From the Boulevard to Broadway and Back
Photo courtesy of Hollywood Pantages Theatre
Chris Kong is the conductor for the North American touring production of the Broadway musical Mean Girls, coming to the Golden Gate Theater in San Francisco from January 31 to February 26, 2023.
Castro Valley High School alum, Chris Kong, started taking piano lessons when he was five. Today, he is a famous Broadway conductor and musical director who will lead the orchestra for "Mean Girls," the musical in San Francisco, through February 26.
"Even in elementary school, he would sing in sentences. And he was always learning to play different instruments," his mother, Sherrie Kong, told the Forum.
The family moved to Castro Valley in 1996. Chris graduated from Canyon Middle School in 1999 and CVHS in 2003. He was active in the music departments and all the school musical productions. He graduated from the University of Pacific (UOP) with a bachelor's degree in Music and Piano Performance and was part of the university's Music Conservatory.
But it was during his time in Castro Valley at Canyon under the guidance of former music director Cynthia Meyer that Chris became involved in jazz band, orchestra, and musicals. His mother says Chris decided on a music career at this time.
"Chris would write parts for students playing instruments that might not have had a part," Sherrie Kong said. "For example, he would write a part for a student playing a bass clarinet which didn't have a separate part assigned in the score."
In high school, Chris became involved in the student-run and student-directed variety shows in his Junior and Senior years and started his passion for conducting, including an arranged piece from "Les Misérables." In addition to music, Chris found time for the Track and Cross-Country teams.
After college, Chris found work conducting in Ashland, Oregon, regional theater before moving to New York in 2007. He is a member of MUSE (Musicians United for Social Equity).
His career on Broadway includes work on Disney’s "Frozen," "Mean Girls," "Pretty Woman," "The Prom," "Miss Saigon, " "Allegiance," "Kinky Boots," and Disney’s "Newsies." Chris was also selected to conduct the 25th Anniversary national tour of "The Phantom of the Opera."
Off-Broadway, Chris has been a musical director for shows like, "Far From Heaven," "Carrie," "Silence!," "Altar Boyz," "Happiness," and the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. He has also conducted shows at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago and The Old Globe in San Diego.
With all the travel for musicals, mom Sherrie says Chris has become a bit of a foodie.
"When you are on tour, you are always on the lookout for new restaurants, and Chris has his favorites," Sherrie Kong says.
Chris's current tour just wrapped up in Los Angeles and included a rotation of shows such as "The Phantom of the Opera," Miss Saigon," and "Mean Girls." Sherrie added that the production group has a core set of musicians, but they hire local musicians wherever they go.
"We're very excited to have Chris back in the Bay Area," she said.
"Mean Girls," the musical, will be playing at the Golden Gate Theatre until February 26.