Neckties vs. High Heels

"Necktie vs. High Heels" is a classic black comedy from the Bay Area, adapted by San Francisco-Silicon Valley playwright Shen Yue from his earlier script "Who is the Winner?" Many years ago in 2008, the play was produced by Shen Yue, directed by veteran professor Lin Hongtong of the Beijing Film Academy's Acting Department, and performed in Silicon Valley. It received widespread acclaim, with audiences erupting in laughter over a hundred times during the show.

The story encapsulates the bittersweet struggles, joys, sorrows, and absurdities of Bay Area Chinese communities, condensed into the lives of four families—Zhao, Qian, Sun, and Li. This tale is one that could take place in any corner of the world.

Sixteen years later, the play makes its triumphant return with a professional production team comprised of alumni from the Communication University of China, Beijing Film Academy, and the Central Academy of Drama. Joining forces with Bay Area tech elites, multi-talented "slash" youth, and artistic talents, this production promises yet another round of laughter and reflection.

This is a story about marriage.
This is a story about men and women.
This is a story about human nature.
This is a story about the future.

This is not just a play—it’s a mirror that reflects us all.

Ties vs. High Heels
Wraps Up a Successful San Francisco Run

On the evening of August 15 and the afternoon of August 16, Theatre Valley staged two performances of Ties vs. High Heels at San Francisco’s Great Star Theater.

In its third run, the production marked its seventh and eighth performances in San Francisco—both to packed houses, with waves of laughter filling the theater.

Production Team

Playwright

Joyce Hsu (Shen Yue) is a renowned playwright from San Francisco's Silicon Valley and also serves as an advisor for the New Hope Chinese Cancer Recovery Foundation.

After graduating from the Department of Chemistry at National Taiwan University, she pursued graduate studies at the California Institute of Technology and conducted biochemical research for ten years at both the University of California, Berkeley, and Stanford University.

Driven by a passion for art and theater, Hsu has written over 10 theatrical works. She previously served as a board member for the San Jose Repertory Theatre and the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco.

In 1996, she was inspired to fulfill her dream of writing and producing stage plays, collaborating with two performing arts groups, "Bridge and Door" and "Huayi." Nine of her stage plays premiered in the Bay Area, four of which were later selected by professional theater companies in Shanghai. Her historical drama "Fu Chai and Xi Shi" was adapted into a musical and included in the 2001 Shanghai International Arts Festival.

This April, her work "A Date in This Lifetime" was adapted into a musical by Stan Lai's theater team and debuted in Shanghai.

Major Works: Who Is the Winner?, A Date in This Lifetime, Fu Chai and Xi Shi, A Basketful of Love, Mistakes and Misfortunes, Changing a Wife is Too Troublesome, Flying Across Centuries, Fairy Tales of the 21st Century

Joyce Hsu

Artistic Advisor

Lin Hongtong

Chinese Film Screenwriter and Director

Professor of Acting at Beijing Film Academy

After graduating from the Acting Department of Beijing Film Academy, he remained at the school to teach, dedicating 35 years to film education.

Former roles include serving as a member of the Administrative Committee and Academic Committee of the Beijing Film Academy, Vice President of the China Film and Television Performance Arts Society, a jury member for multiple Golden Rooster Awards, a director and artistic advisor for the Youth Film Studio, among other positions.

Representative Works:

Death and the Maiden won the Honorary Award at the 13th Varna International Film Festival (1986), the Special Award at the 1st Red Cross Film Festival in China, and the Special Jury Award for Acting at the 8th Golden Rooster Awards, among other accolades. Dreaming Season won Best Children's Feature at the 9th Golden Rooster Awards (1988), the Government Excellent Film Award (1989), and the Artistic Pursuit Award at the 3rd Tongniu Children's Film Awards, among others.

In Silicon Valley, he has directed and staged over ten plays, including The Joy Luck Club, My Own Swordsman, A Basketful of Love, and more.

Director, Producer

Jingkun Yang

She graduated with a bachelor's degree in Drama and Film Performance from the Communication University of China and a master's degree in Creative Film Production from the Columbia University Chicago Film School in the United States.

His representative works include "Pepper Zhang" and "Blue and White". "Pepper Zhang" is based on a true story of Chinese Americans in New York and has received high praise from the education representatives of the Asian American Association.

He has participated in the production of theatrical films that have been nominated for the Golden Angel Award at the Chinese American Film Festival and the Red Maple Leaf Award at the Vancouver International Chinese Film Festival, and has extensive experience in film production.

Chief Director of the 2018 Miss Chinese Cosmos Pageant Southern USA Final Gala on Hong Kong Phoenix TV.

Representative works of stage plays:

She played Zhen Huan in "The Legend of Zhen Huan" and Zhang Yiman in "Mr. Donkey".

She played Yasuko Hanaoka in "The Devotion of Suspect X".

Stage Designer

Haibo Yu

Created over 200 works across diverse fields including stage, film, television, landscape design, museums, live-action performances, and large-scale events.

Academic Appointments

Professor Emeritus, Department of Theatre, Film, and Digital Production, University of California, Riverside (UCR).
Specially Appointed Professor, Ministry of Education of China and the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs.
Visiting Professor, Central Academy of Drama and Shanghai Theatre Academy.

Professional Memberships

Registered Designer, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE).
Member, Society of British Theatre Designers (SBTD).

Education

Central Academy of Drama (China)
University of Leeds (UK)
Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design (UK)

Awards & Honors

World Stage Design (WSD): Selected for "100 World Stage Designers" (2013).
British Design Selection: Works selected for three consecutive cycles (every four years) in the UK Design for Performance anthologies.
Prague Quadrennial (PQ '91): Team member of the "Golden Triga" winning UK exhibit.
USITT Award: Best Scenic Design (2002).

Publications

Foundations of Western Stage Design (China Theatre Press, 2016).
Opening the Door to Narrative Space: Western Museum Exhibition Design (China Theatre Press, 2020).
Scene Narrative in Film: A Century of American Film Art 1920-2020 (China Theatre Press, 2023).
Improvisation and Devised Theatre (Co-author, Crowood Press, UK, 2002).

Dance Design

Jason Chen

Jason Chen, Senior Professional Ballroom Dance Teacher

He focuses on teaching, choreography, competitions, and instruction in ballroom dance, and has won numerous awards both domestically and internationally, achieving remarkable success.

In 2023, he won the championship in the Blackpool International Dance Festival’s Teachers and Students Open Competition, a top global event, further solidifying his outstanding position in the dance world.

In addition to his outstanding achievements in ballroom dancing, he actively participates in ballroom dance competitions, group dance choreography, charity performances, as well as choreography and performance in films and plays, showcasing his versatile artistic talents.

Executive Producer

Zezhong Luo

Major in Broadcasting and Hosting Art Communication University of China (CUC)

Master of Fine Arts (MFA) Peking University (PKU)

Professional Experience Served as a host for various programs on national and provincial television networks, including China Education Television (CETV), The Travel Channel (China), and Guangdong TV.

Audio and Sound Effects Designers

Wenze Li

Composer, music producer, and educator supported by the CAC Foundation.

Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Music Production and Sound Design for Visual Media, Academy of Art University (San Francisco).
Bachelor’s Degree in Music Editing, Communication University of China.
Violist for the Bay Area Rainbow Symphony (BARS), the premier LGBTQ+ orchestra in the San Francisco Bay Area, with over 20 concert performances to date.

He has contributed sound production to numerous independent films, including a high-profile project that surpassed $50 million at the box office. His portfolio includes producing impactful music videos for non-profit organizations, such as:

When Love Dances (2020) for the Alamoc Counseling Center.
Dream Friends (2021) for Friends of Children with Special Needs (FCSN).
These projects have positively impacted over 50 children within the special needs and LGBTQ+ communities.

Entrepreneurship & Education

Founder of Bruce Music Studio: Manages more than 100 music projects annually.
Educator at Compass Point Mentorship: Teaches audio production to a student body of over 200.
Community Advocate: Actively promotes local music education through participation in more than 10 community events each year.

Cast Introduction

Necktie vs. High Heels

Mr. Zhao Performed By

Mark Ma

With an undergraduate degree in science and a master’s in economics from Peking University, further studies in dramatic writing and directing at the Central Academy of Drama, and an MBA from the United States, I have weathered the ups and downs of business and the turbulence of capital markets. Moving between reason and art, I ultimately found my spiritual home on the stage.

Passionate about writing, directing, acting, and literary and artistic creation, I have performed in plays and comedy sketches including Pearl S. Buck, Thunderstorm, The Blind Date, Model Training Class, and The New Shanghai Bund.

Mr. Qian Performed By

Ben Wang

Graduated from Fudan University, Harvard University, and Georgetown University

A lawyer in the Bay Area, I enjoy skiing, playing sports, music, and theater. I have written plays and comedies and have also performed on the amateur stage.

Mrs. Qian Performed By

Wendy Liu

A graduate of Tsinghua University and Cornell University, I am a cloud computing and AI software engineer in Silicon Valley. My talents include ballroom dancing, acting, and piano. I have played leading roles in several Bay Area theater productions, including Ties vs. High Heels, Love in Silicon Valley, The Queen of Coquetry, and The Joy Luck Club.

Mrs. Zhao Performed By

Zezhong Luo

With a bachelor’s degree in Broadcasting and Hosting Arts from the Communication University of China and a Master of Fine Arts from Peking University, I spent 16 years as a television host at national and provincial media outlets and have hosted major arts and cultural events across the Bay Area.

My writing and directing have earned Golden Thrush Awards for Outstanding Script, Outstanding Director, and Star Production. I also served as executive producer and performed in Theatre Valley’s productions of Ties vs. High Heels and A Promise in This Lifetime.

Mr. Qian Performed By

Richard Qin

With a bachelor’s degree in Marine Biology from Xiamen University (now applied mainly to fishing, crabbing, and digging for geoducks and sea worms), I also hold two master’s degrees from the United States, in Computer Science and Finance.

I enjoy theater, ballroom dancing, singing, and the arts. My stage credits include the plays Pearl S. Buck, The Silent Railroad Spikes, and Ties and High Heels, the opera Don Giovanni, and the classic Broadway musical Cats.

I’m an old soul with a youthful spirit—cheerful, warmhearted, idealistic, and down-to-earth.

Mr. Shun Performed By

Bo Wu

A math PhD who can’t handle finance can’t be much of an actor! A PhD in probability + a Big Four analyst = the actor who knows Excel best on stage!

I thrive at the crossroads of disciplines, and theater gives me the freedom to step into different lives. I played Emperor Xuanzong of Tang in Theatre Valley’s production of A Promise in This Lifetime.

Mrs. Shun Performed By

Oriana

I previously worked as a reporter for The China Press in the United States, as well as a host, program planner, and producer. I also hosted programs on Chinese-language radio and GeTV, including America Today, Reading America’s Headlines, News Explained, and This Week in America.

My hosting credits include serving as an announcer for the 2025 Bay Area Huajin Tournament and hosting the 2025 Zai Ge Zai Gu Community Festival. With Theatre Valley, I played Mrs. Sun in Ties vs. High Heels and Yang Guifei in A Promise in This Lifetime.

Xiaohongshu: Oriana D

Mr. Li Performed By

Jiayu Bai

An engineer by training, an actor at heart. By day, I match wits with AI; by night, I explore the many facets of life on stage. I believe conviction is the key to acting: you must first believe you are the character before the audience can believe the story.

Thank you for joining us at the theater. I hope tonight brings us laughter, heartfelt moments, and unforgettable memories.

I play Wan Xiliang in Theatre Valley’s production of A Promise in This Lifetime.

Mei Mei Performed By

Jessica Ren

A seasoned media professional, a certified broadcast host accredited by China’s National Radio and Television Administration, and a theater actor. I previously served as a program producer for CCTV’s drama channel and as a television host on a satellite channel.

With extensive stage experience, I now perform and host galas and events across the San Francisco Bay Area. Passionate about theater, I appeared in Pearl S. Buck as the young Pearl.

Long Performed By

MoJE

A software engineer by day, he is also a quantum cryptographer roaming the night, a comedic supermodel, and a ninja-style singer—though only “some” of these identities (defined here as ≥ 0) officially appear on his résumé.

He made a featured guest appearance in the AI-themed comedy Twelfth Night in Silicon Valley. In the epic drama The Silent Railroad Spikes, he played Conor McDonalds, an Irish labor foreman and heavyweight boxing champion, earning a certain “-scar” award for Best Supporting Actor. In Rashomon, the classic exploration of human hypocrisy, he portrayed Tajōmaru, the legendary bandit of Japan’s Heian period.

Mr. Li Performed By

Long Chen

A Hanfu enthusiast, a murder mystery fan, an aspiring stage singer, and a realtor around the clock!

First I heard of Theatre Valley, then got to know it, then joined it—now I’m growing into a seasoned performer.

Mrs. Li Performed By

Jess Wei

An actor sidetracked by studies, a dancer held back by life’s realities. After years of passion for performing and a winding journey, I returned to the Bay Area stage.

My credits include the plays Ties vs. High Heels, A Promise in This Lifetime, and The Chair at Columbia, as well as the film Yirou’s Choice. My acting journey extends beyond the stage, and my passion has never faded.

I play Cleopatra in Theatre Valley’s production of A Promise in This Lifetime.

Robort Performed By

Monkey

A graduate of Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, I’m a programmer who loves popping.

In this production, I play a robot—a role that feels both familiar and unfamiliar. I can weave my dance moves into its body language, but delivering lines has been a real challenge. I hope my performance adds to the comedy’s humor and fun.

As an observer within the story, the robot’s lines have also given me, as a single person, plenty to reflect on about love and marriage. I hope you leave the theater with both a smile and some insights of your own.

Long Performed By

Zhe Zhao

Neckties vs. High Heels

Ties vs. High Heels
Wraps Up a Successful San Francisco Run