Skip to main content

New Imagine U adventure is a sibling journey that’s out of this world

Directed by Jamal Howard, ‘The Wong Kids’ tells a space story of courage and empathy to young audiences
October 17, 2024 | By Stephen J. Lewis
jamal howard
Jamal Howard is a director, choreographer and producer focusing on the empathetic power of theatre. Most recently, he was the Goodman Theatre Michael Maggio Directing Fellow, the co-artistic director of New American Folk Theatre and an associate company member with TUTA Theatre. Photos by Jonah Elkowitz

ImagineU, Northwestern's theater for young audiences, is kicking off a new season with an epic space adventure. “The Wong Kids in the Secret of the Space Chupacabra, Go!” follows siblings Violet and Bruce Wong, who don't fit in with other Earth kids — they have superpowers, but not very good ones. When an evil beast called the Space Chupacabra appears, intent on universal destruction, the Wong kids must travel to far reaches of outer space to stop it, if they can only stop bickering. Violet and Bruce ultimately realize that being different isn't just okay — it might be the most important thing ever.

During the play's run, approximately 800 third-graders from Evanston-Skokie School District 65 will go on a field trip to Northwestern's Wirtz Center. Born of a community-based partnership called LITTT, Learn, Imagine, Through the Theater, the program is now in its third year.

Before coming to campus, the students will be introduced to the play with a classroom video showing a behind-the-scenes look at the theater-making process guided by Northwestern Theatre alum and District 65 alum Nolan Robinson. While on campus, besides the play, the students will have lunch and a meet and greet with the actors.

Northwestern Now spoke with guest director Jamal Howard about the production and its underlying message that he says families and young minds need to see.

Paint a picture of what audiences will see in this show.

Audiences are going to experience a whole new world. “The Wong Kids” is an epic space tale, so we will be in outer space, and our costumes will bring these aliens to life. There's also a lot of play and joy in this show.

Through theater, children in the audience can see somebody else’s story, Jamal Howard said. “By seeing those stories play out, we learn how to empathize with people who are different from us.” Photos by Jonah Elkowitz

Describe one of your favorite scenes.

One of my favorite scenes in the show is where the Wong kids are flying in the air. They're riding with a dragon and bust out into a song. There is a full-on song in the middle of this show; it is so much fun. I can't wait for people to experience it.

Why are you excited to direct this production?

I am so excited to direct “The Wong Kids” because of its themes of courage and empathy. Those traits are so important to theater, young audiences and theater at large. It is a unique way for people to learn how to be more empathetic human beings.

Related video: Go behind the scenes with director Jamal Howard for the making of “The Wong Kids”

Through theater, they can see somebody else's story that's different from theirs played out in front of them. They're making different choices than you are, or they're making the same choices. But by seeing those stories play out, we learn how to empathize with people who are different from us, and we also learn how to have courage in telling our stories truthfully, being ourselves, and being unafraid of being ourselves.

Jamal Howard is a director, choreographer and producer focusing on the empathetic power of theatre. Most recently, he was the 2023/24 Goodman Theatre Michael Maggio Directing Fellow, the co-artistic director of New American Folk Theatre, and an associate company member with TUTA Theatre.

“The Wong Kids” runs Oct. 24-Nov. 3 at the Ethel M. Barber Theater, 30 Arts Circle Drive. Tickets can be purchased from the Wirtz Center website by calling 847-491-7282 or by visiting the Wirtz Center box office located in the lobby of the Ethel M. Barber Theater, 30 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston.

Editor’s Picks

frost

Related Stories

truck or treat