Marina's ASIAN AMERICANS IN THEATRE: ART AND ACTIVISM SERIES
A series of panel discussions with theater professionals and scholars examining the politics of Asian American theater, artistic identity and activism, with an eye toward expediting awareness and change. Conceived and produced by Marina Chan and co-presented with Asia Society and the Barnard Theatre Department, Stages of Inquiry.
'The King and I' Meets 'Soft Power'
Tony Award-winning theater artists director Bartlett Sher and playwright David Henry Hwang engage in a conversation on the current state of American musical theater, as it wrestles with becoming more sensitive and inclusive, with focus on Asian-themed musicals. The inspiration of Hwang's new musical Soft Power by Sher's revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein's The King and I serves as the basis for discussion of Asian representation in musical theater history, as it informs our present. Segueing into how to improve upon the status quo, the panel examines Sher and Hwang's distinctive approaches, illuminating points of contrast and overlap, and considers their artistic work and goals as complementary. The conversation is moderated by Karen Shimakawa, NYU Tisch Associate Professor of Performance Studies.
The second panel (Feb 6, 2019) in the series.
Asian American Theatre: Three Approaches
The first panel (Oct 22, 2018).
(Password to watch recording:
panel2019)
Moderated by Cheryl Ikemiya, former Senior Program Officer for the Arts at the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, panelists Tisa Chang (Founder and Artistic Producing Director, Pan Asian Repertory Theatre; BC ‘63 and Barnard Medalist 1991), Mia Katigbak (Co-Founder and Artistic Producing Director, National Asian American Theatre Company; BC ‘76, GSAS ‘96), and Ralph B. Peña (Co-Founder and Producing Artistic Director, Ma-Yi Theater Company) discuss their companies’ artistic work and activism.
Intersectionalities: Rethinking American Theatre
The third panel (March 28, 2019).
Focusing on the emerging intersectionality of American theatre, a panel of theatre artists and leaders—Hansol Jung, playwright and theatre director; Roberta Uno, Director of Arts in a Changing America; Mia Yoo, Artistic Director at La MaMa; and moderator Jonathan McCrory, Artistic Director at the National Black Theatre—consider the practices of activism and collaboration diversifying the contemporary American stage.
"In Mainstream American Theatre, Diversity is a Goal, Not a Necessity" - DHH
Excerpt from second panel.