Theatrical Tour Spring-Summer 2025
Produced by
Sònia Victoria Werner (in association with Lighthouse Ladies)
Following the unshakable will of their parents, three AAPI middle schoolers are thrust into a tutoring center obsessed with one goal: admission to one of NYC’s most elite public schools. Stuy or Die is a serio-comedic memory play on tour, reflecting on the relentless SHSAT prep culture in NYC.
As seen on
Production Photographer: Chinaza Ajuonuma
Graphic Designer: Sally Chen
Stuy or Die is a new play written by award-winning playwright Jason T. Wang and directed by Jonathan Chang, produced by Sònia Victoria Werner with the support of Lighthouse Ladies, LLC, exploring the experiences of Asian-American students preparing for the Specialized High School Admissions Test (S.H.S.A.T.) in NYC. Lighthouse Ladies is producing this show with a commitment to community engagement and accessibility.
THE TEAM
Writer Jason Wang
Director Jonathan Chang
Producer Sònia Victoria Werner (in Association w/ Lighthouse Ladies)
Stage Manager Eliana Coe
Scenic & Props Design Danis Zhang
Sound Designer Alicia Qian
Lighting Designer Persephone Matlazihua Squires
Costume Designer & Show Art Sally Chen
Scenic & Transportation Coordinator Lisa Virginia
Publicist Dan DeMello | DDPR
Public Relations & Outreach Taylor Legall (via Lighthouse Ladies)
CAST
BRIAN Brian Tong & William McMahan
ALEX Matthew De Lorme
EILEEN Ruponti Wazid
JEANIE Alyssa Naka Silver & Emily Anne Goes
Special Thanks
Houghton Hall Arts Community
The Laundromat Project
Speyer Hall
Flushing Town Hall
Bronx Music Hall
Brooklyn Public Library
Glow Cultural Center
The Dramatists Guild Foundation
Queens Art Fund
New York State Council on the Arts
Statewide Community Regrants Program
The HEAR US Grant
The MAP Fund
Jason Wang
Playwright
"An association with Lighthouse Ladies propelled our production forward in all aspects. Lighthouse Ladies' database of collaborators and connections secured us volunteers, photographers, and rehearsal space—while dramaturgical support provided refreshing script discoveries—even in later stages of production. LL has a history and reliability in making art happen with humans and empathy at the forefront. [...] Vikki saved us thousands of dollars while securing world-class stages across boroughs. She was present for each showing to streamline our responsibilities—an administrative leader with a penchant for human-focused collaboration.
Vikki made our artistic dreams possible!!"
Charles Passy
Journalist — 100 Word Reviews,
Wall Street Journal, and MarketWatch
"Jason Wang’s Stuy or Die tells a very New York story – about Asian American/Pacific Islander students prepping for the competitive exam that will gain them entrance into Stuyvesant, the city’s elite public high school. But it’s far broader than that. The play, touching, smart and funny all at once, is about the pressures such students face via their success-driven parents. It’s also about realizing one’s dreams in spite of these cultural expectations. The production features actors who went through this exam experience, so they bring an authentic verve to their roles. [...] 4 out of 5 stars."
Audience Testimonials
Actual members of our 1000+ audience pool across boroughs—thank you for your comments!
"I brought my son to the performance and I'm so glad we made the effort to come because the actors were top notch and the story was beautiful and complex. [...] I think a play like this can help a lot of people, young and old, because it emphasizes the need for balance and self-acceptance. It shows that success doesn't come from following one single path. I would definitely recommend this play!"
- Maleah Slade
"The actors were phenomenal and the crew did a great job with the set and sound effects. I laughed plenty (especially when you mentioned the escalators at Stuy—everyone who laughed knew those escalators didn’t work 80% of the time!) Thanks for putting on such a great play."
- Amy Huang (Stuy Alum)