Dragoness

Written by Cha Mangan

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In development.

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Dragoness follows the brewing jealousy between two young Asian-American painters. LEO, white-passing, creates art that focuses on Asian-Identity. She’s on the brink of going huge. RAE, who looks Asian, does not have the same success. Their boss, TOBY, is a beloved art curator and art director in the field. He’s bossy. He’s got an eye for great art. “Bloody it, pulverize it, obliterate it,” he always tells his two artists. “Suffering Sells.” The deadline for a career-defining fellowship, designated for POC, approaches and he must choose either RAE or LEO. STEPHEN, a cute journalist, visits the gallery. RAE lies to him, claiming that LEO’s art and life are hers. She gets a taste of LEO’s success. STEPHEN offers to help RAE sabotage LEO's career - “She’s committing yellowface,” he says. Dragoness interrogates themes of Asian Identity, the commodification of race, the white gaze, and how mixed relationships collide with fetishization. Who is allowed to create and profit off of “Asian” art?

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Dragoness was the recipient of the 2022 Molly Thacher Kazan Memorial Prize at Vassar College, was a 2023 semi-finalist for Chisa Hutchingsons’ Signpost Fellowship, as well as 2024 semi-finalist for the American Blues Theater's 2025 Blue Ink Award. It has undergone development with SEA lit Circle and the Workshop Theater. 

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Painting by Ayane Garrison