Musical: At the Edge of Chinatown part of Rough Draft Festival 2026

Created by the music group, The Slants, At the Edge of Chinatown follows three Asian-American teenagers navigating fractured identities while their family restaurants face extinction in a rapidly changing Chinatown. It’s an explosive musical about third-culture kids who must remix the old world to build their own, proving that sometimes the most powerful form of preservation is fearless reinvention. With an emo/pop-punk score powering the show, this story pulls from our own backstories of growing up in restaurants, navigating Chinatowns around the world, and figuring out what it means to forge an identity that’s entirely your own.

On March 12 at 7pm, you’ll catch demo versions of songs performed by the two of us (Joe X. Jiang and Simon Tam) at the Little Theater (LPAC). Tickets are only $10, and students get in free. After the performance, stick around for a talkback where you can give us feedback and help shape this thing as we continue developing it. If you’re in NYC or know anyone who is, grab tickets here…and please spread the word!