Overview
After her first day of school in America, a young, Korean, immigrant girl decides to change her name to something “easer to pronounce.” With the enthusiastic help of her new classmates, she soon has a jar filled with exciting new names. Will she choose a new name? Or will she find value in her own?
Casting & Production
Casting
UNHEI — Korean, 7, Female
MR. BILL — Korean American, 30s, Male*
AMARI — African American, 7, Male
RALPH — American, 7, Male
ROSA — Latin American, 7, Female
MR. KIM — Korean, 50s, Male*
HEEWON — Korean, Unhei’s mother, 30s, Female*
HALMONIE — Korean, Unhei’s grandmother, 50s-60s, Female*
Note on Casting:
MR. BILL and MR. KIM should be played by the same actor.
HEEWON and HALMONIE should be played by the same actor.
Setting
An American city or town.
Present day.
Reviews
“THE NAME JAR tells a delightful, affirming story that can be a springboard to conversations about being at peace with one’s identity, or multiplicity of identities, as is often the case in today’s world; about seeing value in diversity and difference; and in having empathy for those working through a feeling of being different—to welcome them while respecting their difference. THE NAME JAR is a most enjoyable and uplifting show for both children and adults that reenforces values for a world where diversity is the norm.”
—Talkin’ Broadway
“I love what the two companies have done with this production geared towards people age five and up; however, the up doesn’t mean 14 or 17 it means 101+. The message here is simple enough for school age children to understand but universal enough for anyone to learn from.”
—The Stages of MN
“THE NAME JAR is a celebration of culture, family, and what’s in a name.”
—Broadway World
