Acton Chinese Language School

06/07/2026

Meet the cast and staff of The Great Race, presented by Child's Play at Theatre III in cooperation with Acton Chinese Language School!

Name: Patrick Cleary (he/him)
Role: Props Designer

Past T3 experience:
Props, Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical!

Chinese Zodiac animal? Earth Monkey
Favorite holiday? Halloween! I love to make costumes, scary props, and costume pieces.

Patrick is thrilled to be back at Theatre III, after creating the title character and friends in Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical! out of felt (EMACT DASH winner, props/special award for puppetry design) last season. Past shows include Picasso at the Lapin Agile (Theatre Company of Saugus, Director), Puffs (Props, TCAN), The Savannah Disputation (Burlington Players, Set Dressing). Patrick is a visual artist and storyteller from Wakefiled, MA

Theatre III presents The Great Race: The Story of the Chinese Zodiac, by Reiko Ho. First produced at Honolulu Theatre for Youth.

Performances:
Saturday, June 13, 2026 & Saturday, June 20, 2026 at 11 a.m.
Sunday, June 14, 2026 & Sunday, June 21, 2026 at 2 p.m.

Tickets: https://www.theatre3.org

This program is funded in part by grants from the Acton-Boxborough, Concord, Harvard, Littleton, and Westford local cultural councils, local agencies which are supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.



Photo description: Head shot of Patrick Cleary

06/07/2026

Meet the cast and staff of The Great Race, presented by Child's Play at Theatre III in cooperation with Acton Chinese Language School!

Name: Cherry Lynn Zinger (she/her)
Role: Po Po

Past T3 experience:
Damn Yankees

Chinese Zodiac animal? Dragon

Being half Asian American, and born and raised in Hawaii, Cherry Lynn is grateful for this chance to portray parts of her background while learning new things. She's enjoying working with this expert team and sharing the stage with her sister. Some favorite past roles: Rosemary (Outside Mullingar, Pilgrim Soul Productions), Janice (the Someday trilogy, Algonkuin Theatre Projects), Rosalind (As You Like It, Nashua Theater Guild), and Sylvia (Sylvia, Central Mass Repertory Theatre).

Theatre III presents The Great Race: The Story of the Chinese Zodiac, by Reiko Ho. First produced at Honolulu Theatre for Youth.

Performances:
Saturday, June 13, 2026 & Saturday, June 20, 2026 at 11 a.m.
Sunday, June 14, 2026 & Sunday, June 21, 2026 at 2 p.m.

Tickets: https://www.theatre3.org

This program is funded in part by grants from the Acton-Boxborough, Concord, Harvard, Littleton, and Westford local cultural councils, local agencies which are supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.



Photo description: Head shot of Cherry Lynn Zinger

06/07/2026

Meet the cast and staff of The Great Race, presented by Child's Play at Theatre III in cooperation with Acton Chinese Language School!

Name: Ruth Bendig (she/her)
Role: Director

Past T3 experience:
My Fair Lady; Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type; Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical!

Chinese Zodiac animal? Tiger
Favorite holiday? Christmas. We put candles in the front windows of the house, and set up our Christmas village. And bake cookies!

Ruth is excited to be working on her third show with Child’s Play at Theatre III. Previous productions were Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type and Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical!, which received multiple EMACT DASH Award nominations. Many thanks to Ally Lee and the Acton Chinese Language School, the talented team who collaborated to bring this joyous show to the Theatre III stage, and, as always, to her family for their love and support.

Theatre III presents The Great Race: The Story of the Chinese Zodiac, by Reiko Ho. First produced at Honolulu Theatre for Youth.

Performances:
Saturday, June 13, 2026 & Saturday, June 20, 2026 at 11 a.m.
Sunday, June 14, 2026 & Sunday, June 21, 2026 at 2 p.m.

Tickets: https://www.theatre3.org

This program is funded in part by grants from the Acton-Boxborough, Concord, Harvard, Littleton, and Westford local cultural councils, local agencies which are supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.



Photo description: Head shot of Ruth Bendig

06/05/2026

Meet the cast and staff of The Great Race, presented by Child's Play at Theatre III in cooperation with Acton Chinese Language School!

Name: Joy Ma (she/they)
Role: Freddie

Past T3 experience:
Company Debut

Chinese Zodiac animal? Horse
Favorite holiday? Christmas

Joy is a Chinese-American actor and filmmaker. They’re very grateful to be joining The Great Race in her Theatre III debut and first full production of an Asian American play. Recently, she acted in and produced Shuqian (shortfilm), Schreibstuck (MIT Theater Arts), Who do you Love (Fork n Shoe), Holding Onto Her Words (MIT Playwrights Lab), A Dream Like a Dream (MIT Theater Arts), Hamlet (MIT Shakespeare Ensemble). She is a proud MIT graduate and will be attending Atlantic Acting School in July.

Theatre III presents The Great Race: The Story of the Chinese Zodiac, by Reiko Ho. First produced at Honolulu Theatre for Youth.

Performances:
Saturday, June 13, 2026 & Saturday, June 20, 2026 at 11 a.m.
Sunday, June 14, 2026 & Sunday, June 21, 2026 at 2 p.m.

Tickets: https://www.theatre3.org

This program is funded in part by grants from the Acton-Boxborough, Concord, Harvard, Littleton, and Westford local cultural councils, local agencies which are supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.



Photo description: Head shot of Joy Ma

06/05/2026

Meet the cast and staff of The Great Race, presented by Child's Play at Theatre III in cooperation with Acton Chinese Language School!

Name: Bob Pascucci (he/him)
Role: Sound Design

Past T3 experience:
James and the Giant Peach

Bob is happy to join Theatre III and share The Great Race with you. Bob is a (mostly) retired Children's Hospital physician, but has been active in community theatre, onstage and as the "sound guy", for many years. He's worked with many groups in the greater Boston area, most recently as sound designer for AFD's productions of Little Women and Triumph of Love. Retirement has led to snowbirding, and he's now a Cast Member at Walt Disney World and sings in their Candlelight Processional each year.

Theatre III presents The Great Race: The Story of the Chinese Zodiac, by Reiko Ho. First produced at Honolulu Theatre for Youth.

Performances:
Saturday, June 13, 2026 & Saturday, June 20, 2026 at 11 a.m.
Sunday, June 14, 2026 & Sunday, June 21, 2026 at 2 p.m.

Tickets: https://www.theatre3.org

This program is funded in part by grants from the Acton-Boxborough, Concord, Harvard, Littleton, and Westford local cultural councils, local agencies which are supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.



Photo description: Head shot of Bob Pascucci

06/05/2026

Meet the cast and staff of The Great Race, presented by Child's Play at Theatre III in cooperation with Acton Chinese Language School!

Name: Nala J. Wu (they/them)
Role: Set Design & Dressing, Logo Designer

Past T3 experience:
Company Debut

Chinese Zodiac animal? Earth Rabbit
Favorite holiday? Mid-Autumn Festival - as an adoptee from China, the Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Harvest Moon Festival, or 中秋节 (zhōng qiū jié), has always meant a lot to me. I was taught the full moon was a point of connection to all those who came before, who live today, and who shall come after—for we all gaze upon the same moon, and that it holds these connections together. I’ve always struggled with where I belong, but the moon helps to ground me and remind me of where I come from. I took the traditions I learned with me to college and beyond, and now that I don’t live with my family anymore, I enjoy sharing a meal (and mooncake!) with my friends, and then going outside to gaze upon the moon and share our hopes, dreams, and wishes for ourselves and each other.

Jae’s work on The Great Race is both inspired by and dedicated to their family in Hawai’i. The set is inspired by their own grandma’s house & backyard, including her massive mango tree. They’re honored to work a show with such personal connection to their Chinese family’s 100+ year history in Hawai’i, dating back before the islands were illegally annexed by the US Government. Jae proudly supports the Hawaiian Sovereignty movement, and encourages folks to educate themselves on Hawaiian history!

Theatre III presents The Great Race: The Story of the Chinese Zodiac, by Reiko Ho. First produced at Honolulu Theatre for Youth.

Performances:
Saturday, June 13, 2026 & Saturday, June 20, 2026 at 11 a.m.
Sunday, June 14, 2026 & Sunday, June 21, 2026 at 2 p.m.

Tickets: https://www.theatre3.org

This program is funded in part by grants from the Acton-Boxborough, Concord, Harvard, Littleton, and Westford local cultural councils, local agencies which are supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.



Photo description: Head shot of Nala J. Wu

06/05/2026

Theater3 and the Acton Chinese School proudly present the children's stage play, *The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac*! [ThumbsUp] 🎭 We invite everyone to come and enjoy the show!
This production marks Theatre3's first foray into themes drawn from Asian culture.

✨ A professional children's theatrical production—incorporating traditional Chinese opera, music, and martial arts—dedicated to promoting Chinese culture.
✨ Starring high-achieving students from MIT who successfully balance academic excellence with artistic pursuits, serving as positive role models for the community.
📅 June 13 & 20 (Saturdays) at 11:00 AM
📅 June 14 & 21 (Sundays) at 2:00 PM
⏰ Runtime: Approximately 45 minutes
🎟️ Online Tickets: $10 ( https://www.theatre3.org)
Tickets at the Door: $12
https://www.actonexchange.org/theatre-iii-brings-chinese-zodiac-tale-to-life/

Theatre III's Child's Play series returns June 13 with “The Great Race: The Story of the Chinese Zodiac”, a collaboration with the Acton Chinese Language School (ACLS) that brings together AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) artists, cultural consultants, and local arts practitioners from...

02/26/2026