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A new play about the Hmong experience comes as fears remain within the community, following a months-long immigration surge that has forced some immigrants to go 

“It's just a hard time to make any kind of work,” said playwright Katie Ka Vang, who wrote “HMong Futures: The Future of Us,” which is set to officially open on April 11 in St. Paul. 

Vang spent months developing the story for “HMong Futures,” holding community engagement events where members of the Hmong community across generations could share their input about what the show should tackle. 

“I always feel like each play kind of teaches me something different,” Vang said. “Even though we're in different generations, we still want similar things. But the way it's done is different.”

The day before “HMong Futures” was supposed to have its first public reading as part of a new works festival, Alex Pretti was killed by federal agents on Jan. 24. 

With a show titled “HMong Futures,” concerns about safety for the Asian community led Theater Mu to cancel the reading. 

“It was one of the most, if not the most challenging things that I've ever had to do as an artist,” said Fran de Leon, Theater Mu’s artistic director. 

In a Zoom meeting with the “HMong Futures” team after the reading was canceled, de Leon remembers sitting in silence.

“They had been so strong and so resilient and stalwart, and in that moment when we had the thing that we love most taken away from us, there was so much pain and betrayal,” de Leon said.

Even though tensions are still high following Operation Metro Surge, Theater Mu is still moving ahead with the premiere. 

“This play talks a lot about healing… it just felt right that we would say we're going to go on,” de Leon said. 

“HMong Futures: the Future of Us” takes place in 2031. It follows three generations of Hmong women on their family farm in Minnesota, where past family drama and generational trauma drive the story. 

Throughout the play, however, granddaughter Maly tries to teach the family to navigate hard discussions through 

, which emphasizes empathy and vocalizing one’s needs. 

“I don't think that I could ever have this conversation with my grandma,” said actor Melody Her, who plays Maly, noting that discussions of feelings is a struggle for parts of the Hmong community.

“This show is all about Hmong futures… I hope that the audience can, you know, see that this is a possibility,” Her said.

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After canceling a January reading over safety concerns following a federal agent shooting, Theater Mu is moving ahead with the premiere of “HMong Futures,” a play shaped by that disruption and its aftermath.

Kerem Yücel | MPR News

A photo frame shows a family as part of a promotional image for a theatrical play.

After safety concerns cancel a reading, 'HMong Futures' heads to premiere

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