Asian American actor, designer, film maker, director and screen/playwright? Connect with your peers! Become a part of the National Asian American Theatre network! Join the aa-drama list, now hosted at Yahoogroups.com. Just email aa-drama-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com.
Also, check out Amazon and Asians, a web-based column that covers Asian American theatre, primarily on the East Coast, written by Marilyn Abalos.
Also should add Back Stage Pass with Lia Chang.
By the way, it's not Asian American, but check out the Internet Broadway Database (http://www.ibdb.com/). Lots of goodies there...
The National New Play Exchange for selected plays by Asian American authors (and to upload your own).
Something not seen much: Online Guide to the Archives of San Francisco's Asian American Theatre Company
March 2015
- New!
News blog! - New Jersey: Micro Shrimp in New Jersey! (posted 3/5/15)
February 2015
- Tacoma, WA: Dukesbay presents Java Tacoma 5: A Game of Scones (posted 2/27/14)
- Minneapolis, MN: Mu Daiko Welcomes New Artistic Director Jennifer Weir (posted 2/23/14)
- Tidbit
The Revue admits to a total Celebrity Crush on Constance Wu, probably the breakout star on the new ABC sitcom, Fresh Off The Boat (a pioneer like David Henry Hwang's F.O.B.?). But what's really been impressive about her is her whip smart answers about representation and characterization. Check out this interview for a sample. (And, yes, the Revue will be stealing her examples for future use). - Bay Area, CA: 18 Mighty Moutain Warriors return to Bay Area (posted 2/9/14)
- Tidbit
Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig's The World of Extreme Happiness, currently in previews at MTC's New York City Center – Stage I, a co-production of The Manhattan Theatre Club's and Chicago's Goodman Theatre, has been named among 12 finalists for the 2014-2015 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, its prestigious playwriting award, the oldest and largest prize awarded to women playwrights.
Directed by Eric Ting, the MTC cast of The World of Extreme Happiness features Francis Jue, Telly Leung, Jennifer Lim, Jo Mei, James Saito, and Sue Jin Song. Opening night is Tuesday, February 24, 2015. - Tidbit!
Wayne Burns is fu-GEN's new studio coordinator for all your rental needs in Toronto. Wayne comes is fresh out of the National Theatre School and will soon be seen as some sort of eunuch on the TV series 'Olympus'. To reach Wayne and book the fG space, just email rentals@fu-gen.org.
January 2015
- Los Angeles, CA: East West Players releases initiative plant to diversify California theatres Press release linked. Plan itself is here (posted 1/20/15)
- New York, NY: Kumu Kahua and 2g Productions to host One Minute Play Festivals for Hawaii and Asian American one minute plays (linked 1/20/15).
- National! New Play Exchange opens! Find new plays by Asian American authors! Find new plays with Asian American characters! Story here! New Play Exchange here! (posted 1/16/15)
- Minneapolis, MN: Mu presents new works in New Eyes Festival (posted 1/13/15)
- San Diego, CA: BD Wong named Artist in Residence at La Jolla (posted 1/10/15)
- Chicago, IL: Impov artist Jason R. Chin passes away (posted 1/10/15)
- Los Angeles, CA: East West offers Actors Conservatory classes (posted 1/9/15)
- New York, NY: David Henry Hwang will receive the 2015 Distinguished Artist Award at the New York 2015 Congress for ISPA (posted 1/4/15)
- Denver, CO: TEA presents two one acts (posted 1/4/15)
- Tidbit!
LOTS of year-end kudos!
San Diego, CA: The Ophan of Zhao part of 10 Shows to Savor in San Diego
Minneapolis, MN: Mu's A Little Night Music makes a Top Ten for musicals
NY: Qui Nguyen and Vampire Cowboys Theatre named a Person of the Decade for NY Indie Hall of Fame!
SF: Theatre Dogs names Christopher Chen's Mutt a favorite show
Seattle: Seattle Times names Pork Filled Production's Fast Company by Carla Ching a top play on the smaller stage for 2014 Footlight Awards
Vancouver BC: Loretta Seto named as a breakthrough artist by Colin Thomas - Chicago, IL: Rasaka announces Midwest premiere of A Nice Indian Boy at Victory Gardens (posted 1/4/15)
- Tidbit!
NATCO (National Asian American Theatre Comany) in New York, celebrates its 25th anniversary this year! Tip o' the hat to a company devoted to doing classics of the stage with specifically Asian American casts.
December 2014
- Philadelphia, PA: Plays and Players to present Hold These Truths (posted 12/15/14)
- Los Angeles, CA: East West presents world premiere of Nandita Shenoy's Washer Dryer (posted 12/15/14)
- Tidbit!
The Chance Theatre (Anaheim, CA) announced Lauren Yee as playwright in residence. As part of her residency, the Chance will not only produce Yee's Samsara but will also present two of her plays in its OTR Reading Series: King of the Yees and The Tiger Among U.
The Chance Theater is the official resident theatre company of Anaheim, focused on contributing “to a more compassionate, connected, and creative Orange County.”
- Minneapolis, MN: Mu Performing Arts presents F.O.B. (posted 12/15/14)
- Tidbit!
The Consortium of Asian American Theatres and Artists (CAATA) is thrilled to welcome three new members to the national board: Joan Osato, Roger Tang, and Stefanie Wong Lau (as part of LA's Artists At Play)! The three joins the board and immediately begin preparations for the 2016 Con/Fest with co-host Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, OR (posted 12/16/14).
November 2014
- Seattle, WA: Kelly Mak joins 2015 Thought Experiments series from Infinity Box (posted 11/30/14)
- Sheidan,
WY: Sundance Institute today announced the seven artists, including
Samantha Chanse, selected for its 2015 Playwrights & Composers
Retreat at Ucross Foundation.
- Tidbit:
For San Diego folks: Asian Story Theater is announcing a project called STORIES OF THE SUN CAFE scheduled to perform in June at the Lyceum Theatre. They are looking for writers to interview or research topics, then write vignettes for the program. They're paying small advances for each piece that is finished, against future royalties. (Small, like $10-45 depending on length (1-10 minutes?), and that is shared by interviewer and writer). There is a little more about the project and story editors at www.AsianStoryTheater.org.
If you'd like to learn more and perhaps get involved, please send an email to AsianST@cox.net, with the subject SUN CAFE, and attach (or point us to where we can find) some of your work. A first group meeting of writers with editors is scheduled for December 9.
- Chicago, IL: Silk Road Rising into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame (posted 11/30/14)
- New York, NY: National Asian Artists Project presents Discover: New Musicals (posted 11/30/14)
- Honolulu, HI: Kumu Kahua premieres the underneath (posted 11/6/14)
October 2014
- Tidbit!
Victor Maog, artistic director of New York's 2g Productions, was recently chosen as one of the ten inaugural participants in the SPARK Leadership Program, developed and administered by Theater Communications Group, with support from American Express and The Joyce Foundation. (posted 10/25/14) - Los Angeles, CA: East West premieres Takarazuka!!! (posted 10/25/14)
- Tidbit
Forgot I pulled this together on The Mikado controversy in Seattle. Peruse for info.
- CAATA Notes (final version 10/14/14)
First of all, thanks to the co-hosts, Philadelphia's own Asian Arts Initiative, as well as CAATA.
Here are the videos, thanks to HowlRound.
Of particular interest are the Friday 11 am session and the 3rd Plenary, which lays out strategies and steps to take to garner allies to implement your objectives.
And I've written a wrap up for You Offend Me, You Offend My Family!
- Warm up to CAATA!
The Asian American Theatre Conference/Fest in Philadelphia has the hashtags #theNAATF #newplay because there'll be someone there live tweeting. Livestream & blogs collected here http://bit.ly/thenaatf
Howl Round is publishing some warm up articles for CAATA ConFest (Consortium of Asian American Theatre Artists Conference/Festival):
• Asian American Theatre: The Question of Home
• I’ll Disband My Roving Gang of Thirty Asian Playwrights When You Stop Doing Asian Plays in Yellow Face* (*Exception: David Henry Hwang’s play Yellow Face)
• Home: Not Just a Place, But Also a Responsibility
• Organizing Home: Building Asian American Community in Philadelphia
• On History, Ideals, and Asian American Theater
And The Revue will be providing coverage (if he can get his act together...)
(posted 10/6/14) - Los Angeles, CA: East West announces national playwriting contest (posted 10/6/14)
- Tacoma, WA: Dukesbay presents Velina Hasu Houston's Tea (posted 10/6/14)
- Tidbit!
Baayork Lee is the 2014 recipient of the prestigious Paul Robeson Citation Award bestowed by Actors Equity Association. A brief and inadequate recounting of her extensive career begins at age 5 when she was in the original cast of the The King and I. As a performer, she would appear in the original casts of ten Broadway musicals, including Flower Drum Song, Promises, Promises, Seesaw, and most notably, A Chorus Line. Her directing credits include national and international productions, tours and New York City Opera. Choreography credits include many of the most respected theatres and opera companies around the US as well as the 2006 Broadway revival of A Chorus Line. She was the recipient of the 2003 Lifetime Achievement Asian Woman Warrior Award from Columbia College Chicago. She is the co-founder of the New York based National Asian Artists Project.
September 2014
Seattle, WA: Pork Filled Players presents Fast Company (posted 9/1/14)- Chicago, IL: A Squared presents Ching Chong Chinaman by Lauren Yee (posted 9/22/14)
- Tidbit!
The Ma-Yi Writers Lab is pleased to welcome the following playwrights from our most recent round of open submissions:
Mashuq Deen
Dipika Guha
Hansol Jung
Jason Kim
Deepa Purohit
Cate Yu
- New York, NY: Lark Theatre announces 2014-15 Playwright Fellows (includes Mike Lew and Kimber Lee)(posted 9/1/14)
August 2014
- Applications open, programming announced for 4th National Asian American Theatre Conference and Festival in Philadelphia! (posted 8/22/14)
See you there! - Tidbit!
The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize has invited Chicago's Silk Road Rising to become a source theatre. They write, "Your company has come to our attention as one that champions bold new work by women, and we'd like to add you to our list of submission theaters."
The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, established in 1978, is given annually to recognize women who have written works of outstanding quality for the English-speaking theatre. The Prize currently awards $50,000 annually to the Finalists. Each year, a specified list of professional theatres throughout the English-speaking world is invited to submit plays for consideration. Silk Road Rising is excited to join this effort to bring attention to women playwrights.
- Aurora, CO: TEA presents Colorado premiere of M. Butterfly (posted 8/22/14)
- Denver, CO: Theatre Esprit Asia cleans up at Colorado Theatre Festival (posted 8/22/14)
- Honolulu, HI: Kumu Kahua presents Shoyu on Rice (posted 8/22/14)
- Los Angeles, CA: Artists At Play presents LA premiere of 99 Histories (posted 8/22/14)
- New York, NY: Lark Announces Seven Playwrights for 21st Annual Playwrights Week
includes Lauren Yee and Hansul Jung (posted 8/11/14)
- Tidbit!
Silk Road is happy to announce that Artistic Director Jamil Khoury has been appointed Playwright-in-Residence at Knox College (Galesburg, IL) for academic year 2014/2015. Knox will be producing the world premiere student production of Jamil's new play Mosque Alert in 2015.
- Los Angeles, CA: East West presents Animals Out of Paper (posted 8/5/14)
- Denver, CO: Theatre Esprit Asia to Compete at 2014 Colorado Theatre Festival (posted 8/5/14)
- Los Angeles, CA: East West Players presents One Night Only showcase (posted 8/5/14)
July 2014
- New York, NY: Sundance tabs Ralph Pena (among 6) for mid career directors' retreat (posted 7/29/14)
- Jonesborough, TN: National Storytelling Network honors Brenda Wong Aoki (posted 7/29/14)
- Honolulu, HI: Kumu Kahua announces 44th season (posted 7/29/14)
- New York, NY: Baayork Lee, Artistic Director of National Asian Artists Project (NAAP),
is pleased to announce the 3rd annual DISCOVER: New Musicals program, a
presentation of staged-readings of new short or one‐act musicals
presented in New York in winter 2014. This program complements NAAP’s
REDISCOVER series, in which traditional musicals are performed by Asian
casts. Deadline September 8! (posted 7/29/14)
- New York: Cowhig's World Of Extreme Happiness to debut in Chicago and New York (posted 7/3/14)
- FYI!
Dan Balcazo's FAQs on Yellow Face (posted 7/29/14)
- Tidbit!
Congrats to Stir Friday Nite member Jonald Reyes on being voted Chicago Reader's Best Stage Director 2014.
