Alvin Ing

Alvin Ing (born May 26, 1932) is an American singer and actor. His career has included movies, television, musical theatre, and cabaret acts. Ing was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. He studied music at the University of Hawaii, and at Columbia University in New York.

Career

Ing is well associated with the musical Flower Drum Song by Rodgers and Hammerstein. He has played the role of Wang Ta in numerous tours and stock productions, performing in the piece more than any other actor. Ing appeared in the musical Chu Chem in 1966, but the production closed before it reached Broadway. Prior to his Broadway career, Ing appeared in two Off-Broadway shows. Ing made his Broadway debut in Stephen Sondheim's Pacific Overtures in 1976. Ing returned to Broadway in 2004 for a revival of the same show, playing one of his original parts, the Shogun's Mother. Due to his connection to Flower Drum Song, Ing was also a part of the 2002 Broadway revision, with additions by David Henry Hwang. Ing has performed on tours of Two Gentlemen of Verona, City of Angels, and the play adaptation of The World of Suzie Wong, as well as with regional companies such as East West Players, where he again played the Shogun's Mother in Pacific Overtures.[1] His performance in the original production of Pacific Overtures was also recorded and broadcast on Japanese television. In 1996, Ing appeared at the Singapore Repertory Theatre in the world premiere of the Dick Lee musical Sing to the Dawn, based upon the Minfong Ho book. Fellow cast members included Lee, June Angela, and Sala Iwamatsu.[2] In October 2011, Ing took part in workshops and backers auditions for the musical adaptation of Honeymoon in Vegas,[3] a piece which eventually reached Broadway in 2015.

Besides his musical theatre career, Ing has performed on television and in film. Ing had recurring roles on the soap operas The Doctors and Falcon Crest, but has also done numerous guest roles in shows such as Benson, How the West Was Won, Charlie's Angels, Quincy, M.E., All-American Girl, Dallas, Dynasty, Fantasy Island, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and Hawaii Five-0 (2010 TV series). Movie credits include The Final Countdown, Stir Crazy, Troop Beverly Hills, Smilla's Sense of Snow, and in his largest movie role, Mr. Lee, a primary antagonist opposite Mark Wahlberg in The Gambler.

Ing's singing career has included cabaret's, benefit concerts, and a CD entitled, Swing with Ing which he recorded with Betty Loo Taylor.[4] Collaborating with Flower Drum Song revival cast member and Okinawan born Yuka Takara, Ing has performed numerous singing engagements as part of a yearly Broadway Night in Okinawa.[5] Ing also participated in The X Factor.[6] In May 2016, Ing came out as gay during a cabaret celebration for his 84th birthday.[7] In December of 2018, Ing and dozens of other Asian American performers celebrated Flower Drum Song's 60th anniversary by performing the opening number at the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS benefit, where over 6 million dollars was raised.[8]

Ing was active with the Theater for Asian American Performing Artists during the 1970s. The organization performed skits and revues, as well as protesting stereotypes as a way to advocate for Asian American performing opportunities.[9] Ing was also an interview subject for a documentary about Flower Drum Song castmate Jack Soo, and the struggles of Asian American performers due to yellowface and stereotyping.

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1971Made for Each Other
1980The Final CountdownLt. Kajima
1980Stir CrazyKorean Doctor
1985Moving ViolationsConstruction Foreman
1989Troop Beverly HillsHo
1997Smilla's Sense of SnowLicht
2000BrotherDoctor
2014The GamblerMister Lee
gollark: And you might not be able to restore it in any case.
gollark: Rooting wipes your device, in general.
gollark: That would only work if at some future time it did exist.
gollark: A minor obstacle.
gollark: The best all purpose language is Macron as it can do literally all things.

References
  1. "Pacific Overtures - 32nd Season". Archive.eastwestplayers.org. 1998-03-12. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-04-27.
  2. http://www.srt.com.sg/production/singtothedawn/
  3. https://variety.com/2011/legit/news/gambling-on-broadway-1118046312/
  4. "Island Mele: Jazz album fine but strays from genre - Honolulu PulseHonolulu Pulse". Honolulupulse.com. 2010-11-12. Retrieved 2016-04-27.
  5. http://www.japanupdate.com/2012/12/yuka-takara-brings-broadway-night-to-okinawa/
  6. "Yes, I Made It! Alvin Ing - THE X FACTOR USA 2013". YouTube. 2013-10-04. Retrieved 2016-04-27.
  7. https://liachangphotography.wordpress.com/tag/alvin-ing/
  8. https://www.theatermania.com/broadway/news/red-bucket-follies-record-breaking-fund-raising_87219.html
  9. Esther Kim Lee. "A History of Asian American Theatre". Books.google.com. p. 39. Retrieved 2016-04-27.
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