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Apsara, The Musical
By Narate Keys
Written by Written by Narate Keys, Music score by Isaac Mayhem, Directed by Michelle & Amanda Vang. Consultation by Markell K. Other contributors talents by Janelle T. Anderson & Tri Vo & Deryck Hak.
Playing at
Show Description
Apsara is a musical that date back from the land of Angkor in the 12th century. It’s a highlight the prosper of the kingdom of Khmer with a story of king Suryavarman II.
Genre and Content
Content Warnings
The creators say this show is appropriate for ages 12-15 and up
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Seat Reservations and Show Tickets
| Add to Schedule | Date | Time | Ticket Options | Quantity | Purchase |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 08/01 | 8:30 PM | ||||
| Sat 08/02 BFF | 10:00 PM | ||||
| Mon 08/04 | 7:00 PM | ||||
| Thu 08/07 | 5:30 PM | ||||
| Sat 08/09 | 2:30 PM |
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Video Trailer
Cast and Crew
Eve Vang
Queen RachinvivaEve Vang is a Hmong Minnesotan writer and artist, focusing on community advocacy and empowerment. She has had a calling to contribute to societal issues since she was very young. Her passion for writing mainly focuses on fiction, and she has had a history of performing in her youth in singing and theater. She was a Fulbright Scholar to Thailand in 2007 where she gained experience and empathy for her cultural roots. Her first novel is a work in progress through the Year-Long-Writing Project at the Literary Loft. She had a solo comedic set with the Funny Asian Women Kollective (FAWK) earlier this year. She is also a member of the Coalition of Asian American Leaders’ MOVEE program as well as currently serving as an Americorps member building digital literacy in marginalized communities. In her free time, she enjoys paddle boarding the Minneapolis lakes, pool time, and hiking.
Houa Moua
EnsemblesHoua Moua (She/Her) is a comedian and lifelong lover of the performing arts. Currently employed at Metropolitan Center for Independent Living, she is an advocate for disability justice in her community. As a Hmong woman with a disability, the act of navigating multiple layers of marginalized spaces fostered her outgoing and resilient spirit, as well as her desire to put an end to ableism, racism, and the patriarchy. Houa’s visibility and presence have been steadily growing in the Twin Cities since 2020, in productions such as The Kung Fu Zombies Saga (Theatre Mu), Face to Face: Hmong Women's Experience (Park Square Theater), Stories Exploring Disability and Theater (Full Circle Theater), and most notably in her stand-up comedy with the Funny Asian Women Kollective. She’s excited to be back at Fringe!
Lola Eleni
BarameyMichelle Vang
Co-DirectorMichelle Vang (she/her) is a Hmong American actress, singer, content creator, and writer. She graduated from the University of Minnesota Duluth with a BA in theater. Her recent works include Theater Mu’s Again The Musical (Shia U/S), and Playwrights’ Center PlayLabs Festival. She has written and directed Ob Lub Suab, Ib Haiv Neeg, a jukebox musical for Hmong Living in Unity and Balance. Aside from theater, she enjoys creating musical content on social media.
Narate Keys
Writer/co-directorNarate Keys is a Khmer/Cambodian Poet, Author and playwright from Saint Paul, Minnesota. She is also the self-published author of a collection of songs and poetry The Good Life, poetry book The Changes… Immigration Footprints of Our Journey, and co-author of Planting SEADs. She was born in a Thai refugee camp. Keys writes to express the true meaning of her voices. It is through poetry that Keys have found love, appreciation, and encouragement. Keys has performed her poems in Washington D.C., Minnesota’s The Loft Literary, Springboard For The Arts, Saint Cloud State University, Dragon Boat Festival, MayDay Festival. She was feature artist for MN8’s fundraising and amongst others. Keys was selected as a storytelling recipient through Twin Cities Media Alliance (TCMA). Keys' painting called The Sun’s Reflector was featured in the Saint Paul Almanac. Key’s poem Water from Motherland was featured on https://lyricality.org and is also posted on Springboard for the Arts website. Lastly, Keys was a 2021 Creative Support for Individual recipient from MN State Arts Board & MRAC’s recipient for grant to compose music for her musical, Apsara. Find out more at www.NarateKeys.com.
Orlearnda Romeo Hoeun
King Suryavarman IIRomeo Hoeun Model/ Actor/ Dancer. From Minneapolis, Minnesota. At the young age of 13 he was in a breakdance group that was showcased at The Mall of America tournament in 2002. He later became a backup dancer for the Charlie Brown characters at Camp Snoopy. Choreographed dancing became something he truly enjoyed. He had a passion for acting, so he moved to LA right after high school and took acting classes. He moved back to Minnesota and graduated from Minnesota State, Mankato with a bachelors. In 2025 he got his first opportunity to walk the runway and model for Represent Cambodia in the 2nd annual QTPOC Cambodian Runway Show. Now part of the new modern twist of the Cambodian Apsara musical, he starts an acting journey that is only beginning.
Thomas Phetmeuangmay
Ensemble/SenapatiBorn and raised in Sycamore, IL, Thomas has always had a passion for theatre having been in several school and community productions. His personal favorites are Audrey 2 from Little Shop of Horrors and Gomez Addams from Addams Family. He is particularly proud to be involved in the growing Southeast Asian American theatre community and is excited where it will lead in years to come.
Tri Vo
MoniTri (pronounced "TREE") is an amateur performer and political rabble-rouser based in Minneapolis, MN. He's produced work as an artist-in-residence as a puppet artist (Open Eye Theater's "PuppetLab") and musician (The Cedar Cultural Center's "Cedar Commission's"). You can find things he posted online at linktr.ee/tritactoe.
Tseng Thao
EnsemblesTseng Thao is an Hmong-American actress whose on-screen work spans independent films, music videos, and commercial shoots across Minnesota. Known for her expressive presence and adaptability, she has portrayed roles ranging from a murder victim in BagHead to a lead in Nyob Ze. Tseng’s modeling experience includes walking in the Melevated X Friends Fashion Show, adding fashion-forward flair to her creative pursuits. She began her formal training at John Robert Powers and continues to build her skills with each new project. Tseng is passionate about representing diverse voices in media and bringing emotional depth to every role she takes on.
Zachary Benson
HanumanA Korean adoptee (KAD) raised in the north Twin Cities metro. I enjoy acting and musical aspects of performance art (from playing guitar for Anoka County 4-H Arts-In to acting professionally in Muyehpen)! This is my first professional musical. I enjoy music, new foods (Minnesota provides many opportunities to try new foods), exploring other cultures, foraging, gardening, theology, languages, weather, and many other random interests.
More Information
My name is Narate Keys and I am a Khmer (pron. “khuh-MAI”) playwright from Cambodia. The Khmer are the largest ethnic group in the country of Cambodia. I am producing a musical called Apsara, which I started to write and develop in 2013. Apsara the Musical is a historical fiction and romance story set during the twelfth century where king Suryavarman II built Angkor Wat and many other temples. There will be original songs composed by Isaac Mayhew, choreographed by Amanda Vang, and directed by Michelle Vang.
This production is important to share the history of the Angkorian people in our Khmer community. With a population of over 100,000, Minnesota is home to one of the largest and most thriving Southeast Asian diaspora communities in the nation. We are honored to share a story to enrich our underserved community including the Hmong, Khmer, Lao and Viet diaspora communities on reclaiming language through theatre, collective storytelling working with arts markers and with our actors, singer, producer amongst many others to bring this musical into fruition.
Apsara the Musical is a passion project. I dreamt of writing about the Angkorian kingdom and sharing the abundance of storytelling of the Khmer people. In 2013 I began thinking about going back to my homeland, Cambodia. My vision came true when I landed in Phnom Penh in 2015. After visiting Angkor Wat and exploring Siem Reap, I began my research and wrote my first musical, Apsara. I'm happy to co-produce this show with director Michelle Vang and choreographer Amanda Vang, two Hmong women and sisters both with great passion and skills in stewarding musical theater productions to life.
Apsara is for all ages to enjoy. We invite you to enjoy our show by buying tickets for yourself and with your family and friends. We strongly welcome donations to help acknowledge the otherwise volunteer time, labor, and resources provided to this production by our cast and crew.
We will be performing this August in collaboration with the Minnesota Fringe Festival on August 1st at 8:30pm, August 2nd at 10pm, August 4th at 7pm, August 9th at 2:30pm.
We look forward to seeing you there at the theatre. ຂອບໃຈ. cảm ơn. ua tsaug. អរគុណ. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Narate Keys and the Apsara, the Musical cast and crew
