Lee Lue The Musical Cast

Tshwj Xeeb is a Junior this year and is playing the main male lead Lee Lue, in HAPA’s Lee Lue The Musical! He has expressed that this has been something he has dreamed of ever since watching previous HAPA Hmong New Year musicals. He loves singing and acting with a passion and takes every chance there is to learn and practice. To get to know him more, he does other things like playing volleyball, helping in ministries at church, and he loves to take photos. Tshwj Xeeb is very thankful for everyone included in this production and for the experience of this year's production! ENJOY THE SHOW, feel free to come meet him and the cast after the show, and know that JESUS LOVES YOU!

Anna Thao is a Senior in high school who plays the female lead of Jou Vang in Lee Lue the Musical. Jou is a young and beautiful Hmong woman, she is the wife of Lee Lue. Jou is a very expressive character, showing lots of her bubbly personality while also being ambitious, even a little bit humorous. About the student, Anna has always had a liking for musicals and theater. She is a student actress and has been in a high school play for two years. Anna is also a singer, it has been this way since she was very small and her love for this has never stopped. Last year, Anna worked with an amazing team to deliver an incredible show to the community and is extremely grateful & excited that she is able to do that again with the team that she has this year. Outside of school, Anna is a videographer, photographer, writer, and sketch artist while still keeping her theatrical & musical traits and likings. But besides that, she believes that with the way this production runs, it is able to truly come to life. Anna would like to first thank her cast members, this includes leads, side characters, and dancers. She would then like to thank the crew, this includes the stage manager, assistant director, etc. She would also like to thank the staff team, meaning the associates director, technical director, sound director, media coordinator, etc. In addition to this, she would like to thank everyone attending the show, for their support means so much to the cast and crew. But most importantly, Anna would like to thank Mr. Ly, for he is the cornerstone of all that has happened so far. She would not have been in this production in the first place if it weren't for Mr. Ly discovering her talent and ambition. Above all, Anna truly cannot wait to perform this show, especially to those of the Hmong community. This show, as Mr. Ly states, "blends cultural authenticity and universal emotion to honor the legacy of Lee Lue and the Hmong people, reclaiming a chapter of history that has too often been forgotten - the courage, love, and sacrifice of the Hmong during the Secret War" See you in the theater!!

Filton is excited to be playing the role of General Vang Pao in Lee Lue The Musical this year, as a Junior. This is his first musical and production that he has been in and is so excited to be a part of this amazing and awesome musical, especially as one of the lead roles. He expresses his passion about theater and takes pride in playing his role. When he isn't on stage, this is just another costume change for the weekly Saiyan, he enjoys talking to his crewmates and is active around the school. Filton would like to thank his entire family for being supportive and cool!

Xammaj is a Junior this year and plays the role of Lee Lue's father in HAPA's show, Lee Lue The Musical. At first, he was apprehensive about joining since it was his first production ever! However, his expectations were blown out of the water with the colorful personalities of the Lee Lue The Musical’s cast. Other than the musical, he likes to go outside, and learn new things. Xammaj wants to thank his parents and friends on the cast for the never ending support for his passions!

Honey Vang is a senior who proudly takes on the role of Jou’s mother in this year’s Lee Lue The Musical. After seeing the success of the Lee Lue performance, even though she was not part of it, she knew it was something she wanted to be involved in. Growing up watching HAPA’s tradition of bringing stories to life on stage, Honey was inspired from a young age and always dreamed of one day being part of that same stage. From a young age, Honey has always imagined herself under the stage lights, singing, expressing emotions, and connecting with an audience. She is an outgoing and energetic person who enjoys being around others, meeting new people, and bringing positive energy wherever she goes. Singing is one of her biggest passions, and she also enjoys performing, expressing herself creatively, and building confidence. Whether she is on stage or not, Honey loves to stay involved, try new things, and step outside of her comfort zone. Being part of this production holds special meaning for her, as it is her final year, and she was eager to take this opportunity and be part of something so meaningful. Beyond this production, Honey hopes to continue pursuing her passion for music, with the goal of becoming known in the Hmong music industry and getting her name out there. She hopes to use her voice and talent to connect with others and represent her culture through her art. She would like to express her deepest gratitude to Mr. Lee, Ms. MacGregor, and Mr. Kongmeng for their constant support, guidance, and dedication to every cast member. Without them, this production would not be possible. Their encouragement, patience, and belief in the students create a space where everyone can grow, learn, and shine.

Keebhaum is a Junior at HAPA who plays Xang in Lee Lue The Musical. He is excited to be a part of the production, as he has always had an interest in acting and singing, especially being inspired by past HAPA productions. As this was his first time participating in such a project, he was initially nervous. However, with the support of his peers and the likes of Mr. Ly, Ms. Macgregor, and Mr. Kongmeng, he was able to persevere and become more comfortable on stage! He also expresses extreme gratitude towards his mom, thanking her for being so supportive in this long endeavor. He hopes that the production will be an unforgettable experience for the audience, just as being in the production will be unforgettable for him.

Pa Nou Chee, playing Xang’s Mom, is so passionate for the Lee Lue The Musical. As Sophomore this year, she joined the musical to support her Hmong community, along with making new friends and collaborative teamwork! She loves to hang out with her friends and communities, and create connections with others. As she’s in her role of Lee Lue The Musical, she is sure to take ignition to become a successful actor one day! She is thankful for all the cast who have improved her company and comfort zone over this school year, along with her stage managers and crew. She wants to especially thank Ms. MacGregor and Mr. Ly who has assisted in improving her skills into becoming a successful actress and creating more colorful expressions within herself! With this crew, it made her feel like family to laugh with almost everyday and have something to look forward to in the future.

Nyob zoo! Aidyn Her is a Junior this year and plays the role of Chi Vaj, Xang’s father, a calm and wise elder, in this year’s production of Lee Lue The Musical. It’s only his second musical, but years of performing at HAPA’s Hmong New Year celebrations have helped shape his experience on stage. He is thankful for everyone who has supported his journey. His family encouraged him to explore theatre, his friends pushed him to keep going, and the directors helped him grow in confidence. He wants to especially thank his parents for their constant support, patience, and the countless sacrifices they made so he could grow into the person he is today. He states, “Everything I’ve achieved is built on the foundation they gave me.” He also wants to thank Mr. Ly recognized his potential before Aidyn saw it himself. His words—“You have a real passion for theatre, and you have a gift for it”—continue to guide him. Aidyn hopes his journey encourages others to follow their own spotlight and let their passion shine. Every person carries a spark-what matters is having the courage to let it shine, to believe in its strength, and trust that it can lead you somewhere meaningful.

Billy Yang is a Senior this year at Hmong American Peace Academy and is thrilled to be a part of Lee Lue The Musical, taking on dual roles of a villager and a flight instructor. Billy has enjoyed being able to bring this musical to life. After graduation he plans to go into the trades to do plumbing. He would like to thank his family, friends, and the entire cast and crew of the musical for their incredible support throughout this production.

Junjie is currently in Lee Lue The Musical, as part of the ensemble. He joined this musical because of friends. That was not the only reason but as a way to get out of his comfort zone, express himself creatively and be more confident. After he joined this production, did he regret it at all? No! He was able to meet new and amazing people which was the best part! Not only does he want to gain experience through Lee Lue The Musical but for it to be seen and watched by friends and family. Although, it's not just for Hmong community to see but also for other communities to watch and be aware of Hmong people's culture. For the people in the production, he would like to say thank you to Mr. Ly as he is an amazing singer himself and as being the main director of Lee Lue The Musical. Mr. Ly has been so kind to him whenever he talks with him, being the most patient person, and caring for all of the cast. Junjie would also like to say thank you to Ms. MacGregor for being there to be helpful, giving all of us advice, and always there to motivate us. Another person he would like to thank is Kongmeng for always being the person backstage helping and keeping all of the cast company. Overall, he expresses gratitude to everyone in the Lee Lue production for making his first experience into a Musical Theatre club with such great and heartwarming memories for me to look back on and for him to actually meet such great and quirky people. “YOU ALL WERE LIKE A FAMILY TO MEE!!!!”

Laxeng is a Senior who plays part of the ensemble as a villager, the little boy named Tong, A Hmong soldier, and a Thai soldier. Being surrounded by talented people in his life, Laxeng has been a creatively interested person, drawn towards acting, voice acting, and music. He is learning to be a music producer and a bassist. Ever since setting foot onstage and performing for HAPA in his band, he's always wanted more outlets to express his creativity, and taking part in Lee Lue The Musical has been an amazing opportunity. Laxeng is honored to be part of this production, and be a part of this wonderful cast. He takes inspiration from his favorite voice actors and movies, wanting to bring an experience akin to a major production to HAPA. Laxeng is very passionate about the roles he plays and is glad for everyone who can attend. He hopes that, with everyone, that they bring an unforgettable show to HAPA!

Katheryn is a Sophomore this year and joined Lee Lue The Musical’s ensemble to get out of her comfort zone and be more social. She enjoys building greater communication skills while also having fun. As she spent almost 8 months rehearsing and spending time with the cast and crew, she realized how fast and smoothly they’ve all connected. She wants to thank the cast and crew for making this community feel like home. She also wants to give a big thanks to Mr. Ly, Ms. MacGregor, and Mr. Kongmeng for their positive words and helpfulness during rehearsals. She expressed that it really is a blessing to have these people by her side to comfort her when she is feeling down or if she is not confident in her role. Katheryn hopes you find a lot of joy in the show!

Lilla is a Senior this year and is honored to play as part of the ensemble for Lee Lue The Musical. Being in front of a big stage was not, at first, something she saw herself doing during her school years. Yet, she has always been captivated by the way people would perform on stage and how expressive they can be. As someone who struggles with expressing themselves, she is humbled by the whole crew to have helped her in communicating and extracting her emotions, words, and actions throughout the months of production. She is ever so thankful for Mr. Ly for giving her a chance to grow and act for the musical. Apart from the musical, Lilla participates in clubs such as E-Sports who she is the treasure of, a member of Key club, and an active member in the senior committee.

Amy is a Senior this year and joined Lee Lue the Musical's ensemble and dance to achieve any chance of getting comfortable in performing and interacting opportunities outside of what she usually does. Building up her bravery and furthering her courage, she decided to do another year of performing arts by playing a role in a story representing her beautiful culture and its history. She has loved every moment rehearsing and interacting with the cast as they've all participated to tell an amazing part of their history. She wants to express her gratitude towards the stage and student managers/directors for leading the cast and crew on their progressive journey of performing. Outside of the musical, she is Vice-President for E-Sports and an active member of her Senior Committee & Key Club.

Yang Youa, a Senior this year, joined this musical as a dancer because she felt a surge to be passionate about something, to be proud of herself and others, to support the history of her culture, and feel alive on stage. As this is her last year at HAPA wanted to challenge herself with something different to end the year strong. She is very blessed to have people around her to support her in this role. Nothing is ever impossible!!