EXCLUSIVE: Cheyenne Jackson (American Horror Story), Olivia Rose Keegan (High School Musical: The Musical: The Series), Tony Chung (Kung Fu) and Aaron Kingsley Adetola (A Thousand and One) are set to star alongside newcomers Toby Chau, Arkira Chantaratananond, and Ash Hurley in Chinese School, an indie coming-of-age comedy marking the first feature from writer-director William Kwok (I Was a Simple Man).

Set in present-day New York City, the film blends live-action, animation, and original songs to tell the story of Jacky (Chau), a Chinese American teen who grudgingly attends a Chinese language school every weekend with his longtime friend and bandmate Monica (Chantaratananond) — at least until he meets his dream girl: the blonde, all-American, devoted churchgoer, Abigail (Keegan). Jacky soon finds himself pulled in many directions, including on a reluctant journey of self-discovery and reflection.

Independently financed, the project is inspired by Kwok’s own coming-of-age experience. Kwok and Katherine Vondy (In a Wintry Season) are producing under the newly launched Solanum Projects, alongside Ece Turan (A Different Man), with Damian Bao (Port Authority) co-producing via his Qilinverse banner.

Kwok’s script was a semifinalist for an Academy Nicholl Fellowship, and the project is an alum of the Gotham Week Project Market, with support from the Sundance Institute’s Feature Film Program.

Jackson is repped by Entertainment 360 and Lichter, Grossman, Nichols; Keegan by Paradigm, Artistic Endeavors, and Schreck Rose Dapello; Chung by Innovative Artists and Alan Siegel Entertainment; Adetola by Zuri Agency and Nouveaux Talent Mgmt; Chantaratananond by Industry Entertainmen; Hurley by Women360 Management New York.