Musician Kai on the Keys will write a musical show called Uprooted:The Musical chronicling their personal journeys of two Chinese Adoptees and their stories of surviving the One Child Policy.
The show will will be the first theater work in the USA dedicated to telling the story of the One Child Policy. It will educate audiences on the complexities of transnational adoption and express cathartic themes of cultural exchange, navigating academia and intersectional visibility.
Uprooted: The Musical Work Sample SongSong title: Mask About to Crack
Mask About to Crack Score
This is an excerpt of the piano/vocal score for the song Mask About to Crack.
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Description of Adopted Uprooted Reclaimed
Meet The Adoptees
Kai & Ellie
Telling our adoption story
Kai: I am a prolific songwriter, pianist and vocalist known for building interactive dueling pianos shows and sharp musical comedy at The Second City and all around Chicagoland. My music uses comedy, storytelling, and poetry to share intersectional stories about my queer identity and pride as a Chinese adoptee.
Ellie: "I am a new drummer in the Chicago jazz, R&B, and funk scene. I just graduated from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in May 2024, moved to the city in August, and I write music mainly about my neurodivergence and racial identity."
Work Sample: Speech and Performance
This is a presentation at Healthy Hood including music and storytelling to share about our adoption experience.