About No 1 Chinese

Musician Patrick Breiner, Director Rowan Magee, and puppeteers Emmanuel Elpenord and Takemi Kitamura have been developing No 1 Chinese since 2015. There are more Chinese fast-food restaurants in America than Burger Kings, McDonalds and Wendy’s combined. Many undocumented men and women pay off high interest debts by working for years in Chinese restaurants around the country, earning a fraction of minimum wage. While we work on the stage, consider that someone with great ambition and resilience is cooking under fluorescents down the street. No 1 Chinese was the recipient of a 2016 Henson Workshop Grant.

Puppeteers: Emmanuel Elpenord, Takemi Kitamura.
Music by Patrick Breiner
Designed and Directed by Rowan Magee

Rowan Magee is a puppeteer, director and educator from Troy, NY. He has performed for Phantom Limb Company, Dan Hurlin, David Neumann, Chris Green, Robin Frohardt, and Spencer Lott. Rowan is a co-curator for the Object Movement Festival at the West Park Presbyterian Church. rowanmagee@gmail.com

Patrick Breiner is a Vandoren artist. He is a saxophonist, clarinetist, composer, and educator living in Brooklyn, NY. Breiner is a member of the saxophone quartet Battle Trance, operates Sulde Records, and leads several projects including Vartan Mamigonian (solo saxophone), Double Double (free jazz quartet featuring 2 bassists), and Red Metal (quintet with 2 vocalists, violin, and cello).