Yulane

Yulane is a contemporary play by American playwright David Henry Hwang, first produced in 2015. It follows the story of a 12‑year‑old Korean‑American girl named Yulane who has just moved from a small town in Asia to the Queens borough of New York City. The narrative centers on Yulane’s struggle to find her place in a new cultural environment while grappling with the pressures of academic excellence and the expectations of her parents. The play unfolds through a series of scenes that interweave the family’s daily life with Yulane’s internal reflections, exploring themes of identity, belonging, and the generational divide between immigrant parents and their children.

The production premiered at The Public Theater in New York, where it was directed by Choi Pan‑Jae and featured a diverse ensemble cast. Hwang’s writing is known for its lyrical dialogue and sharp observations, and Yulane is no exception. The play uses elements of magical realism—specifically a recurring motif of Yulane’s imaginary friends and a surreal "garden" that symbolizes her psychological resilience—to give depth to the protagonist’s emotional arc. Critics praised the play for its authentic portrayal of Asian-American family dynamics and its portrayal of the immigrant experience in urban America. The script has been included in several university theater curricula for studies on contemporary Asian-American literature and drama.