Community Asian Theatre of the Sierra (CATS) is pleased to be presenting this magnificent play by Lauren Yee that has a bit of everything.  It has funny moments, “colorful” language, basketball, politics, history, and more! 

Saul and Manford, aka Kenny Nguyen and Robert Rossman
Saul and Manford, aka Kenny Nguyen and Robert Rossman (l to r). Photo by Allison Chan.

The Great Leap tells the story of Manford Lum, a local star of the sidewalk basketball courts of San Francisco’s Chinatown who strongarms his way onto an American college team travelling to Beijing for a “friendship” game. Set amidst the friction of post cultural revolution China in the late 1980s, The Great Leap explores the cultural collide of identity and politics through the game of basketball. Witty and weighty, Lauren Yee’s The Great Leap keeps tensions high right up to the final buzzer.

“Growing up, my father dominated the basketball courts of San Francisco’s Chinatown, and in the 1980s, his legendary game won him a spot on a friendship team headed to a newly open China to play a series of exhibition games against the best teams in the People’s Republic. That nugget of his history formed the inspiration for my play The Great Leap nearly 40 years later.”

Lauren Yee, playwright

The Great Leap plays at the Nevada Theatre from April 27 to May 20 and is directed by Scott Gilbert.  

As a reminder, all evening shows now begin at 7:00 p.m. and matinees remain at 2:00 p.m. 

The Saturday, April 29, show is our Opening Night with Gala Reception following the performance. 

Tickets at https://catsweb.org