San Francisco Opera Presents World Premiere of Huang Ruo and David Henry Hwang's The Monkey King, November 14–30, 2025
The Monkey King composer Huang Ruo and librettist David Henry Hwang; Tech rehearsal photo (Basil Twist, set & puppetry designer;
Hana S. Kim, projection designer; Ayumu “Poe” Saegusa, lighting designer); Costume design by Anita Yavich
Diane Paulus Directs with Puppetry and Sets Designed by Basil Twist, Caroyln Kuan Conducts San Francisco Opera Orchestra, Chorus and Brilliant Cast
Diane Paulus (director), Basil Twist (puppetry director; set & puppetry designer), Carolyn Kuan (conductor);
Kang Wang (Monkey King), Konu Kim (Jade Emperor), Mei Gui Zhang (Guanyin)
Array of Community Events Celebrate The Monkey King
November 18 Performance Will Be Livestreamed
Tickets available at (415) 864-3330 and sfopera.com
the Monkey king world premiere.pdf
The Monkey King CHinese Traditional.Pdf The Monkey King CHinese Simplified.pdf Photos
San Francisco, CA (October 17, 2025) — San Francisco Opera presents the world premiere of The Monkey King by composer Huang Ruo and librettist David Henry Hwang November 14–30 at the War Memorial Opera House. One of the most highly anticipated new works of the opera season, this new action-hero opera centers around the mythical Monkey King (Sun Wukong), a perennial favorite in Chinese culture for more than four hundred years, whose popularity has exploded through film, television, animation and, most recently, the 2024 blockbuster video game Black Myth: Wukong, which sold 18 million copies in its first two months.
Commissioned by San Francisco Opera in partnership with the Chinese Heritage Foundation of Minnesota, The Monkey King is based on the opening episodes of Journey to the West, the Ming Dynasty novel attributed to Wu Cheng’en and considered one of China’s four greatest literary classics. This new adaptation for the opera stage, performed in English and Mandarin and uniting the disciplines of opera, dance and puppetry, follows the ambitious young monkey who is born from a stone and challenges the gods of the seas and heavens in a bid for immortality.
The Monkey King composer Huang Ruo and librettist David Henry Hwang
Composer Huang Ruo said: “If dreams do come true, creating The Monkey King with my long-time collaborator David Henry Hwang for San Francisco Opera is one of those dreams. The world is full of superheroes—Superwoman, Spider-Man, Batman—and like those we know from American comic books and movies, the Monkey King is every bit an inspirational figure known for his wit, humor, righteousness and power. He is Asia’s supreme superhero, loved and adored not only by Chinese people throughout the centuries but increasingly by people throughout the world. The Monkey King’s adventures awaken in him an understanding of true power which leads to his self-enlightenment. In our new opera, which blends cultural traditions with a spectacular multidisciplinary production, I hope to bring this Eastern superhero to life and shine a positive light that will always appear in any turbulent time.”
Huang Ruo has won extensive praise for his incisive, lyrical works in a variety of musical genres, from his puppet opera Book of Mountains and Seas and oratorio Angel Island to his operatic collaborations with Tony Award-winning playwright and librettist David Henry Hwang: An American Soldier, The Rift and M. Butterfly. Hwang’s body of work includes the stage plays M. Butterfly, Yellow Face and Chinglish, the musical Soft Power with composer Jeanine Tesori and libretti for operas by Osvaldo Golijov (Ainadamar), Unsuk Chin (Alice in Wonderland), Bright Sheng (Dream of the Red Chamber, a San Francisco Opera commission) and five works by Philip Glass. In their newest collaboration, Huang Ruo and David Henry Hwang have blended Chinese and Western traditions to create a thrilling new incarnation of an irrepressible hero and global icon.
Ann Yee (choreographer), Anita Yavich (costume designer), Ayumu “Poe” Saegusa (lighting designer),
Hana S. Kim (projection designer), Jamie Guan (Peking Opera Specialist)
Making her San Francisco Opera debut is conductor Carolyn Kuan, music director of the Hartford Symphony, who led the New York premiere of Huang Ruo’s An American Soldier and the world premiere of M. Butterfly. The Monkey King’s high-octane adventures—from the depths of the sea to his epic battle with the gods in heaven—are balanced by moments of repose with the goddess Guanyin and a chorus of bodhisattvas reflecting on the Monkey King’s progress through the Buddhist Diamond Sutra. The story’s whimsical and fantastical world will be conjured for the stage by American Repertory Theater’s award-winning Terrie and Bradley Bloom Artistic Director Diane Paulus, renowned puppeteer and Bay Area native Basil Twist (who collaborated with Huang Ruo on Book of Mountains and Seas), choreographer Ann Yee, costume designer Anita Yavich, lighting designer Ayumu “Poe” Saegusa, projection designer Hana S. Kim, and Peking Opera Specialist Jamie Guan.
Australian-Chinese tenor Kang Wang makes his Company debut as the cunning and charismatic Monkey King. South Korean tenor Konu Kim, who joined San Francisco Opera as Bao Yu in Dream of the Red Chamber in 2022, returns as the Jade Emperor. As Guanyin, the Chinese goddess of compassion, soprano Mei Gui Zhang returns after prior successes as Dai Yu in Dream of the Red Chamber, Gluck’s Orpheus and Eurydice and Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera.
Peixin Chen (Supreme Sage Laojun), Joo Won Kang (Dragon King Ao Guang/Lord Erlang), Hongni Wu (Crab General/Venus Star),
Jusung Gabriel Park (Master Subhuti/Buddha), Huiwang Zhang (Monkey King dancer), Marcos Vedovetto (Lord Erlang dancer)
Bass Peixin Chen, who made a commanding Company debut this September as Sparafucile in Rigoletto, is Supreme Sage Laojun. Former Adler Fellow baritone Joo Won Kang performs the dual roles of Dragon King Ao Guang and Lord Erlang. After her Company debut as Bao Chai in Dream of the Red Chamber, mezzo-soprano Hongni Wu returns as the Crab General and Venus Star. South Korean baritone Jusung Gabriel Park makes his Company debut in the role of Master Subhuti, who is revealed to be the Buddha. Dancers Huiwang Zhang and Marcos Vedovetto embody the roles of Monkey King and Lord Erlang respectively.
To hear the aria “All dharmas are equal”, performed by soprano Mei Gui Zhang (Guanyin) and pianist John Churchwell, visit sfopera.com/operas/the-monkey-king/media. Zhang can also be seen as part of San Francisco Opera’s In Song video series. The free, 19-minute film can be viewed at sfopera.com/insong, YouTube and YouTube (Chinese subtitles).
San Francisco Opera General Director Matthew Shilvock said: “I’m so proud that San Francisco Opera is bringing this operatic Monkey King to life, continuing our long tradition of building cultural bridges across the Pacific Ocean. This is a very exciting undertaking, with all departments of the Company and our creative team coming together to build something stunning, beautiful and magical. The music is both energetic and lyrical. It is a privilege to be telling one of the great stories of Chinese literature on the American opera stage, celebrating the piece with audiences who have grown up with Sun Wukong, and introducing him to many new audiences for the first time. We hope that this will become a beloved and lasting opera for the world and are thrilled about how much excitement there already is for this new opera.”
The Monkey King, a story of immense resonance to so many, has brought together an exciting array of influential leaders spanning business, nonprofit, tech and cultural sectors. An Honorary Committee chaired by Jensen and Lori Huang and The Monkey King Committee led by San Francisco Opera Board of Directors members and Committee Co-Chairs Jerome Dodson, Soo Venkatesan, and Doreen Woo Ho serve as ambassadors for The Monkey King, raising awareness and philanthropic support for this major new operatic expression of this hero whose story symbolizes transformation, perseverance and the pursuit of wisdom. Events hosted by the Committee include an Opening Night Dinner Celebration on November 14.
Performed in English and Mandarin with English and Chinese supertitles, the eight performances of The Monkey King are scheduled for November 14 (7:30 p.m.), 16 (2 p.m.), 18 (7:30 p.m.), 20 (7:30 p.m.), 22 (7:30 p.m.), 25 (7:30 p.m.), 28 (7:30 p.m.), and 30 (2 p.m.), 2025.
LIVESTREAM: THE MONKEY KING
The Tuesday, November 18 performance of The Monkey King will be livestreamed at 7:30 p.m. Pacific Time (PT). Livestream tickets ($25) include a 48-hour on-demand viewing window, beginning at 10 a.m. PT on November 23 and ending at 10 a.m. PT on November 25. For tickets and more information, visit sfopera.com/digital/livestream.
THE MONKEY KING COMMUNITY & PARTNER EVENTS
San Francisco Opera and community partners celebrate the world premiere of The Monkey King with panel discussions, puppetry workshops, film screenings, family-friendly events and more. Visit sfopera.com/monkey-king-events for updates and information.
PEN America Zoom Webinar – The Rebel’s Role: The Monkey King, Mischief, and Myth
Thursday, October 30, 12–1:30 p.m. PT / 3–4:30 p.m. ET
PEN America hosts a discussion with The Monkey King composer Huang Ruo, librettist and Tony Award-winning playwright David Henry Hwang and Pearl Lam Bergad (Chinese Heritage Foundation). Moderated by Ken Smith (Opera/Opera News), the panel will dig deeper into the multiple layers of translations (linguistic, cultural and format) that bring The Monkey King to life in this pulse-of-the-moment contemporary adaptation.
Webinar is FREE; register HERE.
Double-Feature Film Screening – The Monkey King: Uproar in Heaven (1961) and The Monkey King: Havoc in Heaven's Palace (2014)
Saturday, November 1, 11:30 a.m.–4 p.m. (Uproar in Heaven begins at approximately 11:30 a.m.; Havoc in Heaven begins at approximately 1:45 p.m.)
Great Star Theater, 636 Jackson Street, San Francisco
A matinee double-feature screening of film adaptations of the opening chapters of Journey to the West, the Ming Dynasty literary classic upon which the opera is based, at the historic Great Star Theater in San Francisco’s Chinatown. Watch the fantastical adventures of the Monkey King—Sun Wukong—in the landmark 1961 animated film The Monkey King: Uproar in Heaven (shown in the original Mandarin, with English subtitles), followed by the 2014 action-fantasy movie The Monkey King: Havoc in Heaven's Palace (shown in the original Cantonese, with English subtitles). San Francisco Opera thanks the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco, Filmko Pictures (Hong Kong), and the Great Star Theater.
This FREE ticketed event is SOLD-OUT. Walk-ins may be possible if space is available.
Monkey King Make & Play: The Art of Puppetry
Sunday, November 2, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin St, San Francisco
Asian Art Museum’s Free First Sundays invites families to step into the playful world of the Monkey King. Curated in partnership with Art Builds Community (ABC), a roster of local puppet artists will lead hands-on activities, lively demonstrations and fun craft activities inspired by the world premiere production of The Monkey King. 25-minute and 45-minute workshop sessions will take place throughout the day alongside guided tours of the museum.
Workshops (and museum admission) are FREE, no registration required.
Once Upon an Opera: The Monkey King
Thursday, November 6, 10:30–11:15 a.m., SFPL Western Addition Branch, 1550 Scott Street
Saturday, November 8, 3–3:45 p.m., SFPL Richmond Branch, 351 9th Avenue
Sunday, November 9, 2:30–3:15 p.m., SFPL Parkside Branch, 1200 Taraval Street
San Francisco Public Library (SFPL) presents family-friendly interactive opera-inspired workshops at SFPL locations throughout San Francisco. Led by local puppetry artists, the sessions explore the diverse styles of puppets used in storytelling throughout the world and featured in San Francisco Opera's production of The Monkey King.
FREE event, no registration required.
Family Workshop – Puppets of The Monkey King with Ramon Abad
Saturday, November 15, 2–4 p.m.
Minnesota Street Project, 1275 Minnesota Street, San Francisco
San Francisco Arts Education Project (SFArtsED) hosts a workshop and discussion celebrating The Monkey King. Puppeteer Ramon Abad leads a family-friendly demonstration of the styles of puppets used in the opera and an interactive puppet workshop for all ages.
FREE event, no registration required.
The Monkey King: The Legend of Sun Wukong & The Making of a New Opera
Featuring composer Huang Ruo & librettist David Henry Hwang
Saturday, November 15, 4-6 p.m.
Minnesota Street Project, 1275 Minnesota Street, San Francisco
Dive deep into the enduring legend of the Monkey King (Sun Wukong) with powerhouse artistic duo Huang Ruo (composer) and David Henry Hwang (librettist) on the heels of their world premiere at San Francisco Opera. The free, two-part program will begin with an exploration of the cultural significance of the iconic novel Journey to the West, and a look at its many forms in popular culture, followed by a conversation about the creation of the groundbreaking opera. The public program is presented by Minnesota Street Project and San Francisco Opera, in partnership with the San Francisco Arts Education Project (SFArtsED), and produced with Lumahai Productions.
FREE event, no registration required.
Opera Glasses: San Francisco Opera’s The Monkey King – Screening at SFPL Ortega Branch
Monday, November 24, 2 p.m.
San Francisco Public Library, Ortega Branch, 3223 Ortega Street, San Francisco
San Francisco Opera’s Opera Glasses program partners with SFPL’s Ortega Branch Library to present a special encore screening of the Company’s November 18 livestream of The Monkey King.
FREE event, no registration required.
The Monkey King Public Market
Friday, November 28, 5–8 p.m.
Sunday, November 30, 11:30 a.m.– 2:30 p.m.
Memorial Court, 301-401 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco (adjacent to War Memorial Opera House)
In partnership with businesses and organizations from Chinatown, The Monkey King Public Market celebrates the legacy of San Francisco’s Chinatown— a vital and vibrant part of the Bay Area’s cultural fabric—and the world premiere of The Monkey King. Operagoers and the general public are invited to this public marketplace to enjoy cultural demonstrations and purchase bites and wares from local artists and restaurants in this convergence of artisans, artists and food vendors in the outdoor courtyard next to the War Memorial Opera House.
FREE outdoor event.
The Monkey King Art Exhibition
In-person viewing
November 14–30 at The Monkey King performances
The Monkey King is a revered character, an immortal trickster deity seeking redemption. Co-curators Quynh-Mai Nguyen and Amanda Rawson of Art Builds Community (ABC) and Caitlin Pambid present a series of artworks from Bay Area artists inspired by the classic character. The exhibit will portray his many depictions for audiences to feel a connection to his many facets, expanding their initial conception of his character. Viewers can expect to see various portraits and scenes of the Monkey King accompanied by his familiar arsenal—the cloud he flies upon and his powerful staff.
Digital Art Exhibit:
Beginning November 14, the artworks will also be exhibited online at sfopera.com/monkey-king-events.
*For the complete press release, including full cast and calendar, open the PDF version above.