R.F. Kuang - Taipei Story

ENSEMBLE ARTS PHILLY PRESENTS
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR,
R.F. KUANG, IN CONVERSATION FOR HER NEW,
HIGHLY ANTICIPATED AND MOST PERSONAL NOVEL,
TAIPEI STORY AT THE KIMMEL CENTER
SEPTEMBER 11, 2026

“Known for her sharp wit, intricate world-building, and fearless exploration of politically charged themes, Kuang has quickly become one of the most compelling writers of her generation.”
– Harper Collins

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (August 25, 2026) – Ensemble Arts Philly proudly presents award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling author R.F. Kuang on Friday, September 11, 2026, at 7:30 PM in the Perelman Theater in the Kimmel Center for a special event celebrating her forthcoming novel, Taipei Story. Presented in partnership with Barnes & Noble Center City Philadelphia, the evening promises to be as compelling as Kuang's fiction itself.

"The most compelling artists help us see ourselves and the world in new ways, and R.F. Kuang has done exactly that through her extraordinary body of work," said Frances Egler, Vice President of Theatrical Programming and Presentations. "Taipei Story marks a fascinating new chapter in her career, offering a deeply personal examination of heritage, language, and the search for belonging. As a presenter dedicated to bringing exceptional voices and ideas to Philadelphia, we are excited to create space for audiences to hear directly from an author whose work continues to shape contemporary literary and cultural conversations."

One of the most celebrated literary voices of her generation, R.F. Kuang has earned international acclaim for her bestselling novels, including The Poppy War trilogy, Babel, and Yellowface. At this special Philadelphia event, Kuang will discuss her highly anticipated new novel, Taipei Story, in conversation with moderator and fellow author Angie Kim before taking audience questions and signing books for attendees. On sale September 8, Taipei Story is her most intimate and emotionally resonant work to date. The coming-of-age novel follows Lily, a young woman navigating the space between cultures as she travels to Taiwan in search of connection to her family, her heritage, and herself. Exploring themes of identity, language, grief, and belonging with warmth, humor, and honesty, the novel marks a new chapter in Kuang's acclaimed body of work.

R.F. Kuang’s work has sold millions of copies worldwide and has been translated into more than 30 languages. A Marshall Scholar and translator, Kuang holds degrees from Georgetown University, the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford, and Yale University, where she is pursuing a Ph.D. in East Asian Languages and Literatures. Her writing has received numerous honors, including the Nebula, Locus, Crawford, British Book Award, and Astounding Awards.

About Angie Kim:
Angie Kim moved as a preteen from Seoul, South Korea, to the suburbs of Baltimore. After graduating from Interlochen Arts Academy, she studied philosophy at Stanford University and attended Harvard Law School, where she was an editor of the Harvard Law Review. Her debut novel, Miracle Creek, won the Edgar Award and the ITW Thriller Award, and was named one of the 100 best mysteries and thrillers of all time by Time, and one of the best books of the year by Time, The Washington Post, Kirkus Reviews, and the Today show. Happiness Falls, her second novel, was an instant New York Times bestseller and a book club pick for Good Morning America, Barnes & Noble, Belletrist, and Book of the Month Club.

Tickets
Tickets can be purchased online at www.ensembleartsphilly.org, by calling 215-893-1999, or in person at the Academy of Music Box Office (240 S. Broad Street). For more information on the Academy of Music's Box Office hours, please visit www.ensembleartsphilly.org. 

All paid tickets will include one (1) deluxe hardcover of Taipei Story (retail value $32).

R.F. Kuang – Taipei Story
Perelman Theater inside the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts
Friday, September 11, 2026, 7:30 p.m.   

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Other featured upcoming performances include ALOK: Eat Pray Leave Tour (September 4, 2026, Perelman Theater inside the Kimmel Center); Shoshana Bean (September 16, 2026, Miller Theater); Sasha Velour – Travesty (September 17, 2026, Miller Theater); Brad Williams: The Tall Tales Tour (September 18, 2026, Miller Theater); Pat Metheny: Side-Eye III+ (September 19, 2026, Miller Theater); Undertale: The Determination Symphony (September 20, 2026, Marian Anderson Hall inside the Kimmel Center); Anthony Jeselnik: Wrath of Man (September 25– 26, 2026); Brian Henson’s Puppet Up! (September 29, 2026, Miller Theater); and MAMMA MIA! (September 29–October 4, 2026, Academy of Music).

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ABOUT ENSEMBLE ARTS PHILLY
For more information about ENSEMBLE ARTS PHILLY, visit www.ensembleartsphilly.org.       

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For photography, please visit www.ensembleartsphilly.smugmug.com.


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