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...
August
- You Can Help Asian American Theatres win $250,000! (posted 8/27/10)
- Hollywood, CA: Ah, Marvel does right... (posted 8/27/10)
- Los Angeles, CA: East West Players seek marketing assistant; closes September 10 (posted 8/27/10)
- Check this video out:
Chopstix (posted 8/27/10) - Los Angeles, CA: East West offers Fall 2010 Playwriting classes (posted 8/27/10)
- Hollywood, CA: Well, looks like the idiots are whitewashing movie roles again...(posted 8/20/10)
- Los Angeles, CA: CAPE to honor president of CBS Entertainment (posted 8/20/10)
- Honolulu, HI: Auditions set for Kumu Kahua's The Great Kaua‘i Train Robbery (posted 8/20/10)
- St. Paul, MN: API Center and Mu? (posted 8/20/10)
- Los Angeles, CA: CAPE Winners Announced for the 11th Annual New Writers Awards (posted 8/20/10)
- National! Take the Asian American Theatre Survey!
Deadline August 15!
The next National Asian American Theater Conference and Festival will be held in Los Angeles in June 2011. In an effort to program the next gathering around the needs of Asian American Theaters and Artists across the country, we are conducting a survey of the field. Please complete the surveys below by August 15 and forward the links to the other Asian American Theater practitioners and organizations in the U.S.
Data from these surveys will help make the case for much needed support during these rough economic times, as well as adequately represent the changing landscape of the American Performing Arts Scene. Below are two links to two different surveys. Please fill out BOTH surveys. The time you spend filling them out will be small, but the impact of your collective voice will be HUGE.
The CAATA survey is for the Consortium of Asian American Theater Artists (CAATA), producers of the National Asian American Theater Festival and Conference. We estimate this survey will take only FIVE minutes to complete. Your answers will assist in planning and provide estimated numbers for the potential size and impact of the next National Conference & Festival, which will ultimately assist greatly in fundraising.
The CAATA survey
This second survey is for the National Performance Network. The National Performance Network has received a grant from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation to partner with CAATA and other national organizations to conduct an online survey to get current information on the impact of the economic recession on their work. We estimate that this survey should take fewer than FIVE minutes to complete.
The NPN survey - Los Angeles, CA: Battle of the Pitches returns in fall (posted 8/14/10)
- Seattle, WA: Pratidhwani Presents Rabindra Nath Tagore's Chitrangada - The Warrior Princess Indian Dance Ballet Performs at Meydenbauer on August 21, 2010 (posted 8/14/10)
- San Diego, CA: SDAART presents BFE by Julia Cho (posted 8/14/10)
- Los Angeles, CA: East West opens season with Mysterious Skin (posted 8/14/10)
- Tidbit!
Edgar Mendoza awarded Asian American playwright award (posted 8/14/10) (hah. Maybe the link works now). - New York, NY: Leviathan Labs presents Adventures of a Faux Designer Handbag (posted 8/7/10)
- More news tidbits! (From most New York)
• Carla Ching, artistic director at 2 g Productions is a LARK Theatre 2010-11 Playwrights' Workshop
• Edith Can Shoot Things and Hit Them by A. Rey Pamatmat has been selected to be presented in Victory Gardens Theater's IGNITION 2010 in Chicago.
• Microcrisis by Michael Lew and Lost Accents by Qui Nguyen were selected as Victory Gardens Theater's IGNITION 2010! finalists!
• Lloyd Suh's Happy End of The World is one of seven inaugural selections in the National Endowment for the Arts New Play Development Program at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. Projects will be presented in a rotating repertory beginning January 2011 - Honolulu, HI: Kumu Kahua announces 40th Anniversary season (posted 8/7/10)
- Asian American theatre artists win Princess Grace Awards
Tony Award-winning director Anna D. Shapiro is this year's recipient of the Princess Grace Statue Award, which includes a $25,000 gift and a Bronze Statue of Princess Grace created by Dutch artist Kees Verkade. The awards will be presented at the annual black-tie Princess Grace Awards Gala, held in the presence of HRH The Princess of Hanover, on November 10, at Cipriani 42nd Street.
Award winners in the Theater category include Andrea Assaf of Pangea World Theater, Charlotte Brathwaite of Yale School of Drama, Shana Cooper of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Tom Gleeson of Arden Theatre Company, Virginia Grise of Playwrights' Arena, and Adam Pinti of Arizona State University. In addition, A. Rey Pamatmat is this year's playwriting award winner.
Theater-related award winners also include Carlos Armesto, Jim Findlay, Michael John Garces, and Kara Manning.
Dance artists who are being honored include Craig Black, Ashley J. Jackson, Rachel Meyer, Andrea Parson, Brett Perry, and Andrew Wojtal. Choreography award winners include Kyle Abraham and Victor Quijada. (posted 8/6/10) - Washington, DC: National JACL honors actress/playwright Christine Toy Johnson (posted 8/6/10)
- Philadelphia, PA: Jobs open at Asian Arts Initiative (posted 8/6/10)
- Minneapolis, MN: Mu Performing Arts starts arts blog (posted 8/6/10)
- MAPID announces finalists for the API TV Pilot Shootout
Judges have selected five finalists for the API TV Pilot Shootout. Writers submitted their TV Pilot pitch idea for an opportunity to pitch their project to a FOX TV executive. The top five finalists are: Amy Anderson “Amy Anderson Project” Jared Asato “Supreme” Benjamin Hsu “East Wilshire” William Lu “Showrunners” Roy Vongtama “The Zone” The judges were: Ed Moy, a screenwriter and journalist for LA Asian American Movie on Examiner.com; Kelly Yee, VP of Development @ RipMedia Group, a social media marketing firm specializing in entertainment; and Susan Stark, pop culture follower. The finalists will work with selected directors to make teasers for their projects. These teasers will be shown at ID Film Fest 10/10/10 at Japanese American National Museum. Along with film showings, other events during ID Film Fest include the Asian American Independent Features Conference, Filmmaker’s Crash Course Session, and Battle of the Pitches 2, a live screenwriting pitch competition. The API TV Pilot Shootout is sponsored by FOX Diversity and Final Draft. For more information about ID Film Fest and MAPID events, go to www.mapid.us; www.idfilmfest.org, and www.facebook.com/breakingthebow.
July
- Minneapolis, MN: Mu seeks submissions to New Eyes Festival (posted 7/21/10)
- Los Angeles, CA East West presents One Night Only: Hip Hop and Hot (posted 7/21/10)
- Honolulu, HI: Kumu Kahua presents Ghosts in the Plauge Years (posted 7/18/10)
- Tidbit! New York, NY:
The Planet Connections Theatre Festivity, New York's premiere eco-friendly/socially-conscious theatre festival, invites you to celebrate the great talents and achievements of our amazing 2010 artists!
Outstanding Overall Production of an Entire Evening of One-Acts
Clandestine Produced by NewGround Theatre Collective benefiting Women In Need (WIN), Written by Glory Bowen, Ann Gillespie, Alex Goldberg, Duncan Pflaster, Nandita Shenoy and Jonathan Wallace; Directed by Luke Harlan, Cindy N. Kawasaki, Rachel Klein and Michael Schwartz.
Outstanding Playwriting Short Form (One Act)
Nandita Shenoy for “Clandestine” - Rules of Engagement
June
- Washington, DC: Hwang, Nottage, others get commission for new plays (posted 6/20/10)
- Los Angeles, CA: MAPID offers film intensive (posted 6/20/10)
- Honolulu, HI: Kumu Kahua offers playwriting class (posted 6/18/10)
- Call for artists, Los Angeles
TEADAWORKS 2010/11
Artists who complete the 10-week TEADAWORKS Master Class Series and present a 5-10 min new work in the final class, will be eligible to apply to participate in development lab of their new work. Artists selected to participate in the TEADAWORKS LAB will receive an additional 10-week TW workshop series, 30 hours of production training, a 1 month rehearsal series with a director AND the opportunity present a 20 minute new work as part of the annual TEADAWORKS New Performance Festival. The TEADAWORKS New Performance Festival is an annual festival of works from bold and revolutionary community-based artists. Over the last 8 years artists who have developed work through TEADAWORKS have gone on to complete full length shows and tour nationally. Venturesome audience members have come to recognize this festival as an opportunity to witness the development of new work from the performance underground. If you have any questions about the TEADAWORKS application or process, please e-mail us at teada@teada.org (posted 6/14/10) - Honolulu, HI: Kumu Kahua plans summer party (posted 6/14/10)
- Los Angeles, CA: Teada presents Summer Boot Camp (posted 6/14/10)
- Honolulu, HI: Kumu Kahua announces playwrighting contest winners (posted 6/14/10)
- Call for actors, Honolulu, HI
Auditions Set For Kumu Kahua’s Production Of Ghosts In The Plague Year
Director Harry Wong are seeking an ensemble of 17 actors and actresses. Written by Dennis Carroll and based on a story by Dennis Carroll and Bob Okazako, Ghosts in the Plague Year is a brutal and erotic new play about a dark chapter in Hawai‘i’s history: the bubonic plague epidemic and the burning of Chinatown in 1899. Auditions will be held at Kumu Kahua Theatre 46 Merchant Street on Saturday, June 19, 6pm to 9pm, and Sunday, June 20, 6pm to 9pm. The entrance into the theatre faces a park on Merchant Street. Rehearsals begin as early as Monday, June 27. Performances will be from August 26 through September 26, with the possibility of a week’s extension. Auditioners are strongly encouraged to read the script before coming to audition. Scripts are available for loan with a $10 cash deposit at Kumu Kahua Theatre. Call 536-4222 to get a script and for more information. (Posted 6/7/10) - Toronto, Canada: Dora Awards nominations announced (posted 6/7/10)
- Honolulu, HI: Kumu Kahua offers playwriting class (posted 6/7/10)
- Philadelphia, PA tidbit!
Painted Bride Honors Asian Arts Initiative’s Executive Director
Each June, the Painted Bride Art Center honors Philadelphia’s cultural luminaries—local artists and community leaders—who have garnered the world spotlight for their creative contributions during its annual fundraiser, Artists of the City. This year, in honor of their 40th anniversary, they are recognizing past curators, who have been instrumental in positioning the Bride as the intersection of culture and creativity. This includes Asian Arts Initiative’s very own Executive Director, Gayle Isa! Congratulations, Gayle! (posted 6/7/10) - Los Angeles, CA: ABC Offers Workshop on ABC Writing program (posted 6/1/10)
- Los Angeles, CA: Cornerstone premieres 3 Truths (posted 6/1/10)
- San Francisco, CA: AATC premieres Beijing, California (posted 6/1/10)
May
- Newsflash! Vampire Cowboys Theatre (the brainchild of Qui Nguyen) has won a 2010 Obie! (posted 5/17/10)
- Newsflash: Drama Desk Award Nominations Announced
Outstanding Music in a Play:
Adam Cochran, A Play on War (produced by New York's National Asian American Theatre Company)
Special Awards:
Each year, the Drama Desk votes special awards to recognize excellence and significant contributions to the theatre.
* To Ma-Yi Theater Company for "more than two decades of excellence and for nurturing Asian-American voices in stylistically varied and engaging theater." - Tidbit
The Directors’ phase of the MAPID API TV Pilot Shootout has opened.
The multi-tiered competition is designed to develop and assist API writers, directors, actors, and production people. The competition is sponsored by FOX Diversity and Final Draft. The writers’ phase is also underway. TV pilot ideas are pitched, and teasers will be made of the top 5 selected pitches. Directors will be chosen from submissions to the Directors’ phase to helm the teasers which will be shown at ID Film Fest October 10, 2010. Seed money will be provided for teaser filming.
All teasers will be viewed by FOX Diversity. One writer will be chosen to receive a pitch meeting with a FOX TV executive, lunch with FOX Diversity executives at the studio commissary as well as Final Draft software.
Complete details at www.mapid.us/tvpilotshootout
Contact tvpilot@mapid.us for more information.
April
- Los Angeles, CA: East West announces 45th Anniversary Season (posted 4/30/10)
- Tidbit!
New theatre/film company for Asian Americans in Atlanta, GA:
Asian Film and Theater (posted 4/24/10) - Tidbit!
Lumina, the Web Series has been selected as an Official Honoree for the Best Editing category in The 14th Annual Webby Awards. As a result of the exceptional quality of submissions this year, the Academy has chosen to recognize work exhibiting remarkable achievement that was not selected as a Nominee. Out of the nearly 10,000 entries from over 60 countries submitted to the 14th Annual Webby Awards, less than 15% are awarded the status of Official Honoree. Only four, including LUMINA and the Sony web series Angel of Death, were selected as Official Honorees for Best Editing.
The Webby Awards Official Honoree distinction marks the groundbreaking Hong Kong web series’ eleventh award distinction since its online release last fall. Previous honors include one Streamy Awards nomination for Best Cinematography, six Indie Soap Awards nominations, including for Best Writing and Best Directing, and three American Soap World Awards nominations (posted 4/23/10). - New York, NY: Diverse City announces the Pearl Project, a Filipino American Theatre Festival (posted 4/17/10)
- New York, NY: Pan Asian offers workshops (posted 4/17/10)
Seattle, WA: Pork Filled Players present Pork Fiction (posted 4/4/10)- Minneapolis, MN: Mu presents Becoming (posted 4/9/10)
- Honolulu, HI: Kumu Kahua premieres The Hilo Massacre (posted 4/10/10)
Pictured are:
(Lauren Asinsen, Wayne Takabayashi, Ryan Sutherlan, Danielle Zalopany, Tracy Okubo, Ron Encarnacion)
Photo by Firebird Photography - Skokie, IL: Apna Ghar presents The Blue Mug (posted 4/4/10)
- Los Angeles, CA: East West's Leslie Ishii wins award (posted 4/4/10)
- New York, NY: Job opening at Ping Chong & Company (posted 4/4/10)
- Los Angeles, CA: MAPID announces Asian American TV pilot shootout (posted 4/4/10)
- Los Angeles, CA: East West premieres Road to Saigon (posted 4/4/10)
March 2010
- Tidbit!
David Henry Hwang posts " My new play, CHINGLISH, will premiere at Chicago's Goodman Theatre in June 2011, a coproduction with the Public Theater in NYC." (posted 3/31/10) - Casting notice!
Seeking a teenage Asian female actress for English language voice narration work on an independent feature film that was shot in China, but will be released in the West. An Asian accent is preferred, but not essential. This narration will require a genuine performance by a sweet voice that can convey real emotion. Ages between 14 and 20 will be considered. The film, called "Little Sister," is based on the world's original Cinderella story, which was written in China in the year 768. Candidates would need to be able to record in either New York, Los Angeles or San Francisco in the very near future. Anyone interested should contact Richard Bowen at tenflightfilmsinc@mac.com as soon as possible. (posted 3/25/10) - Los Angeles, CA: East West and PEAC (posted 3/25/10)
- Tidbit!
Asian Arts Initiative issues a call for Interns
Do you want to share your talent and cultivate your skills with a vibrant community arts organization?
If so, consider applying for an internship at Asian Arts Initiative!
Some positions are paid; others are on a volunteer basis.
The openings include:
-Administrative Assistant (work study)
-Administrative Assistant (non-work study)
-Media Assistant
-Youth Lounge Assistant
For more info, contact Thomas@asianartsinitiative.org. No phone inquiries please.(posted 3/25/10) - New York, NY: 2g presents 13: Instant Vaudeville (posted 3/25/10)
- Tidbit!
Julia Cho has won the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize for female playwrights for her The Language Archive, which is about to open at the South Coast Repertory Theatre (posted 3/9/10) - Tidbit!
David Henry Hwang tweets "Production team coming together for Daughter of Shanghai, my adaptation of the memoir by Tsai Chin, who will also star in the show." (posted 3/5/10) - Minneapolis, MN: Request for Proposal from solo perfomers! (posted 3/5/10)
- Los Angeles, CA: East West Players announces initial honorees for 44th Visionary dinner (posted 3/5/10)
- New York, NY: 2g announces that Carla Ching has become their new Artistic Director. (posted 3/5/10)
February 2010
- Just in--
On Facebook, playwright Lauren Yee has written that she has won this year's Paula Vogel Award from the Kennedy Center ACTF. This award is offered to the outstanding student-written play that celebrates diversity and encourages tolerance while exploring issues of disempowered voices not traditionally considered mainstream. - San Francisco, CA: Asian American Theatre Company premieres Macho Bravado (posted 2/26/10)
- Honolulu, HI: Kumu Kahua sets auditions for The Hilo Massacre (posted 2/26/10)
- Los Angeles, CA: East West Players offers Spring 2010 playwriting workshops (posted 2/19/10)
- Los Angeles, CA: East West wins CATE Award for 2010 (posted 2/19/10)
- Los Angeles, CA: Timescape Arts presents world premiere of No-No Boy (posted 2/19/10)
- Seattle, WA: SIS Productions presents NW premiere of Ching Chong Chinaman (posted 2/14/10)
- Honolulu, HI: Kumu Kahua presents Maui the Demigod (posted 2/13/10)
- Chicago, IL: New Flower Drum Song with Baayork Lee? (posted 2/13/10)
- Los Angeles, CA: East West premieres Cave Quest (posted 2/6/10)
- Los Angeles, CA: Disney/ABC seeks applicants for directing program (posted 2/6/10)
- Los Angeles, CA: Southern California Edison sponsors East West's Youth for Theatre tour (posted 2/6/10)
- Audition note!
(posted 2/6/10)
January 2010
- Job Opening (Southern CA)! Projekt NewSpeak is looking for a 2nd generation staff to take charge of the organization!
Do you want to work in production, filmmaking, event planning? Do you want to work with positive people that want to change the image and stereotypes of Asian Americans in Hollywood? Then join us! These are the positions that are available. We are looking to fill all positions by the beginning of February. To apply, please contact us at: info@projektnewspeak.com
Requirements for all positions: MUST be at least 18 w/ car - Tidbit! Projekt NewSpeak announces a new Board of Directors
Dante Basco - Actor/Producer (Hook, Entourage, and Take the Lead)
Karin Anna Cheung - Actress (The People I've Slept With and Better Luck Tomorrow)
Annie Kim - Producer/Marketing (Gochu, D-War)
Geena Oh - Former President of Project by Project
Joe Park - CEO of Blended Events
Ryan Suda - CEO of Blacklava Clothing
Phil Yu - Creator of AngryAsianMan.com
Eddie Kim - Creator of Projekt NewSpeak
(posted 1/31/10) - Los Angeles, CA: East West announces new staff (posted 1/23/10)
- Tidbit! Qui Nguyen has been nominated for a GLAAD Award for Theatre for Vampire Cowboys production of his Soul Samurai! Congratulations! (posted 1/17/10)
- Tidbit! David Henry Hwang tweets that he has completed a new play, Chinglish, a play in English and Mandarin (posted 1/17/10).
Addendum: there is now a casting call for actors for Chinglish:
two Asian females: 30-40 years old and 50-60 years old.
Contact Diana Glazer (diana.glazer -AT- gmail.com) for info and submissions (posted 1/19/10).
Also two Asian males: 20-30 and 40-50.
Plus one Caucasian male, around 40.
Must be able to speak Mandarin. Ideally, these actors can read Chinese as well.
- Los Angeles, CA: MAPID calls for contributions, deadline 1/31/10 (posted 1/17/10)
- San Francisco, CA: Torres leaves Bindlestiff (posted 1/17/10)
- Minneapolis, MN Tidbit!
Minneapolis' City Pages names Mu's Ching Chong Chinaman as one of the top stage plays of 2009 (which means every one of their productions in 2009 made a top ten list of some sort)(posted 1/6/10). - Honolulu, HI: Kumu Kahua presents Houselights & Prolonged Sunlight (posted 1/5/10)
- Los Angeles, CA: New adaption of No No Boy hits stage (posted 1/5/10)
December 2009
- Minneapolis, MN: Tidbit!
Minneapolis Star Tribune named Mu's Flower Drum Song and The Romance of Magno Rubio as two of the top 10 stage productions in Minneapolis in 2009! (posted 12/30/09) - Los Angeles, CA: East West announces 2010 Playwriting seminars (posted 12/30/09)
- New York, NY: US premiere of The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle (posted 12/18/09)
- Tidbit! David Cote named THE SHIPMENT, by Young Jean Lee, one of the top 10 theater pieces of 2009 in Time Out New York! (posted 12/18/09)
- Los Angeles, CA: East West announces Spring 2010 Conservatory (posted 12/18/09)
- Chicago, IL: Rasaka opens Yoni Ki Baat for 2010 (posted 12/14/09)
- San Diego, CA: Deadline extended for short plays (posted 12/14/09)
- New York, NY: NAATCO holding auditions for Mother Courage (posted 12/1/09)
- Honolulu, HI: Kumu Kahua presents world premeire (posted 12/1/09)
November 2009
- Honolulu, HI: Kumu Kahua holding auditions (posted 11/20/09)
- Flushing, NY: Queens College seeks Theatre Professor (posted 11/20/09)
- Los Angeles: MAPID opens writers' group (posted 11/20/09)
National: TCG publishes the script for Yellow Face by David Henry Hwang (posted 11/12/09)
(Is the Revue getting a complimentary copy? Well, in interests of being up front, yes. And the Revue is unabashed about giving a featured news spot to this...but it's a good, smart play, which we liked ever since we first read it)(It won an Obie, y'know?)- National: Leah Ryan Playwriting Contest for emerging women playwrights is now open (posted 11/12/09)
- National: If I Was Like You
A short film by playwright Wesley Du: Quite provocative (and any film that kicks off two long threads on Racialicious to be pretty hot stuff...). It hasn't been picked up for a lot of film festivals because it was too controversial, but it seems to me there’s a place for films to be controversial if there’s a point to raising the controversy.
Film is available on youtube, starting
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FsMnX1HjDY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ADfGiqug8E&feature=related
Discussion here
http://www.racialicious.com/2009/10/16/film-festival-pick-if-i-was-like-you/
http://www.racialicious.com/2009/11/03/special-presentation-wesley-dus-if-i-was-like-you/ - Los Angeles: East West casting for two productions (posted 11/12/09)
- Honolulu: Call for new plays for Kumu Kahua contest (deadline January 4, 2010)(posted 11/10/09)
- Call for submissions - Desipina Holiday Presentations (posted 11/10/09)
Now seeking full-length play submissions by female playwrights for Desipina's holiday workshop series, titled Out of the Kitchen and Into the Fire, the Desipina-like response to the recent studies on gender equality in theater.
Three scripts will be workshopped over the course of 10 hours, and presented in the series, which will span Manhattan and Brooklyn, during the month of December.
Kicks off on Thursday, December 10 in Manhattan - so Save the Date!
Following each presentation will be a small reception, and the opportunity for talkbacks.
Please email your play submission, your bio, and a short paragraph on what you would like to achieve during the 10-hour workshop to rehana (AT) desipina.org. All ethnicities of playwrights are welcome, but the plays will be cast with a diverse body of Desipina alumni actors.
October 2009
- New York: Pan Asian offers workshops in Mandarin and Acting/Writing Lab (posted 10/30/09)
- Los Angeles: Two job openings at East West Players, deadline 12/4 (posted 10/30/09)
- San Diego: SD Asian American Repertory Theatre calls for 10 minute scripts, deadline 12/1/09 (posted 10/26/09)
- Seattle: Asian American artists win Theatre Puget Sound awards (posted 10/26/09)
Person to Watch: Don Darryl Rivera
From the nomination panel: Mr. Rivera has shown a bold comic sensibility in productions such as The Wizard of Oz at Seattle Children’s Theater.
Testimonial: “His comic timing and sensibility are impeccable, he’s musically gifted, and he’s just waiting for the dramatic role that will blow everybody away with his range. One of my favorite people in all of Seattle.”
Also, Hana Lass was nominated under the Outstanding Actress category. - Los Angeles: Asian American artists snag Ovation nominations (posted10/26/09)
A number of Asian American artists snagged nominations:
Playwrighting for an Original Play
Tim Toyama & Aaron Woolfolk
Bronzeville
Robey Theatre Company
Director of a Musical
Oanh Nguyen
HAIR: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical
The Chance Theater
Jon Lawrence Rivera
The Last Five Years
East West Players
Lead Actor in a Musical
Michael K Lee as Jamie
The Last Five Years
East West Players
Lead Actress in a Musical
Jennifer Paz as Cathy
The Last Five Years
East West Players
Costume Design - Large Theatre
Soojin Lee
Oliver Twist
A Noise Within
Soojin Lee
The Rehearsal
A Noise Within - New York: Impressions from the sixth day of the National Asian American Theatre Festival.
- New York: Impressions from the fifth night of the National Asian American Theatre Festival.
- New York: Impressions from the fourth night of the National Asian American Theatre Festival (posted 10/17/09)
- New York: Impressions from the third night of the National Asian American Theatre Festival (posted 10/16/09)
- New York: Impressions from the second night of the National Asian American Theatre Festival (posted 10/15/09)
- New York: Impressions from the first night of the National Asian American Theatre Festival (posted 10/14/09)
- Philadelphia: Asian Arts Initiative debuts Open Mike series (posted 10/17/09)
- Seattle: In Memoriam
TJ Langley, a great friend and artistic supporter of Asian American theatre in Seattle, died in a climbing accident. A memorial for him will be held this coming Friday, October 16th from 3 to 5pm at the Mountaineers Building in Magnuson Park...Building 67 at 7400 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115 (posted 10/13/09) - Honolulu, HI: Kawananakoa Backstage Theatre presents Flip Out! Storytelling Performance (posted 10/13/09)
- Los Angeles: East West presents Po Boy Tango (posted 10/13/09)
- Los Angeles: Battle of the Screenwriting Pitches, deadline 10/22/09 (posted 10/13/09)
- Honolulu: Kumu Kahua presents Voices From Okinawa (posted 10/13/09)
- Seattle: SIS Productions presents Insatiable 4 (the win!), Seattle's fourth annual festival of Asian American playwrights (posted 10/3/09)
- Los Angeles: Yes, And... Productions presents Songs for a New World (posted 10/3/09)
- Honolulu: Kumu Kahua presents Halloween special (posted 10/3/09)
- New York: Call for scripts (posted 10/3/09)
Now seeking full-length play submissions by female playwrights for Desipina's holiday workshop series, titled Out of the Kitchen and Into the Fire, our very own Desipina-like response to the recent studies on gender equality in theater.
Three scripts will be workshopped over the course of 10 hours, and presented in the series, which will span Manhattan and Brooklyn, during the month of December.
Kicks off on Thursday, December 10 in Manhattan - so Save the Date!
Following each presentation will be a small reception, and the opportunity for talkbacks.
Please email your play submission, your bio, and a short paragraph on what you would like to achieve during the 10-hour workshop to rehana (AT) () desipina.org. All ethnicities of playwrights are welcome, but the plays will be cast with a diverse body of Desipina alumni actors.
September 2009
National: Golamco wins playwriting award
The eight winners of the Helen Merrill Playwriting Award — established by Merrill, the late theatrical agent who devoted her life to nurturing the careers of playwrights — were announced Sept. 20.
The 2009 winners for Distinguished Playwright are Nilo Cruz, Michael Weller and Lanford Wilson. The Emerging Playwright winners are Zakiyyah Alexander, Bathsheba Doran, Michael Golamco (author of Cowboy vs. Samurai and Year Zero), Deborah Laufer and Justin Sherin.- New York: Soomi Kim's Lee/gendary wins three awards at the New York Innovative Theater Awards!!!! (posted 9/25/09)
Outstanding actress in a featured role: Constance Parng
Outstanding director: Suzi Takahashi
and OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION OF A PLAY! - Bay Area: Solano Arty Awards awarded
BANYAN: BEST COSTUME Stacey Loew
BEST SUPPORTING MALE Michael Cappelli
BEST ORIGINAL PRODUCTION "Banyan" written by Jeannie Barroga (posted 9/25/09)
- Philadelphia: Asian Arts Initiative calls for producers and performers Deadline is November 18, 2009 (posted 9/25/09)
- Honolulu: Kumu Kahua presents Voices from Okinawa (posted 9/25/09)
- Chicago: Silk Road Theatre Project unveils South Asian Playwrights website (posted 9/11/09)
- New York: Lark Theatre seeks new plays, deadline November 20, 2009 (posted 9/11/09)
- Stockton: Asian American Repertory Theatre returns (posted 9/11/09)
- Los Angeles: TeAda offers Open House and classes (posted 9/11/09)
- Los Angeles: East West offers Fall '09 writing workshops (posted 9/11/09)
- Los Angeles: Lodestone presents its final show (posted 9/11/09)
- San Francisco: AATC presents world premiere of Gotanda's #5 Angry Red Drum (posted 9/4/09)
- Worldwide: Lumina debuts with double webisode premiere (weekly release, nine webisode season) (posted 9/4/09)
- Seattle: Azeotrope, new Asian American theatre, opens in Seattle (posted 9/4/09)
August 2009
Seattle: Pork Filled Players blasts Pork to the Future with retro 80s sketch comedy show (posted 8/19/09)- New York, Job Posting, deadline October 31 (posted 8/28/09)
- Los Angeles: 10 Minute Play Contest for APIs, deadline Sept. 25 (posted 8/28/09)
- Los Angeles: East West presents Art (posted 8/19/09)
- Los Angeles: East West offers two playwriting workshops for fall (posted 8/19/09)
- Honolulu: The Mikado Project, by Ken Narasaki and Doris Baizley, just won the 2008/09 Kumu Kahua Pacific Rim Playwriting Award. (posted 8/16/09)
- Honolulu: Kumu Kahua auditioning for two one-acts (posted 8/16/09)
- Playwrighting Contest: Deadline August 31 (posted 8/16/09)
- Los Angeles: Ong wins grant for play on visually impaired (posted 8/6/09)
- Minneapolis: Mu presents The Ballad of Magno Rubio (posted 8/6/09)
- New York: Actors wanted for Asian American cabaret
Seeking:
1. Asian American singer-actors who can perform a solo, a duet, and a group number - male and female
2. Asian American piano accompanist who is comfortable with cabaret, broadway, jazz
Gig details:
- professional pay
- you can sing your dream solo if appropriate
- one or two rehearsals
- travel to gig provided
Contact the producer for more details (posted 8/1/09) - Los Angeles: East West presents That's Sooo Vegas August 15 (8/1/09)
July 2009
- Amherst, MA: New WORLD Theatre Suspends Operation
On Tuesday, July 14, an announcement was circulated that, due to significant budget cuts at the University, New WORLD Theater operations and programs would no longer be supported by the Fine Arts Center. The indefinite "suspension" of NWT is to begin September 30, and the Fine Arts Center has stated that a planning committee will be formed (although it is not yet clear what this committee will do). Several staff members were given lay-off notices, and according to a Edward Blaguszewski, a University spokes-person, one staff member is being reassigned.
On July 16, the Daily Hampshire Gazette reported that the staff of New WORLD Theater have been laid off and its operations have been suspended.
A Facebook group has been started to coordinate efforts to save New WORLD.
posted 7/24/09. - Los Angeles: Room to Improv holding auditions (posted 7/24/09)
- Congratulations!
Lee/gendary, Soomi Kim's play about Bruce Lee, has been officially nominated in 6 categories for the New York Innovative theater Awards.
Best lighting designer- Lucrecia Briceno
Best director- Suzi Takahashi
Best choreography- Airon Armstrong and Soomi Kim
best actress in featured role-Constance Parng,
best actress in a lead- Soomi Kim
and BEST PRODUCTION (posted 7/24/09) - Honolulu: Kumu Kahua announces 2009-10 season (posted 7/17/09)
- Los Angeles: East West announcs 2009-10 season (posted 7/17/09)
- Honolulu: Kumu Kahua premieres The Statehood Project (posted 7/17/09)
- Los Angeles: Call for Cabaret artists (posted 7/17/09)
- Chicago: CIRCA Pintig remounts Sister Outlaw (posted 7/17/09)
- Los Angeles: 18 Mighty Mountain Warriors debut new show (posted 7/3/09)
- Hollywood: Disney/ABC taking acting submissions, ends July 10 (posted 7/3/09)
