(Posted March 3, 2008)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Michelle Krusiek, an Asian-American actress whose indelible work in independent films and network television shows has brought her acclaim nationally and internationally, will bring her autobiographical play, "Made in Taiwan" to Juniata College at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, March 13 and Friday, March 14 in the Suzanne von Liebig Theatre in the Halbritter Center for the Performing Arts.

For tickets and information about the Juniata College Presents series, please call (814) 641-3608. General admission tickets for single performances are $20, except where otherwise noted. Single-show tickets for seniors over age 65 and children age 18 and under are $12. Juniata College students are admitted free with a student ID.

"Made in Taiwan" is written and performed by Michelle Krusiec, who transformed a college thesis paper about the relationship between Michelle and her mother into a one-woman stage show that is both poignant and hilarious. The newspaper L.A. Weekly described the play as "a humorous, sometimes jarring exploration of a young Chinese-American woman's experiences with sex, dating, and her controlling, insensitive mother."

The play, which lovingly depicts the struggle for separation all children and their parents go through, debuted at the 2002 Aspen Comedy Festival. She has since staged the play at a variety of college and university campuses across the country and is currently seeking to stage the show in New York. She also is working on adapting the play for film or television.

Krusiec, who has appeared in such independent films as "Saving Face," "Pumpkin" and "Far North," first wrote the show as a theatre student at Virginia Tech University. She further developed the play under the direction of her acting teacher Larry Moss.

She has maintained a very busy schedule as an actress. She works steadily as a character actress in such shows as "Navy: NCIS," "Weeds," "Grey's Anatomy," "Cold Case," "ER" and "Titus." She also had parts in such films as "Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd," "Daddy Day Care" and "Sweet Home Alabama." She also hosted the show "Travelers" for the Discovery Channel.

Her first lead film role came in the independent film, "Saving Face." She received a Golden Horse Award (which are considered the Chinese Academy Awards) nomination for Best Actress for the film, which also starred Joan Chen.

The busy performer started her acting career at age 12 in her hometown, Virginia Beach, Va. She earned a bachelor's degree in theatre and English from Virginia Tech and extended her studies at Oxford University in Oxford, England. She also works and performs at Spontaneous Organic Improv" at the Hothouse, a performance space in Hollywood, Calif.


Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.