Casting has been revealed for the invitation-only industry reading of The Dragon Empress of China, a new musical fusing showtunes, swing, and traditional Chinese music. Austin Ku will direct the reading, presented by the York Theatre. It will be held January 26.

With book and lyrics by Bryan Leys and music by Donald Stark, The Dragon Empress of China follows the rise of Cixi, a defiant 19th-century concubine who became China’s ruthless ruler. Her story is reinvented in 1942, San Francisco’s famed Forbidden City nightclub. While the performers bring the power struggles of the Chinese court to life on stage, backstage, they face their own battles confronting racism and the cutthroat reality of show business.

The cast will include Paolo Montalban (Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella) as Billy, Kai An Chee (Miss Saigon) as Judy, Virginia Wing as Madame Lu, Jay Paranada (Aladdin) as Tommy, Viveca Chow (Miss Saigon) as Sally, Kuppi Jessop (A Sign of the Times) as Johnny, and Jake Manabat (M. Butterfly) reading stage directions.

The creative team will include Alex Ngo as the music director and Juni Li as the stage manager.

RSVP to [email protected].