From the San Francisco Chronicle:

Still plagued by financial difficulties, San Francisco's 35-year-old Asian American Theater Company - long one of the best-known Asian American arts companies in the country - has canceled its fall production of Diana Son's intriguing Stop Kiss, which had been scheduled to open Thursday at New Langton Arts Theater. The move is part of a general curtailment of activities, a "breathing period" announced by the AATC board of directors while it reconfigures the company's management and seeks funds to continue operations.

Playwright Jeannie Barroga and administrator Victoria Mejia - who had stepped in as interim artistic and managing director, respectively, when Artistic Director Sean Lim resigned in February - have left those posts, though both remain associated with the group in advisory capacities. Board Chair Darryl Chiang has put out a "Save AATC" call for community support, hoping to raise funds for its next planned production - the world premiere of noted playwright Philip Kan Gotanda's "Red Drum," scheduled for January - and help the organization survive.

The crisis is nothing new for AATC. Despite its long, at times distinguished history of working with such leading lights as Gotanda, Barroga and David Henry Hwang, it has never found a firm financial backing and has had to shut its doors before. Chiang hopes that this time will be different. "We are optimistic that with a 'breathing period' we can regroup and reformulate the theater company for the future," he said in the announcement. "Our audiences can plan on being part of an exciting rebirth of AATC. I think there are a lot of positive opportunities and we're calling on our community to help us make it all happen."

More information about the company's hopes and plans at www.asianamericantheater.org