Duke TAASCON 2014 : SELF

Introducing, our final keynote speaker and performer: KRISTINA WONG!

Kristina Wong is a solo performer, writer and cultural commentator named “One of the Seven Funniest Eco-Comedians” by Mother Nature Network. She’s created five solo shows and one ensemble play that has toured all over the world at locations that include the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland, Contact Theater in Manchester, UK, BGWMC in London, the Public Theater, REDCAT, Center Theater Group, La MaMa ETC, the Comedy Central Stage and dozens of others.

Her most notable touring show, Wong Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, looked at the high rates of depression and suicide among Asian American women and toured to more than 40 venues since 2006. It’s now a broadcast quality film that has been acquired for worldwide distribution by documentary juggernaut, Cinema Libre Studios. For more information on the film, visit www.flyingwong.com.

Wong has been a commentator for American Public Media’s Marketplace, PBS, Jezebel, xoJane, Playgirl magazine and a guest on FXX’s Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell and Huffington Post Live. Her work has been awarded with grants from Creative Capital, The Map Fund, Center for Cultural Innovation, the Durfee Foundation, National Performance Network, fourgrants from the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, and a residency from the MacDowell Colony.

Wong was an alumna commencement speaker at UCLA’s Department of English graduation. Her new show “The Wong Street Journal” looks at global poverty and premieres in 2015. She recently spent a month in Northern Uganda researching that show and recording “Mzungu Price” a rap album with local rappers. Her mail order bride website is www.bigbadchinesemama.com.