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Jue Searches for Treasure

Francis Jue

By Gerrye Wong

Chinese American actor Francis Jue returns to his Northern California roots to star in the Bay Area premiere of the TheatreWorks production of Floyd Collins. Showing April 4 through May 6, this astonishing new musical is based on what was one of the most electrifying news stories of the 1920s. Jue plays the reporter who brings Floyd Coflin’s story to the national spotlight of that day.

Once winner of the Lucille Lortel Award for Best Off-Broadway plan, this groundbreaking musical drama tells the story of the title character, a Kentucky man whose search for subterranean treasures leads to his scary entrapment some 150 feet underground. The story of his entrapment so interested the nation that a convergence of cameramen from six movie studios came, as well as seven aircraft, including one piloted by a cadet named Charles Lindbergh, to carry photographs from the scene.

The strength of the human spirit comes alive with the music of bluegrass, folk, jazz and country, created by the grandson of Richard Rodgers. The show hails the return of longtime favorite of Theatreworks patrons, Francis Jue as Skeets Miller, the journalist who reported of Collins’ entrapment in a cave for 14 days. His stories attracted more than 10,000 sensation-seekers from some 20 states. Francis Jue has many fans in the theater world of the Bay Area. Some may recall Jue as the emcee in TheatreWorks’ Cabaret, which earned him a Bay Area Theater Critics Circle Award.

Jue’s Broadway credits include the starring role in M. Butterfly. He recently played in Thoroughly Modern Millie at the La Jolla Playhouse and The Illusion, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and M. Butterfly at Arizona Theatre Company.

Francis Jue is a California native from San Francisco. He received his B.A. at Yale University, and has played in musical comedy and serious theater throughout the United States.

Soft-spoken yet eloquent, Jue says that he is always happy to be cast in non-Asian, non-stereotypical roles. He is slowly seeing the color line fade in acting roles he has been offered, and feels this is one step forward for actors of all backgrounds and colors.

Locally, Jue has also played in San Francisco’s Magic Theatre production of Questin of Mercy, and in Romeo and Juliet at The Theatre in San Pedro Square. A talented actor and singer, he is well-remembered playing Mozart in Amadeus before Palo Alto audiences.