The Great Leap – 2023

By Lauren Yee
Directed by Scott Gilbert

The Great Leap tells the story of Manford Lum, a local star of the sidewalk basketball courts of San Francisco’s Chinatown who strong arms his way onto an American college team travelling to Beijing for a “friendship” game. Set amidst the friction of post cultural revolution China, The Great Leap explores the cultural collide of identity and politics through the game of basketball. Witty and weighty, Lauren Yee’s The Great Leap keeps tensions high right up to the final buzzer.

“Growing up, my father dominated the basketball courts of San Francisco’s Chinatown, and in the 1980s, his legendary game won him a spot on a friendship team headed to a newly open China to play a series of exhibition games against the best teams in the People’s Republic. That nugget of his history formed the inspiration for my play The Great Leap nearly 40 years later.” – Lauren Yee, playwright

“A beautiful play with vibrant characters and rich history
crackling with fresh dialogue.” – Broadway World

“Lauren Yee’s The Great Leap takes a jump shot on a past to
reach the future.” – Rolling Out

KVMR Curtain Call podcast

The Great Leap segment is about 21 mins. in.  Great scene between Saul and Manford and interview with the director Scott Gilbert.

KVMR News Feature podcast

CATS Brings Asian representation to the Nevada County Theatre Scene.