Taiwanese Actress in NYC Dreams of Performing on Broadway

Kui-Fang Tseng recently completed her first lead role of a musical in Theater Row. Playing a North Vietnamese soldier in War+Lovers, she welcomed the story arc that her character had to carry. “There’s a beginning, a middle and an end," said Tseng. "You must build up the drama so the character changes, and the audience can experience the story." On the other hand, she did not initially pursue acting as a college student, but once she did, it was a revelation.

“I was not a confident person,” said Tseng. “Acting allowed me to know myself and start liking myself.”

So after acting in a few parts, Tseng changed her focus course of study on acting at the National Taiwan UniversityDepartment of Drama and Theater. Without skipping a beat, she eventually landed a part in a musical, and further course work shed light on the Great White Way. “New York is the capital of musicals, and my dream is to someday be on Broadway,” said the actress from Taiwan.

Actress arrives in New York.

This led Tseng to a three month trip to learn and live in New York City. “Christian Fletcher is my mentor,” said Tseng. "He taught a musical master class in Taiwan, and encouraged me to come to here and learn.”

Arrival on a tourist visa gave Tseng her first taste of - if you can make it there…”I encountered lots of difficulties, a dirty place, a rude roommate, frustration in school....” she remembered.

Nonetheless, the multitalented actress needed no prodding once the curtain came down after 90 days. “I applied to Steps on Broadway for the one year International Independent Student Program,” said Tseng who returned in May 2018.

Culture shock is good.

Her living situation also got an upgrade when a cousin set her up with a Burmese family in Astoria. Of course, there was still culture shock, and sheer tempo was what the aspiring actress had to learn to shake off. “It’s amazing how fast they teach, and everyone seems to catch up so quick,” said Tseng.

The competitive atmosphere was also a hard adjustment. “Classmates are all professional people,” Tseng lamented.

In the end, Tseng was able to fall in place with the flow and come out ahead. The competition and the pace are a great thing,” said Tseng. “Being around people who are striving to be better make you better. So I’ve made more progress here.”

The wide international diversity of creatives who come to up their game didn’t go unnoticed either and gave her common cause. “They all want to pursue their careers so it’s really inspiring,” Tseng said.

Actress takes the lead and hopes for the best.

Individually, the intense training has allowed her to know her body and understand what it takes to be a professional musical actress. War+Lovers gave Tseng the chance to apply the lesson plan, and her role as a North Vietnamese soldier gave her a pretty big kick. “It was a great opportunity to showcase my acting, singing and dancing,” she said of the December 2018 production that ran at Theater Row on West 42nd.

However, being star-crossed didn’t mean James Doyle Klier’s play was a downer for her. “I died saving the American soldier who I loved,” said Tseng.

Either way, acting breathes life and provides a release. “It heals me,” she said. “I’m not good at expressing myself. But acting allows me to express emotions like sadness and anger and provides relief.”

Short of that, time consuming studies don’t have her taking advantage of the city that never sleeps. But she’s just fine with settling in at day’s end. “I really like to stay at home and eat a box of ice cream, while watching American television,” said Tseng.

Of course, if onscreen opportunities come in, she will take them, but her preference is clear. “I like theater and will keep my focus there,” she concluded.

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