PRESS
BALD SISTERS
"Produced to pretty much perfection here, Chum’s work always comes off as specific, involving, highly personal."
Chicago Sun-Times Review
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2022/12/12/23505750/bald-sisters-review-steppenwolf-theatre-funny-and-powerful-vichet-chum
"Every detail and intention in this production is lovingly conveyed, every line of the play piercingly, poignantly true."
Chicago Reader Review
https://chicagoreader.com/arts-culture/theater-review/mourning-and-celebrating-in-the-same-breath/
"Here’s one thing that you needn’t feel bashful about saying: This show makes you proud to be an American, while at the same time changing your view of what it means to be one. To put it another way,
'Bald Sisters' is as American as buh-bah sok-moin, and that’s a good thing!"
Newcity Stage Review
https://www.newcitystage.com/2022/12/14/as-american-as-buh-bah-sok-moin-a-review-of-bald-sisters-at-steppenwolf-theatre/
"With incredible performances across the board, Bald Sisters is must-see theater. But the biggest star just may be the script by Vichet Chum, a rising playwright gaining national renown."
Buzz Center Stage
http://buzznews.net/theatre/theatre-reviews/item/5074-review-bald-sisters-is-funny-powerful-and-stunningly-good.html?fbclid=IwAR1uvjSH0QkuBsxJb06E6VCwBhWElDxsXolI0QDJiGkkrrAj4q1bynEQlY0
Chicago Sun-Times Feature
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2022/11/16/23427821/bald-sisters-vichet-chum-steppenwolf-cambodian-genocide
BroadwayWorld Photo Feature
https://www.broadwayworld.com/chicago/article/Photos-First-Look-at-the-World-Premiere-of-BALD-SISTERS-at-Steppenwolf-Theatre-Company-20221207
Chicago Magazine Feature
https://www.chicagomag.com/chicago-magazine/december-2022/go-december-agenda-2/
Backstage Pass with Lia Chang
https://backstagepasswithliachang.wordpress.com/2022/12/24/multimedia-steppenwolf-theatre-company-is-presenting-the-world-premiere-of-vichet-chums-bald-sisters-featuring-francesca-fernandez-mckenzie-coburn-goss-wai-ching-ho-jennifer-lim-and-nima-rakhsha/
Playbill Previews Announcement
https://playbill.com/article/world-premiere-of-vichet-chums-bald-sisters-begins-at-chicagos-steppenwolf-december-1
HIGH SCHOOL PLAY:
A NOSTALGIA FEST
“'High School Play' shows how competition can bring out the best and worst in people, in crackling dialog that provokes both laughter and reflection. If Chum and Greene have really done their job and they have, you’ll never think of 'The Yellow Rose of Texas' the same way again."
Houston Chronicle Review
https://preview.houstonchronicle.com/theater/review-high-school-texas-2003-alley-s-16815755
"There's harshness at the center of the piece. It depicts teachers unaware of how they mentally abuse their students, it reveals a community of Texas Christians to be cold and uncaring, and there are multiple references to self-harm. The play wisely blankets itself in a veneer of comedy and overt silliness."
Broadway World Review
https://www.broadwayworld.com/houston/article/BWW-Review-Vichet-Chum-Brings-Back-the-Early-2000s-to-The-Alley-Theatre-20220127
Playbill Meet the Cast Feature
https://playbill.com/article/meet-the-cast-of-alley-theatres-high-school-play-a-nostalgia-fest
OutSmart Magazine Interview & Feature
https://www.outsmartmagazine.com/2022/01/alley-theatres-upcoming-play-redefines-teen-romance/
Broadway World Photo Feature
https://www.broadwayworld.com/houston/article/Photos-Alley-Theatre-Presents-HIGH-SCHOOL-PLAY-A-NOSTALGIA-FEST-20220126
Houston CityBook Interview with the Director
https://www.houstoncitybook.com/tiffany-nichole-greene/
KNYUM
"KNYUM is a semi-autobiographical work, drawn from Chum’s experiences as a second-generation Cambodian immigrant, though this cultural exploration is hardly the play’s only point of interest. Chum himself is a terrific storyteller, both in terms of the script he’s crafted and how he makes his drama come across so vibrantly on stage."
The Arts Fuse Review
https://artsfuse.org/167236/theater-review-knyum-opening-up-to-the-world/
WBUR Interview & Video Clip
https://www.wbur.org/news/2018/01/30/knyum-merrimack-repertory-theatre
"The Merrimack Repertory Theatre’s brings pure magic to its stage in it latest production, 'Knyum.' It is a story with a foreign title yet a theme that transcends boundaries of space and time."
The Lowell Sun
https://www.lowellsun.com/2018/01/26/knyum-speaks-a-language-everyone-can-understand/
"The play is based on Chum’s own life, and his performance crackles with raw honesty. The audience participates in this astonishing journey of self-discovery, which is at times humorous, at other times dark and unforgiving in its depiction of the inner and outer conflicts of a second-generation immigrant. Chum performs with the weight from generations of anguish, yet with an honest smile and open heart. He is instantaneously likeable, charming and wildly entertaining."
Merrimack Valley Magazine
https://www.mvmag.net/2018/01/16/knyum-mrt/
"I’m not going to divulge any more details than that, because this is one of those plays you just need to experience for yourself. I will say that Chum’s performance of his beautifully poetic play was well deserving of the standing ovation he received from the captivated audience."
OnStage Blog
https://www.onstageblog.com/reviews/2018/1/24/review-knyum-at-merrimack-repertory-theatre-is-transformative-storytelling-at-its-best
"Produced to pretty much perfection here, Chum’s work always comes off as specific, involving, highly personal."
Chicago Sun-Times Review
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2022/12/12/23505750/bald-sisters-review-steppenwolf-theatre-funny-and-powerful-vichet-chum
"Every detail and intention in this production is lovingly conveyed, every line of the play piercingly, poignantly true."
Chicago Reader Review
https://chicagoreader.com/arts-culture/theater-review/mourning-and-celebrating-in-the-same-breath/
"Here’s one thing that you needn’t feel bashful about saying: This show makes you proud to be an American, while at the same time changing your view of what it means to be one. To put it another way,
'Bald Sisters' is as American as buh-bah sok-moin, and that’s a good thing!"
Newcity Stage Review
https://www.newcitystage.com/2022/12/14/as-american-as-buh-bah-sok-moin-a-review-of-bald-sisters-at-steppenwolf-theatre/
"With incredible performances across the board, Bald Sisters is must-see theater. But the biggest star just may be the script by Vichet Chum, a rising playwright gaining national renown."
Buzz Center Stage
http://buzznews.net/theatre/theatre-reviews/item/5074-review-bald-sisters-is-funny-powerful-and-stunningly-good.html?fbclid=IwAR1uvjSH0QkuBsxJb06E6VCwBhWElDxsXolI0QDJiGkkrrAj4q1bynEQlY0
Chicago Sun-Times Feature
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2022/11/16/23427821/bald-sisters-vichet-chum-steppenwolf-cambodian-genocide
BroadwayWorld Photo Feature
https://www.broadwayworld.com/chicago/article/Photos-First-Look-at-the-World-Premiere-of-BALD-SISTERS-at-Steppenwolf-Theatre-Company-20221207
Chicago Magazine Feature
https://www.chicagomag.com/chicago-magazine/december-2022/go-december-agenda-2/
Backstage Pass with Lia Chang
https://backstagepasswithliachang.wordpress.com/2022/12/24/multimedia-steppenwolf-theatre-company-is-presenting-the-world-premiere-of-vichet-chums-bald-sisters-featuring-francesca-fernandez-mckenzie-coburn-goss-wai-ching-ho-jennifer-lim-and-nima-rakhsha/
Playbill Previews Announcement
https://playbill.com/article/world-premiere-of-vichet-chums-bald-sisters-begins-at-chicagos-steppenwolf-december-1
HIGH SCHOOL PLAY:
A NOSTALGIA FEST
“'High School Play' shows how competition can bring out the best and worst in people, in crackling dialog that provokes both laughter and reflection. If Chum and Greene have really done their job and they have, you’ll never think of 'The Yellow Rose of Texas' the same way again."
Houston Chronicle Review
https://preview.houstonchronicle.com/theater/review-high-school-texas-2003-alley-s-16815755
"There's harshness at the center of the piece. It depicts teachers unaware of how they mentally abuse their students, it reveals a community of Texas Christians to be cold and uncaring, and there are multiple references to self-harm. The play wisely blankets itself in a veneer of comedy and overt silliness."
Broadway World Review
https://www.broadwayworld.com/houston/article/BWW-Review-Vichet-Chum-Brings-Back-the-Early-2000s-to-The-Alley-Theatre-20220127
Playbill Meet the Cast Feature
https://playbill.com/article/meet-the-cast-of-alley-theatres-high-school-play-a-nostalgia-fest
OutSmart Magazine Interview & Feature
https://www.outsmartmagazine.com/2022/01/alley-theatres-upcoming-play-redefines-teen-romance/
Broadway World Photo Feature
https://www.broadwayworld.com/houston/article/Photos-Alley-Theatre-Presents-HIGH-SCHOOL-PLAY-A-NOSTALGIA-FEST-20220126
Houston CityBook Interview with the Director
https://www.houstoncitybook.com/tiffany-nichole-greene/
KNYUM
"KNYUM is a semi-autobiographical work, drawn from Chum’s experiences as a second-generation Cambodian immigrant, though this cultural exploration is hardly the play’s only point of interest. Chum himself is a terrific storyteller, both in terms of the script he’s crafted and how he makes his drama come across so vibrantly on stage."
The Arts Fuse Review
https://artsfuse.org/167236/theater-review-knyum-opening-up-to-the-world/
WBUR Interview & Video Clip
https://www.wbur.org/news/2018/01/30/knyum-merrimack-repertory-theatre
"The Merrimack Repertory Theatre’s brings pure magic to its stage in it latest production, 'Knyum.' It is a story with a foreign title yet a theme that transcends boundaries of space and time."
The Lowell Sun
https://www.lowellsun.com/2018/01/26/knyum-speaks-a-language-everyone-can-understand/
"The play is based on Chum’s own life, and his performance crackles with raw honesty. The audience participates in this astonishing journey of self-discovery, which is at times humorous, at other times dark and unforgiving in its depiction of the inner and outer conflicts of a second-generation immigrant. Chum performs with the weight from generations of anguish, yet with an honest smile and open heart. He is instantaneously likeable, charming and wildly entertaining."
Merrimack Valley Magazine
https://www.mvmag.net/2018/01/16/knyum-mrt/
"I’m not going to divulge any more details than that, because this is one of those plays you just need to experience for yourself. I will say that Chum’s performance of his beautifully poetic play was well deserving of the standing ovation he received from the captivated audience."
OnStage Blog
https://www.onstageblog.com/reviews/2018/1/24/review-knyum-at-merrimack-repertory-theatre-is-transformative-storytelling-at-its-best
