I plan to open a Vietnamese Restaurant, just for the experience. Apart from  your poker achievements, you’ve also been mentioned on a few occasions as the “king of baccarat.” Do you have any funny/interesting gambling stories you could share with our readers? But the more specifics you can tell me about your own experiences, the richer my characters can be. It’s not about you, I swear. Aesthetically I’m Vietnamese, but my personality—my insides—are very much shaped by the movies, video games, and pop-culture of my very All-American youth. So I just collected a lot of information about them. Playwright and Director Interview: Vietgone ... Oregon Shakespeare Festival 5,403 views. People know bits and pieces about your life, but what is really like for you growing up? Episode 4 OUTTAKES by Qui Nguyen. I never really thought about where I came from, the history of my parents, because I just bought into the fairy tales that they told me about themselves. Although he hasn’t been around much lately, Qui was certainly one of more memorable WSOP champions we’ve had a chance to watch. About 6 months before the Main Event I saw the raccoon hat. Winning the Main Event title, the $8,000,000 first prize, having all that pressure finally over and behind you, what was it like? Interview: Qui Nguyen of Vampire Cowboys Earlier this year, Vampire Cowboys was nominated for a GLAAD Media award for Soul Samurai. Yes, it’s true; I haven’t been in the spotlight much. Reencountering Qui Nguyen’s “Vietgone” in the new East West Players production, I am struck once again by the originality of the playwriting. How can you not like these guys? OUTTAKES by Qui Nguyen A son keeps trying to get his charming (if frustrating) immigrant parents to tell him a true war story from their lives in Vietnam to help him write a new play. The dad had the affair in Vietnam. But, ultimately, I think it’s all good for my work in the long run. And the alpha-male jocky brother is gay, but no one knows that. After your victory, you talked about your plans to help those less fortunate back home. This season of Soundstage is made possible by a generous gift from the Scherman Foundation’s Katharine S. and Axel G. Rosin Fund. What did your poker career look like after you moved to the States? 2301 East Franklin AVENUE MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55406, McKnight National Residency & Commission Recipient. I’ve always enjoyed running my own businesses. Of course, what I didn’t realize was that their more private stories, specifically about them dating and their marriage, would end up sort of wigging me out because I’m their kid. I have to make it bigger, bolder, find different angles that they haven’t seen.” So it’s both pressuring and motivating. I’m much more shaped by Aditi Kapil and Lloyd Suh and A. Rey Pamatmat and Mike Lew and Kris Diaz and Carla Ching and Mona Mansour and all the Resident Artists of New Dramatists and all the Core Writers of the Playwrights’ Center than any of my idols. Photo by Debora Robinson/SCR. Can you tell us what readers can expect to find inside the book and about the cooperation with Mr. Blay? So those are the two things that I’ll focus on in the workshop: character story and theatricality. I used to gamble a lot, play a lot of baccarat – you don’t have to think to play that game. The character of Qui Nguyen (played by Sherwin Resurreccion) briefly frames the play at the beginning, then reappears for a final scene at the end, when he tries to interview his father Quang about the war and gets a talking-to instead. I bought him a new house with a pool, which is what he always wanted. Will we see more of you in the future at the tables or do you see your life taking a different direction? Seeing me squirm tickled them, so once they realized there was a joy in, you know, grossing out their son, they then started becoming really open about all their stories. That’s why it was a great pleasure for us here at Beat The Fish to be able to briefly talk to Mr. Nguyen and his friend Steve Blay. In the interview, we asked the champ about his new book that was written in cooperation with Mr. Blay and used this opportunity to ask many other questions we believed our readers would be interested in. But I also have some other businesses I might want to start. Qui Nguyen is one of the very few who have managed to reach the highest rung of the tournament ladder, winning the most coveted prize of all – the WSOP Main Event.Nguyen became poker’s world champion in 2016, and Somuchpoker decided to catch up with him for an interview, to see where his life is one year later.. Qui Nguyen – Photo Jayne Furman – Courtesy WSOP Director/Playwright Interview. But there’s also the pressure of, “I have to live up to what I did before. It tells the story of Agnes Evans, an average woman who loses her parents and little sister Tilly in a car accident. There’s a lot more depth to be mined from all the characters. That last day was such a marathon, it was 3 A.M., maybe 4 A.M. when I finally won? Check out Director of New Work Ilana Brownstein’s great interview with playwright Qui Nguyen, in front of a live audience! I had to use my instincts to survive, every day. And I had to be tough, like a warrior. How do you deal with figuring out how your real identity versus your ideals match up when they don’t? watch video >> More than 30 years ago, the war in Vietnam shattered Nguyen Qui Duc's childhood. It’s all motivated by the fact that I now have two sons. How I Won the World Series of Poker Main Event (Amazon link). It’s inspired by a New York Times article I read years ago about Amer-Asians and the number of “leftover children” that have grown up in Vietnam since the war’s end. April 4, 2017 VIETGONE receives 3 Lucille Lortel noms including for Outstanding Play November 30, 2016 Episode 108 of SYFY'S INCORPORATED written by Qui Nguyen & Patrick Moss set to air January 18, 2017. As well as my entire family. So Nguyen created Vietgone as an antidote to the “white savior” tale. How did you discover poker and what was it that attracted you to the game? But it’s also fun and exciting, because you go through quick up and down swings. He holds a BA in English language and literature. (612) 332-7481. Although I had an opportunity to read about it in your book, I must ask for our readers – what was the significance of the famous raccoon hat? But seriously, the trick is to trust your instincts. Ivan first started playing poker in 2006 and played professionally from 2010-2013. Episode 7 EDGE OF NIGHT by Kirsten Childs. I had to have it. So when they reference places like Country Club Terrace, Rogers Junior High, and The Tac House, those are real places in my childhood. From Platoon (1986) to the Rambo series (1982–2008) to Miss Saigon (1989), “the main protagonist is always a white guy going to Vietnam and [the] Vietnamese are the bad guys being shot at or they are the people who need saving,” said playwright Qui Nguyen in a 2016 Rolling Stone interview. The film is directed by Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada, with playwright Qui Nguyen and Adele Lim on board as the writers. And the rest is history! Welcome to the dramaturgy blog for Company One’s upcoming production of SHE KILLS MONSTERS by Qui Nguyen! When someone is weak, you’ll know it. 2301 East Franklin Avenue ", Best Gift Ideas for Poker Players: A Buying Guide, Stack and Tile Review for 2020: Simplified Multi-Table Poker, Gambling Industry Hits Jackpot in US Elections, GGPoker Breaks Guinness World Record for Biggest Online Poker Prize Pool, Pokerstars PA Online Poker Monopoly Will Extend Into 2021. On the one hand it’s very motivating that there are people who are constantly sending nice messages like: “When’s the next show? If you are Deaf or hard of hearing, please email us to request access to episode scripts. That’s where I picked up the name “TommyGun” due to my aggressive playing style. It is a great pleasure for me personally and I’m sure our readers will be equally excited to hear from you. Qui:  The book tells the story from my point of view, and I review over 170 hands from the final table. Thuy has a shady past, but she’s trying to pretend to be the “Model Minority” when she gets to America. I also feel like the “theatrical-ness” that I usually employ isn’t present yet. “Qui and I were always plotting to hatch a project together,” says Castañeda. When I was in my twenties, I was driven to tell all these geeky stories of sci-fi battles and zombie attacks and samurai showdowns—to make theater for those who don’t go to theater. How do you recognize a weakness at the table and know it is the right time to go for a big bluff, for example? So we make a great team together. Most of us still remember Qui Nguyen, the man who took the WSOP 2016 Main Event by storm, claiming the historic victory in a very tough competition. His plays include Vietgone (2016 Harold and Mimi Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award, 2016 LADCC Tim Schmitt Award, 2016 Edward M. 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