Wongmom.com
February 9, 2024
The event featured an innovative website developed by Eric Olson, bringing to life the character "wongmom.com" from Jane's book. This fictional character, inspired by Jane's own mother, exists within a computer in the story, providing humorous and heartfelt advice. In a delightful twist, Jane's real mother joined us in person, dispensing wisdom and sharing her unique charm with the audience, embodying the spirit of "wongmom.com."
The atmosphere was warm and festive, with interactive readings and activities led by guest writers Ari Cofer, Tessa Hulls, and Lisa Chen. Each brought their own creative energy, inviting the audience to engage in participatory projects that added an interactive dimension to the evening. The space was filled with vibrant projections, adding to the ambiance as Jane Wong captivated the audience with her reading, set against a backdrop of soft light and a cozy virtual fireplace, as seen in the photo.
The event truly captured the essence of family, community, and celebration, aligning perfectly with the spirit of the Lunar New Year and honoring the enduring impact of a mother’s love.
In the spring of 2024, we embarked on a powerful journey with The Ever Expanding Moment, a new play written and directed by Amontaine Aurore. This production was more than just a performance—it was our first full-scale theatrical project at Common Objects, our newly opened space. It brought together a community of artists, performers, and audience members who were ready to engage deeply with a story that examined racial injustice, police violence, and the complexities of the afterlife.
The play follows the lives (and afterlives) of Jamahl King, a young Black man, and Victor Lane, the police officer who took his life. In a shared purgatorial space, they are forced to confront their actions, their beliefs, and each other in a bid for understanding. The story is raw and unflinching, challenging audiences to think critically about justice, redemption, and the ways our society grapples with systemic violence.
But what truly made this project special for us wasn't just the story on stage—it was the impact off stage. From the very beginning, we focused on creating a space where people felt welcome, supported, and heard.
Throughout the run, we had the privilege of connecting with many others who were new to Common Objects, some drawn by the themes of the play and others simply curious about what we were doing in this new space. We were especially moved by the responses from Black audience members who saw parts of their own stories reflected in Jamahl's journey.
As we look back on the incredible conversations and connections sparked by this production, we’re filled with gratitude for everyone who joined us. Whether you came to one performance or all of them, or even if you just followed along from afar, thank you for being part of this journey with us. We’re excited to keep creating together—there’s so much more to come!
This work would not be possible without the generous support of these sponsors.