Asian Diaspora Theatre

This section features conversations about or videos of work created by Asian diaspora theatre artists, as well as discussions about issues Asian diaspora artists face. Jane Jung and Victor Maog’s 2014 series Asian American Theatre is a great place to start, or check out the videos in the Consortium of Asian American Theaters and Artists ConFest Virtual Series.

The Latest

A Cypher Among Theatremakers from the Laotian Diaspora

Essay

A Cypher Among Theatremakers from the Laotian Diaspora

by Saymoukda Vongsay, Ova Saopeng, Samson Syharath, Kaysone Syonesa, Lidet Viravong

7 September 2023

Our Trauma Twin Siblings: Building Creative Spaces for Queer and Trans Tamil Community as Teardrop Collective

Essay

Our Trauma Twin Siblings: Building Creative Spaces for Queer and Trans Tamil Community as Teardrop Collective

by Gitanjali Lena, Hari Somaskantha

31 March 2023

Making Then Is Now During a Pandemic with Our Chinese Canadian Feminist Elders

Essay

Making Then Is Now During a Pandemic with Our Chinese Canadian Feminist Elders

by Julia Hune-Brown, Keira Loughran

28 March 2023

On the left, a performer stands on top of a curved platform and speaks. On the right, a performer sits on a round platform with hands clasped together.

A Cypher Among Theatremakers from the Laotian Diaspora

Essay

A Cypher Among Theatremakers from the Laotian Diaspora

7 September 2023

Saymoukda Duangphouxay Vongsay convenes a roundtable discussion among actors, directors, producers, and playwrights from the Laotian diaspora who work in theatre in the United States. As former refugees and/or the refugees, these theatremakers navigate their places as arrivers in the settler-colonial structure of the United States.

Illustration of several different pairs of people holding hands with each other.

Our Trauma Twin Siblings: Building Creative Spaces for Queer and Trans Tamil Community as Teardrop Collective

Essay

Our Trauma Twin Siblings: Building Creative Spaces for Queer and Trans Tamil Community as Teardrop Collective

31 March 2023

Hari Somaskantha and Gitanjali exchange letters discussing their work with Teardrop Collective, a Toronto-based group that centers stories of queer, trans, Deaf, and hearing people of Tamil, Sri Lankan, and South Asian descent.

An illustration of a clothesline with a film strip in front of it.

Making Then Is Now During a Pandemic with Our Chinese Canadian Feminist Elders

Essay

Making Then Is Now During a Pandemic with Our Chinese Canadian Feminist Elders

28 March 2023

Julia Hune-Brown and Keira Loughran discuss crafting Then Is Now, a concept album/video playlist they created through conversations with Chinese Canadian women who grew up in Toronto’s Chinatown during the era of the Chinese Exclusion Act.

Full of Wonder with Mica Rose

Podcast

Full of Wonder with Mica Rose

15 March 2023

Theatremaker Mica Rose joins Yura Sapi this week and shares about co-creating Asian American Theatre Artists of Boston. Topics for this episode include moving from morning routine to waking ritual, the power of circles and cycles, and a grounding meditation.

Two actors in sunglasses lounge together in a bathtub.

Everything Everywhere: Perspectives from “Third-Culture” Theatremakers in the Sinophone Community

Livian

Yeh

Essay

Everything Everywhere: Perspectives from “Third-Culture” Theatremakers in the Sinophone Community

8 September 2022

Writer and translator Livian Yeh examines the complexities of Asian identity within American theatre and gives her take on what it means to be a “third-culture” theatremaker.

Six people standing together for a photo.

"The Molecules Changed in the Room": Creating a Play from Real Asian Women’s Desires, Dreams, and Heartaches

Essay

"The Molecules Changed in the Room": Creating a Play from Real Asian Women’s Desires, Dreams, and Heartaches

3 May 2022

Danielle Iwata sits down with Amy Zhang to discuss the creation and significance of her show Ascend!, which featured a cast and crew entirely made up of Asian women.

Event poster for the National Institute for Directing and Ensemble Creation.

National Institute for Directing and Ensemble Creation (NIDEC)

Pangea

Art2Action

Video

National Institute for Directing and Ensemble Creation (NIDEC)

A virtual weekend of conversations and workshops

Friday 3 December to Sunday 5 December 2021

Minneapolis, Minnesota

The National Institute for Directing and Ensemble Creation (NIDEC) invited you to join us for our annual virtual convening. This program is produced by Art2Action and Pangea World Theater. Based on the in-person institute in Minneapolis, we are offering virtual masterclasses, panels and plenary sessions in 2021 to a wider audience during the pandemic. Livestreaming on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network Friday 3 December to Sunday 5 December 2021.

Mu Tang Clan Ain’t Nothing to F### With

Theater Mu

Video

Mu Tang Clan Ain’t Nothing to F### With

Asian American Playwrights on Craft

Monday 30 August 2021

United States

Theater Mu presented a conversation: Mu Tang Clan Ain’t Nothing to F### With livestreaming on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Monday 30 August 2021.

Them's Ponies! by Rebekah Chang

LA Writers Center (LAWC)

Video

Them's Ponies! by Rebekah Chang

With Home: Asian Voices Reading Series

Saturday 7 August 2021

United States

LA Writers Center presented a performance of Them's Ponies! by Rebekah Chang as a part of Home: Asian Voices Reading Series on Saturday 7 August 2021 at 11 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 1 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 2 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4).

Peacemaking Theatre

Yura

Sapi

Podcast

Peacemaking Theatre

With Kyoung Park of Kyoung's Pacific Beat

28 July 2021

Yura Sapi sits down with Kyoung H. Park of Kyoung’s Pacific Beat, a peacemaking theatre collective dedicated to working with artists, non-artists, and local communities to transform experiences of oppression into peace messages through public performance.

YLO by Dru Park

LA Writers Center (LAWC)

Video

YLO by Dru Park

With Home: Asian Voices Reading Series

Saturday 10 July 2021

United States

LA Writers Center presented a performance of YLO by Dru Park as a part of Home: Asian Voices Reading Series on Saturday 10 July 2021 at 11 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 1 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 2 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4).

event poster with artist headshots and text for inflections.

Second Generation Productions (2g) presents INFLECTIONS

CAATA

Second Generation Productions

Video

Second Generation Productions (2g) presents INFLECTIONS

Healing Over Hate Episode Three: Featuring new works by Philip Kan Gotanda & Shinji Eshima, Mashuq Mushtaq Deen, Ren Dara Santiago, Jade Wu and Max Yu

Monday 28 June 2021

United States

Consortium of Asian American Theaters and Artists (CAATA) presented Inflections, the third episode of its ongoing monthly ConFest Virtual Series, Healing Over Hate on Monday 28 June at 1 p.m. HST (Honolulu, UTC -10), 3 p.m. AKDT (Juneau, UTC -8), 4 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7), 5 p.m. MDT (Denver, UTC -6), 6 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5), 7 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4).

Community Organizations and Partnerships

Yura

Sapi

Podcast

Community Organizations and Partnerships

With Samson Syharath and Dmae Lo Roberts of Theatre Diaspora

23 June 2021

In this episode of Building Our Own Tables, host Yura Sapi discusses Theatre Diaspora with co-founders Samson Syharath and Dmae Lo Roberts.

yellow poster with event details for 2021 originally from china event.

B·O·N·D 2021 Opening Panel: Originally from China

CHUANG Stage

Video

B·O·N·D 2021 Opening Panel: Originally from China

Makings of a New Theatermaker Identity

Saturday 19 June 2021

United States

Chuang Stage presented the B·O·N·D 2021 Opening Panel: Originally from China livestreaming on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Saturday 19 June 2021 at 4 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 6 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 7 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4).

illustrations of freedom fighters yuri and malcolm x.

Yuri and Malcolm X by Timothy Toyama

LA Writers Center (LAWC)

Video

Yuri and Malcolm X by Timothy Toyama

With Home: Asian Voices Reading Series

Saturday 5 June 2021

United States

LA Writers Center presented a performance of Yuri and Malcolm X by Timothy Toyama as a part of Home: Asian Voices Reading Series on Saturday 5 June 2021 at 11 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 1 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 2 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4).

L to R: headshots of Adriana Li, Program Coordinator & Instructor, Impact Boston and Dax Valdes, Senior Trainer, Hollaback!.

Responding to Anti-Asian Race-Based Harassment

CAATA

Video

Responding to Anti-Asian Race-Based Harassment

Healing Over Hate Episode Two: Bystander intervention and safety awareness trainings to combat anti-AAPI harassment and xenophobia

Monday 10 May 2021

United States

Consortium of Asian American Theaters and Artists (CAATA) presented the second episode of its ongoing monthly ConFest Virtual Series, Healing Over Hate on Monday 10 May at 1 p.m. HST (Honolulu, UTC -10), 3 p.m. AKDT (Juneau, UTC -8), 4 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7), 5 p.m. MDT (Denver, UTC -6), 6 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5), 7 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4).

Introducing a New Ongoing Virtual Series: Healing Over Hate

CAATA

Generic Ensemble Company

Perseverance

Theatre

Video

Introducing a New Ongoing Virtual Series: Healing Over Hate

Responding to the Rise of Anti-Asian Violence

Monday 12 April 2021

United States

Consortium of Asian American Theaters and Artists (CAATA) introduced a new ongoing virtual series: Healing Over Hate: Responding to the Rise of Anti-Asian Violence livestreaming on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Monday 12 April 2021 at 1 p.m. HDT (Honolulu, UTC -9), 3 p.m. AKDT (Juneau, UTC -8), 4 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7), 5 p.m. MDT (Denver, UTC -6), 6 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5), 7 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4).

Asian American Directors in Conversation and Practice event poster.

Asian American Directors in Conversation & Practice

CAATA

Video

Asian American Directors in Conversation & Practice

Part of Consortium of Asian American Theaters and Artists’ ConFest Virtual Series

Monday 8 March 2021

United States

Consortium of Asian American Theaters and Artists (CAATA) presented the conversation Asian American Directors in Conversation & Practice livestreaming on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Monday 8 March 2021 at 1 p.m. HST (Honolulu, UTC-10), 2 p.m. AKDT (Juneau, UTC-9), 3 p.m. PST (San Francisco, UTC-8), 4 p.m. MST (Denver, UTC-7), 5 p.m. CST (Chicago, UTC-6), 6 p.m. EST (New York, UTC-5).

What do the Women Say? Celebrating 25 Years of Centering Women Artists

Golden Thread

Video

What do the Women Say? Celebrating 25 Years of Centering Women Artists

Golden Thread’s annual celebration of International Women’s Day

Monday 8 March 2021

United States

Golden Thread presents the conversation What do the Women Say? Celebrating 25 Years of Centering Women Artists livestreaming on the global, commons-based peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Monday 8 March 2021 at 11 a.m. PST (San Francisco, UTC -8) / 1 p.m. CST (Chicago, UTC -6) / 2 p.m. EST (New York, UTC -5).

a person looking to their right, a projection of a photograph covers their face.

Return to Our Stories: Festival Artists Showcase

CAATA

Campo Santo

Youth Speaks

Video

Return to Our Stories: Festival Artists Showcase

Part of Consortium of Asian American Theaters and Artists’ ConFest Virtual Series

Monday 8 February 2021

United States

Consortium of Asian American Theaters and Artists (CAATA) presented the conversation Virtual Series to Discuss COVID-19 and Its Effects on the Work of APA Artists livestreaming on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Monday 8 February 2021 at 1 p.m. HST (Honolulu, UTC-10), 2 p.m. AKDT (Juneau, UTC-9), 3 p.m. PST (San Francisco, UTC-8), 4 p.m. MST (Denver, UTC-7), 5 p.m. CST (Chicago, UTC-6), 6 p.m. EST (New York, UTC-5).

Where We’re At: COVID-19 and the Community

CAATA

Generic Ensemble Company

Video

Where We’re At: COVID-19 and the Community

Part of Consortium of Asian American Theaters and Artists’ ConFest Virtual Series

Monday 11 January 2021

United States

Consortium of Asian American Theaters and Artists (CAATA) presented the conversationWhere We’re At: COVID-19 and the Community livestreaming on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Monday 11 January 2021 at 1 p.m. HST (Honolulu, UTC-10), 2 p.m. AKDT (Juneau, UTC-9), 3 p.m. PST (San Francisco, UTC-8), 4 p.m. MST (Denver, UTC-7), 5 p.m. CST (Chicago, UTC-6), 6 p.m. EST (New York, UTC-5).

Jonathan Castanien and The Sống Collective

Podcast

Jonathan Castanien and The Sống Collective

Building Our Own Tables Episode #3

23 December 2020

In the third episode of Build Our Own Tables podcast, host Viviana Vargas interviews Jonathan Castanien co-founder and co-producing artistic leader of The Sống Collective, which uplifts work that pushes against preconceptions of Asian Americans and reclaims the Vietnamese American narrative. Your donation to Advancing Arts Forward supports liberated spaces that uplift, heal and encourage us to change the world.

From the Source, Seeds for a Myriad of Worlds

CAATA

TeAda Productions

Video

From the Source, Seeds for a Myriad of Worlds

Part of Consortium of Asian American Theaters and Artists’ ConFest Virtual Series

Monday 14 December 2020

United States

Consortium of Asian American Theaters and Artists (CAATA) presented the conversation and performance From the Source, Seeds for a Myriad of Worlds livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Monday 14 December 2020 at 1 p.m. HST (Honolulu, UTC-10), 2 p.m. AKDT (Juneau, UTC-9), 3 p.m. PST (San Francisco, UTC-8), 4 p.m. MST (Denver, UTC-7), 5 p.m. CST (Chicago, UTC-6), 6 p.m. EST (New York, UTC-5).

Nomadic Imagination: Transnational Homelands & Cultural Return

Hypokrit Theatre Company

Video

Nomadic Imagination: Transnational Homelands & Cultural Return

Part of Consortium of Asian American Theaters and Artists’ ConFest Virtual Series

Monday 9 November 2020

United States

Consortium of Asian American Theaters and Artists (CAATA) presented Nomadic Imagination: Transnational Homelands & Cultural Return livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Monday 9 November at 2 p.m. HST (Honolulu, UTC-10), 3 p.m. AKDT (Juneau, UTC-9), 4 p.m. PST (San Francisco, UTC-8), 5 p.m. MST (Denver, UTC-7), 6 p.m. CST (Chicago, UTC-6), 7 p.m. EST (New York, UTC-5).

Artists on the Frontlines: Creativity and Change During COVID-19

CAATA

Video

Artists on the Frontlines: Creativity and Change During COVID-19

Part of Consortium of Asian American Theaters and Artists’ ConFest Virtual Series

Monday 12 October 2020

United States

Consortium of Asian American Theaters and Artists (CAATA) presented the third episode of its ongoing monthly ConFest Virtual Series, “Artists on the Frontlines: Creativity & Change During COVID-19” livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Monday, October 12, 2020 at 1 p.m. HST (Hawai'i, UTC -10) / 3 p.m. AKDT (Juneau, UTC -8) / 4 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 5 p.m. MDT (Denver, UTC -6) / 6 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / and 7 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4).