We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Vivian Yining Cao a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Vivian Yining, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
One of the most meaningful chapters in my producing journey includes projects like Two Takes: The Peony Pavilion and Salesman之死—both of which reflect the kind of work I care deeply about: culturally grounded, artistically bold, and rooted in community.
As a Chinese-born, New York based creative producer, I often find myself bridging two worlds. These projects were particularly meaningful because they created space where tradition and innovation could meet—where artists from different generations and cultural backgrounds could engage in dialogue. Two Takes brought together Chinese kunqu artists, Asian-American performers, and interdisciplinary creators to explore timeless themes of love and transformation. Salesman之死, a bilingual adaptation of Arthur Miller’s classic, reimagined the American Dream through the lens of the Asian American immigrant experience.
What made these works so special wasn’t just what happened onstage, but the community they built—across language, aesthetics, and identity. They reaffirmed my belief that theater can be a powerful tool for cultural connection, and that stories from diverse communities, in all their richness and complexity, deserve to take center stage.
Vivian Yining, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I’m a NYC-based, Chinese-born creative producer and performing arts manager with a passion for telling stories that cross borders—geographically, culturally, and artistically. I work across theater and interdisciplinary live performance, often collaborating with culturally diverse artists to bring bold, nuanced, and socially resonant work to life.
My path into the performing arts began in China, where I was captivated by the power of live performance to connect people beyond language. After moving to New York and earning my MFA in Theatre Management & Producing from Columbia University, I dove into the world of both commercial theater and non-profit performing arts —working on everything from Broadway, Off-Broadway to international festivals, and community-driven projects.
I specialize in shepherding projects from idea to execution, offering creative producing, company management, and strategic development. I thrive in the spaces where tradition meets experimentation, and I’m particularly drawn to works that break formal boundaries and amplify voices from underrepresented communities. Whether I’m managing a production’s logistics, curating programs, or building cross-cultural collaborations, my goal is always to create space for artists to take risks and for communities to feel seen.
What sets my work apart is a commitment to cultural equity, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a deep respect for the stories we carry—especially those shaped by migration, heritage, and identity. I’m most proud of the communities I’ve been able to build through this work, and the trust that artists place in me to help realize their vision.
More than anything, I want people to know that I’m here to listen, support, and champion meaningful work. Whether you’re a fellow artist, organization, or curious community member—I’d love for my work to be a space where you feel welcomed and inspired.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
For me, the most rewarding aspect of being a creative producer is building spaces where artists feel empowered to tell their stories—especially those that haven’t historically had a platform. There’s something incredibly fulfilling about witnessing a project grow from an idea into a fully realized experience that resonates with audiences on a deep level.
I’m especially moved when I see connections spark—between collaborators from different backgrounds, and between a performance and someone in the audience who feels seen for the first time. Being part of that alchemy—of translating vision into reality and creating moments of shared understanding—is what keeps me doing this work. It’s not just about the final production, but about the process of collaboration, trust, and cultural exchange that happens along the way.
At its core, I believe art can shift perspectives and bridge communities. Being a part of that kind of impact is the greatest reward.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
To truly support artists and build a thriving creative ecosystem, society needs to recognize the arts as essential—not optional. That begins with sustained investment: funding structures that prioritize equity, accessibility, and long-term development rather than short-term outcomes. Artists need time, space, and resources to take risks, experiment, and build meaningful work—and that can’t happen without intentional support from both public and private sectors.
We also need to reimagine what leadership in the arts looks like. That means making room for diverse voices—not just onstage, but in decision-making roles, producing positions, and institutional leadership. Supporting creatives goes beyond applause—it’s about creating inclusive infrastructures that value cultural knowledge, nontraditional processes, and community-based models of creation.
Lastly, audiences and communities play a vital role. Showing up for local work, engaging in dialogue, and advocating for the arts in education are all ways to contribute. A thriving creative ecosystem depends on relationships—between artists, institutions, and the public. When those relationships are built on trust, reciprocity, and care, the entire cultural landscape becomes more vibrant, relevant, and alive.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.vivianyiningcao.com/
- Instagram: @viviancaoyn
- Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/vivian-yining-cao-445a33148
