and brilliant heroine of this production.  “Seeing Disney’s Mulan was the first time I saw an Asian female character on screen who was strong and powerful,” says Bradley.  “I remember being extremely happy and proud to be in the audience, and I’m thrilled to play this strong, heroic character.”

   
   
Bradley leads a musical cast of 29, including CTC’s performing apprentices, three CTC company members and a large group of student actors from across the Twin Cities—all under the directorship of Twin Cities’ director, actor and playwright David Mann.  The musical score includes favorites, from two Disney films, including “Reflection,”  “Honor to Us All” and “I’ll Make a Man Out of You.”

   
Mann, who previously directed Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Macbeth and The Mary Tyler Moore Show at Torch Theater and whose current work can also be seen on stage at the History Theatre, along with Broadway veteran Linda Talcott Lee (choreography), CTC music director and Cinderella orchestra director Victor Zupanc, Rich Hamson (costume design) and Joseph Stanley (scenic design), have created a piece rich with the overtones and feel of Chinese theatre, infused with a modern musical score.

   
Music and lyrics for Disney’s Mulan, Jr., are by the nationally acclaimed musical team of Matthew Wilder and David Zippel, Stephen Schwartz, Jeanine Tesori and Alexa Junge. Additional music and lyrics are by Bryan Louiselle.

Based on the story Fa Mulan by Robert D. San Souci, Mulan, Jr. tells a tale of ancient China, at a time when the roles of women and girls were clearly defined and confined. When the Huns invade and Chinese families are called into military service, one young girl risks her life to honor her family and her father—triumphantly saving her country in the process.

Bradley, a talented triple threat actress, makes her CTC debut as the main character, Mulan, after returning from her native South Korea.  Locally, Bradley has appeared on stage at Theatre de la Jeune Lune (Antigone), History Theatre (Snapshots: Life in the City), the Southern Theater with director Jon Ferguson (Animal Farm) and the Pillsbury House Theater (Chicago Avenue Project). She is a graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College and has appeared in the Minneapolis and New York City productions of TigerLion Arts’ The Budda Prince.

Among the other local cast members in Disney’s Mulan, Jr., are: Rose le Tran (Grandmother Fa), Dean Holt (Mushu, the dragon), Joshua James Campbell (Captain Shang), Sheena Janson, Jon Andrew Hegge, Reed Sigmund, Ki Seung Rhee, Brian McCormick and Eric “Pogi” Sumangil. 

Disney’s Mulan, Jr., opens Fri., April 30, and runs through Sun., June 13. Tickets range from $26–$40 for adults and $16–$25 for children (17 & under), students and seniors and can be purchased by calling (612) 874-0400 or by visiting www.childrenstheatre.org.

Children’s Theatre Company (CTC) is the first theatre for young people to win the coveted Tony® Award for Outstanding Regional Theater (2003). Founded in 1965, CTC serves more than 300,000 people annually and is one of the 20 largest theater companies in the nation. CTC is noted for defining worldwide standards for youth theatre with an innovative mix of classic tales, celebrated international productions and challenging new work.
                                           
                                                                              

All photos courtesy and copyright CTC