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Margin Tianya Zheng
Immersive & Interactive Experience, Music, Spoken Word & Storytelling, Theater
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About a century ago, my father's family, living in the rural Chinese village of Muwu, had its own religion, focused on worship of Yuliang. Due to Chinese Communism, the religion faded away. But who is Yuliang? And what is her message for us? Come join me in an interactive quest to find out.
Each performance will be different in structure and content, depending on chance and choices made by the audience. Come to one performance or multiple as is your heart’s desire!
Woven into the storytelling will be elements of Chinese music and folk dance. As part of the performance, we collectively will create an altar and practice a ritual in order to connect the story of Yuliang to our own spiritual journeys. No need to have any particular religious or spiritual background; you can make meaning of this process in whatever way is natural to you.
With over 100 offerings from rebellious circus, delicious dance, fearless theatre and activist art to workshops, parties, and more Cannonball pushes the boundaries of live performance at four different venues this Fringe. Come as you are and stay past bedtime at cannonballfestival.org.
PWYC Options $5+
Venue: The Louis Bluver Theatre at the Drake 
September 4, 2025 8.00pm
302 S Hicks St
General Admission: $25
PWYC Options
September 6, 2025 3.30pm
302 S Hicks St
General Admission: $25
PWYC Options
September 7, 2025 7.30pm
302 S Hicks St
General Admission: $25
PWYC Options
About the Artist
Margin Tianya Zheng | 郑天涯 is an emerging interdisciplinary artist, musical performer-composer, and creative writer based in the Philadelphia region. Their works explore the intersection of the personal, political, and philosophical, engaging with such topics as identity, mental health, and collective liberation. Margins solo more-than-piano work "fluxing, quivering, transforming" bridges music and performance art and narrates their journey of mental health and gender identity struggle. At New Music Gathering in June 2023, after having lost luggage that contained key props for that piece, Margin re-envisioned the work to include an improvisational section in which they cut their hair on stage as a symbol of gender transition. Their ensemble work "freeing child" uses a text score to guide performers in musical and spoken improvisation based on their reflections on childhood. Margin has always been deeply spiritual and dreams of helping other neurodivergent people on their spiritual journeys. Mildly quaint, massively quirky, and madly queer, they are a proud owner of emotional support stuffed animals and high-fidelity earplugs. Margin has a BA in music and in mathematics from Haverford College and is currently studying virtually for a MA in East-West Psychology at California Institute of Integral Studies.
- Margin Zheng Performer
Accessibility & Content Considerations
Contact the Fringe Festival Box Office for up to date accessibility information.
This event is appropriate for ages 13+
Audience Interaction
Covid-19 Safety policy
Masks are required during this event
Copyright © 2025 Philadelphia Fringe Festival
140 N. Columbus Blvd.
(at Race St.)
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Directions
Tickets: 215.413.1318
Admin Office: 215.413.9006
