Book, music, lyrics by Skyler Chin & Sita Sunil

Synopsis

Illegal is a new musical about America’s earliest illegal immigrants. It’s 1923. The United States is enforcing the Chinese Exclusion Act by systematically separating families and imprisoning them on Angel Island. Kee Lin, a budding Hong Kong martial artist, is wrongly blamed for her brother’s death and must flee to America with a good-for-nothing imposter “paper” brother, Slim Chin, in her dead brother’s place. If they can survive detention and convince interrogators that they’re siblings, they may get a shot at a new life. They cross paths with Chinese-American interpreter, Carter Lee, who must choose between success for herself and justice for immigrants. Inspired by family secrets and detainee poetry, Illegal asks the timely and timeless question, “What does it take to be(come) American?”

Development History & Awards

May 2023 - Developmental Cast Album release on May 12, 2023

An album featuring 15 songs from the show released on all major streaming platforms.

March 2023 - Richard Rodgers Awards Finalist

Illegal was selected as a Richard Rodgers Awards Finalist.

March 2023 - Herricks Community Staged Reading (NY) at the Viscardi Center

Matinee and evening full-length staged readings of Illegal for the Long Island community, funded by a Herricks community association.

TBD 2023 - Staged Reading (CT)

Westport Country Playhouse expressed interest in co-producing a reading of Illegal with the civil rights group Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) as part of the theater’s outreach to the AAPI community. Early in discussions and details are TBD.

December 2022 - Flushing Town Hall (NYC)

One-night full-length staged reading for the Queens community, funded by the Queens Grants for the Arts administered by Flushing Town Hall.

Oct 2022 - Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation Concert Performance (San Francisco)

AIISF co-produced a special concert performance of Illegal on location, in the historic detention barracks of the Immigration Station museum in San Francisco Bay, in collaboration with UC Berkeley. UC Berkeley also hired Skyler Chin & Sita Sunil to perform select songs on campus as part of the Future Histories Lab initiative.

September 2022 to May 2023 - Development in BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop

Co-writers Skyler Chin & Sita Sunil enrolled in the librettist’s workshop and continue to develop and iterate on the show with feedback from the cohort. 

August 2022 - Queens College Staged Reading (NYC)

A high school community organization raised grassroots funds to produce a full-length staged reading of Illegal for the Long Island and NYC communities in the LeFrak Auditorium, Queens College

July 2022 - Great Neck Concert (NY)

The Mayor & Trustees of Great Neck Plaza, NY hired the Illegal team to perform in their village summer concert series. 

June 2022 - Chinatown Community Benefit Fundraising Concert Reading (NYC)

Several nonprofits and corporate partners including OCA-NY, ConEd, and UA3 co-produced a concert reading of Illegal at PS130 Hernando De Soto Auditorium to raise funds for local organizations.

May 2022 - Eugene O’Neill Semifinalist

Illegal was awarded O’Neill NMTC Semifinalist for the 2022 season.

April 2022 - Bronx School of Science Concert Reading (NYC)

High school students raised grassroots funds to produce a special concert of Illegal for students during the school day.

March 2022 - Manhasset High School Staged Readings

High school students raised grassroots funds to produce staged readings of the show for 2 nights at Munsey Park Auditorium.

October 2021 - Carnegie Hall (NY)

The Illegal cast performed select songs as featured artists in the nonprofit Music For Change benefit concert, organized by several high school students.

2020-2021 - Illegal Virtual Tour

National nonprofits and schools hired Illegal for virtual recorded performances, and gala appearances during the pandemic. Clients include AIISF, Apex for Youth, CUNY-AAARI, The Nueva School, Great Neck South High School, OCA, Queens Public Library, NJPAC and more.

April 2019 - 3-show workshop production at Yale University Lighten Theater (CT)

April 2019 - Select songs featured at Yale Shen Musical Theater Curriculum Showcase (CT)

July 2018 - First songs of the show in development performed at Museum of Chinese in America (NYC)