31 Asian American Plays in 31 Days
#18. S.A.M. I AM by Garrett Omata
Thoughtfully drawing on the dating-scene foibles confronting the single Asian male, Omata traces the lovelorn path of his hero John Hamabata (Doug Yasuda), a shy restaurant assistant manager, as he courts a beautiful news writer (Joanne Takahashi) whose romantic ideal is Sam Shepard. The importance of being Sam is paramount to John as he reinvents himself to win her favor, improbably becoming a best-selling author.
One of the better embodiments of the eternal struggles of Asian males and their place in American society (take a look at any discussion board; it flairs up with regularity), which would later get taken up with plays such as COWBOY V. SAMURAI.
East West 1995, Directed by Heidi Helen Davis, Doug Yasuda, Eddie Mui, Joanne Takahashi, Cindy Cheung, Jeff Dente, Shay Phillips, Daniel Getzoff.
Photo taken from the Seattle ReAct Theatre production.
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