Legendary

Cheeyang Ng – Book, Music & Lyrics

 

In Chinese mythology, there exists a binary nature to the world, evident in creation myths and explanations of world order. This duality is echoed in the cultural concept of continuing the family line (传宗接代), which is central to the understanding of self, family, and society. As a queer, ethnically-Chinese individual who grew up in Singapore, and amidst the growing anti-immigration and anti-trans sentiment in America, “Legendary” seeks to explore and excavate where one could fit into this society. Legendary is inspired by Samsara, a Buddhist and Hindu concept that emphasizes the cyclicality of life: Birth, Life, Death, and Rebirth. The Narrator utilizes well-known stories from Chinese mythology to engage in self-reflection and communal introspection. The Narrator, while holding up a mirror to the audience’s complicity, navigates the complexities of their relationship with their father and the desire to have children as a queer person.

Born and raised in Singapore, Cheeyang Ng (Legendary; book, music & lyrics) is an award-winning singer-songwriter who writes at the intersection of queer, Asian and immigrant stories. They have performed around the world, including Lincoln Center with Carole King and Carnegie Hall with Jason Robert Brown. They are the first Singaporean to headline a concert at Joe’s Pub and Millennium Stage at Kennedy Center showcasing their original music and their songs have been performed across the U.S.. Creator of podcast East Side Story and vocal group The Lunar Collective, they have won multiple vocal awards all across Asia, including Singapore, Taiwan and China. Musicals in development include MĀYĀ with Eric Sorrels (London 2025), EASTBOUND with Khiyon Hursey, and THE PHOENIX with Eric Sorrels and Desdemona Chiang. Their solo musical, LEGENDARY is in development with Musical Theatre Factory and Goodspeed Musicals. Select credits include: Fred Ebb Award, Princess Grace Award, Eric H Weinberger Librettist Award, Rhinebeck Writers Retreat Alumni, Larson Grant Finalist, ASCAP Foundation Lucille & Jack Yellen Award. MFA: NYU. BMus: Berklee. www.cheeyang.com