New meaningful play about Cambodian family set in Lowell will debut in city

CBS News

21-04-2025

A new play, "What You Are Now," about a Cambodian family will soon open in Lowell, the city with the second-largest Cambodian population in the United States.
The play is actually set in the city.
The production looks at generational trauma, family connections, and the hopes of healing.
"Sharing this piece allows us to not only share what the people go through," says actor Joe Gno. "But also share the history of the tragedy that happened to the characters of the play and of the people of Cambodia."
Actor Pisay Pao makes it clear, "I don't want anyone to be turned away and feel like I'm not Cambodian American, so it wouldn't relate to me. I'd rather people know first that this is an American story. It's an American family story. "
Pao says that the family aspect is key.
"How much do we really know about our mothers and our fathers? How much do they really know about us?"
Her character, Pia, is a neuroscientist on a mission.
"She's trying to fix her mom, basically. She's trying to connect with her mom. She wants her mom to be happy. She wants to be close to her. And so she goes through this journey in trying to find a cure for her mom's trauma," Pao explains.
The trauma stems from surviving the Khmer Rouge, escaping the Cambodian genocide that claimed the lives of nearly two million people, 50 years ago this month. As Siobhan, the director of a non-profit, actor Kalean Ung hopes to convince Pia's mom to open up about fleeing her homeland.
"This speaks to lots of different immigrant families and touches on a lot of subjects that we're still talking about, " Ung says. "Many people are going to see themselves on stage, not just Khmer people."
Gno tells us, "There's not a huge gap between the Cambodian population and everybody else, especially here in Lowell."
The cast feels that the Merrimack Repertory Theater is the perfect company to stage this play.
"As a Cambodian-American myself," Gno says, "it means a lot to get to do this piece and offer something back to the community where their voices [are] not often as represented."
"Lowell is such an amazing city," Pao tells us. " I stumbled upon city hall, and they were doing a Cambodian flag raising. And I was just stunned. I was shocked. I couldn't believe that this was happening in Lowell. And it wasn't just Cambodians. It was the entire community, and I got to see how diverse the city really is."
Ung agrees, "The community is so supportive. They want to be involved, and it's so meaningful to be able to tell a story like this for this community."
Merrimack Repertory Theater's production of
"What You Are Now"
opens at the Lowell Auditorium on Wednesday, April 23 and runs through May 11.