Ping Chong & Company: New Directions & Pink Fang
Ping Chong and Company pivots, evolving into Pink Fang, ushering in a new era for the theater group focused on socially engaged performance and community building. This significant conversion includes a co-leadership structure featuring Mei Ann Teo, Sara Zatz, and Jane Jung, each stepping into a pivotal role. Founded in 1975, the company’s mission now integrates performance, community outreach, and social change, reflecting a $1.6 million annual budget. This transition, supported by the Mellon Foundation, follows Ping Chong’s vision for a company shaped by new artists.Pink Fang,a name honoring its past while signaling its future,ensures Chong’s legacy continues while embracing fresh artistic directions. Stay informed through news Directory 3 for the latest on the arts. Discover what’s next as Pink Fang forges its own innovative path.
Pink Fang Theater Company Takes on New Role After Ping Chong Transition
Updated June 24, 2025
NEW YORK – Ping Chong and company (PCC), a resident theater at The Galleria, unveiled its change into Pink Fang at a reception Tuesday. The move marks a new chapter for the company, featuring a revised mission, a co-leadership structure, and a commitment to socially engaged performance.
Mei Ann Teo will serve as artistic director of new work,focusing on creation and artist partnerships. Sara Zatz takes on the artistic director of engagement role, leading community programs. Jane Jung will be the managing director,overseeing strategy and finance. The three previously served on the interim artistic leadership team.
The transition follows a three-year strategic period supported by the Mellon Foundation, beginning in 2022 with the retirements of Ping Chong and Executive Director Bruce Allardice. An interim team,including Nile Harris and Wilks of Winter,guided the company through reflection and redesign.
Amy Chin, PCC board chair, noted the interim team’s experience and vision were crucial to the transition. She said their stewardship was “nothing short of transformational.”
Chong requested the company be renamed, envisioning its future shaped by new artists. Pink Fang, a playful take on misheard versions of his name, symbolizes a reclamation and a commitment to the future, according to the company.
“All things must evolve and change, and I knew the company could not grow into the next iteration with my name on it,” Chong said. He added that he trusts the new team to create art that honors humanity.
The company will also manage the Ping Chong archive, ensuring his work remains accessible. Founded in 1975, Ping Chong and Company aimed to push theatrical boundaries, exploring history, identity, and social justice. Pink Fang’s mission centers on performance, community building, and social change, with a $1.6 million annual budget.
What’s next
Pink Fang will continue to develop new works and foster community engagement, building on Ping Chong’s legacy while forging its own path in socially conscious theater.