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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

How Pay As You Are Changed Theater Mu
Essay
How Pay As You Are Changed Theater Mu
by Lianna Matt McLernon, Wesley Mouri, Anh Thu Pham
27 November 2023
Minorities (Self)Representation in Theatre
Video
Minorities (Self)Representation in Theatre
Independent Theatre Hungary, Eötvös Loránd University, and Színház Magazine invite you to join a roundtable discussion with the Asian American Performers Action Coalition (AAPAC). 
Thursday 30 November 2023
Budapest, Hungary
Global Puppetry in the United States
Video
Global Puppetry in the United States
A Presentation of Excerpts from Chinese Theatre Works (New York) and US Karagöz Theatre Company (Washington)
Monday 30 October 2023
New York City
actors on stage
From the Source, Seeds for a Myriad of Worlds
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
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
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).

four actors onstage
Jubilee for the Future
Essay

Jubilee for the Future

AAPI Theatre and the Promise of Solidarity

30 September 2020

Sophia Skiles talks about the momentum of unprecedented acclaim and agency for Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) theatremakers this spring, which quickly transformed into an inverse rise of AAPI-directed bigotry and bias for the global pandemic.

actors onstage
Modeling Solidarity: Theater As Political Action
Video

Modeling Solidarity: Theater As Political Action

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

Monday 14 September 2020
United States

Consortium of Asian American Theaters and Artists presented a panel discussion Modeling Solidarity: Theater As Political Action livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Monday 14 September 2020 at 1 p.m. HST (Honolulu, UTC-), 3 p.m. AKDT (Juneau, UTC-), 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).

Event title and time in a red box, on top of an image of grains of rice.
The AAPC PlayFestival of Food Plays
Video

The AAPC PlayFestival of Food Plays

The Asian American Playwright Collective presents PlayFestival 3

Thursday 20 August 2020
Boston MA, United States

The Asian American Playwrights Collective presented The AAPC PlayFestival of Food Plays livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Thursday 20 August 2020 at 7:00 p.m. EDT (Boston, UTC -4) / 6:00 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 5:00 p.m. MDT (Denver, UTC -6) / 2:00 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 1 p.m. AKDT (Juneau, UTC -8) / 11 a.m. HST (Honolulu, UTC -10).

actors performing onstage.
“Kuʻu ʻĀina, Kuʻu Piko, Kuʻu Kahua - Return to the Source”
Video

“Kuʻu ʻĀina, Kuʻu Piko, Kuʻu Kahua - Return to the Source”

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

Monday 10 August 2020
United States

Consortium of Asian American Theaters and Artists presented a panel discussion Kuʻu ʻĀina, Kuʻu Piko, Kuʻu Kahua - Return to the Source livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Monday 10 August 2020 at 1 p.m. HST (Honolulu, UTC-), 3 p.m. AKDT (Juneau, UTC-), 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).

text of event details. A stylized photo of two men touching heads.
AATAB Online: A Language of Their Own by Chay Yew
Video

AATAB Online: A Language of Their Own by Chay Yew

A lyrical and dramatic meditation on the nature of desire and sexuality as four men—three Asian and one white—come together and drift apart in a series of interconnection stories

Wednesday 5 August 2020
United States

Asian American Theatre Artists of Boston presented A Language of Their Own by Chay Yew livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Wednesday 5 August 2020 at 7:00 p.m. EDT (Boston, UTC -4) / 6:00 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 5:00 p.m. MDT (Denver, UTC -6) / 2:00 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 1 p.m. AKDT (Juneau, UTC -8) / 11 a.m. HST (Honolulu, UTC -10).

purple and green poster with lotus blossoms
A staged reading of “Ravayana”
Video

A staged reading of “Ravayana”

A queer, feminist, modern reinterpretation of the Hindu epic of Ram and Sita presented by Fresh Lime Soda Productions

Saturday 18 July 2020
United States

Fresh Lime Soda Productions presented a staged reading of “Ravayana” livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Saturday 18 July 2020 at 9 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 11 a.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 12 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4).

text of event details and a grid of a photo of a person, a trailer park, a rainforest, and a vase of red flowers.
A reading of Incredibly Annoying Women by Rosanna Yamagiwa Alfaro
Video

A reading of Incredibly Annoying Women by Rosanna Yamagiwa Alfaro

Five monologues for cantankerous women who have a bone to pick with the world

Wednesday 17 July 2020
Boston MA, United States

Asian American Theatre Artists of Boston presented Incredibly Annoying Women by Rosanna Yamagiwa Alfaro livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Wednesday 15 July 2020 at 7:00 p.m. EDT (Boston, UTC -4) / 6:00 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 5:00 p.m. MDT (Denver, UTC -6) / 2:00 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 1 p.m. AKDT (Juneau, UTC -8) / 11 a.m. HST (Honolulu, UTC -10).

Event information and a photo of a person wearing glasses
A reading of Waiting for Kim Lee by Vivian-Liu Somers
Video

A reading of Waiting for Kim Lee by Vivian-Liu Somers

A 10 minute play about two Asian American actresses waiting to be seen at an audition

Wednesday 8 July 2020
Boston MA, United States

Asian American Theatre Artists of Boston presented Waiting for Kim Lee by Vivian-Liu Somers livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Wednesday 8 July 2020 at 7:00 p.m. EDT (Boston, UTC -4) / 6:00 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 5:00 p.m. MDT (Denver, UTC -6) / 2:00 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 1 p.m. AKDT (Juneau, UTC -8) / 11 a.m. HST (Honolulu, UTC -10).

event title and details.
Women Behind the Curtain
Video

Women Behind the Curtain

Written by Michael Lin

Wednesday 1 July 2020
Boston MA, United States

Asian American Theatre Artists of Boston presented a reading of Women Behind the Curtain livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Wednesday 1 July 2020 at 7:00 p.m. EDT (Boston, UTC -4) / 6:00 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 5:00 p.m. MDT (Denver, UTC -6) / 2:00 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 1 p.m. AKDT (Juneau, UTC -8) / 11 a.m. HST (Honolulu, UTC -10).

AATAB logo with event details, and an edited photo of two people sitting at a desk together.
A Holistic Review by Nelson Niu
Video

A Holistic Review by Nelson Niu

A new play where an overachieving college student is tasked to tutor a smart yet rebellious high school student with a scholarship essay

Wednesday 17 June 2020
Boston MA, United States

Asian American Theatre Artists of Boston presented A Holistic Review by Nelson Niu livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Wednesday 17 June 2020 at 6:00 p.m. EDT (Boston, UTC -4) / 5:00 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 4:00 p.m. MDT (Denver, UTC -6) / 3:00 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 2 p.m. AKDT (Juneau, UTC -8) / 12 p.m. HST (Honolulu, UTC -10).

A Mu Variety Show
Video

A Mu Variety Show

A Mu-medley of music, dance, and poetry brought to you by Theater Mu

Friday 22 May 2020
United States

Theater Mu presented A Mu Variety Show livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Friday 22 May 2020 at 5 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 7 p.m. CDT (St. Paul, UTC-5) / 8 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4).

clorox wipes bottle on colored background
Art As Medicine: Building Solidarity in and with Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Communities
Video

Art As Medicine: Building Solidarity in and with Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Communities

An #ArtistResource Conversation

Tuesday 12 May 2020
United States

Livestreamed the #ArtistResource panel Art As Medicine: Building Solidarity in and with Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Communities on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Tuesday 12 May 2020 at 8 a.m. HST (Honolulu, UST-10) / 10 a.m. AKDT (Juneau, UTC-8) / 11 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 1 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 2 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4).

Mengtong Guan and Alison Qu.
Asian American Theatermakers in Conversation: Mengtong Guan and Alison Qu
Video

Asian American Theatermakers in Conversation: Mengtong Guan and Alison Qu

How to build and invest in a career as a producer and what it means to be a community arts leader at this moment of the world.

Wednesday 29 April 2020
United States

CHUANG Stage presents Asian American Theatermakers in Conversation: Mengtong Guan and Alison Qu livestreaming on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Wednesday 29 April 2020 at 4 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 6 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 7 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4) / Thursday 30 April 7 a.m (Beijing, GMT+8) / 8 a.m (Tokyo, Seoul, GMT+9).

Headshots of Max and Celine
Asian American Theatermakers in Conversation: Celine Song and Max Yu
Video

Asian American Theatermakers in Conversation: Celine Song and Max Yu

Curated by CHUANG Stage, Celine and Max will talk about the craft and love of being a storyteller.

Wednesday 22 April 2020
United States

CHUANG Stage presented Asian American Theatermakers in Conversation: Celine Song and Max Yu livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Wednesday 22 April 2020 at 4:00 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 6:00 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 7:00 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4) / Thursday 23 April 2020 7:00 a.m (Beijing, GMT+8) / 8:00 a.m (Tokyo, Seoul, GMT+9).

two performers making faces holding a rail
Acknowledging Impact, Regardless of Intent
Essay

Acknowledging Impact, Regardless of Intent

9 May 2019

Bri Ng Schwartz looks at the importance of companies doing the hard work when it comes to equity, diversity, and inclusion conversations and initiatives.

Still from Valley of the Heart
A Different Portrait of America
Essay

A Different Portrait of America

31 January 2019

Carlos Morton discusses Luis Valdez’s latest play, Valley of the Heart, what the Mexican philosopher José Vasconcelos calls la raza cosmica, and being part of a mixed-race family himself.

photo of stage depicting a japanese house
The Japanese Playwrights Project 
Video

The Japanese Playwrights Project 

Satoko Ichihara/Kristine Haruna Lee, Jun Tsutsui/Soraya Broukhim, Kuro Tanino/Mallory Catlett

Monday-Tuesday 12-13 November 2018
New York City

The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center presented the Japanese Playwrights Project (Day 1) livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Monday 12 November and Tuesday 13 November 2018.

black and white photo of artist
The Magnificent Peony Dreams: Yin Mei – Installation Performance + Artist Talk
Video

The Magnificent Peony Dreams: Yin Mei – Installation Performance + Artist Talk

The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center

Thursday 8 November 2018
New York City

The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center presented The Magnificent Peony Dreams: Yin Mei – Installation Performance + Artist Talk livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Thursday 8 November at 3:30 p.m. PST (San Francisco) / 5:30 p.m. CST (Chicago) / 6:30 p.m. EST (New York).

How Post-Colonial Imagination Can Make Theatre into an Agent of Revolution
Essay

How Post-Colonial Imagination Can Make Theatre into an Agent of Revolution

16 August 2018

Using three different plays—M. Butterfly, Iphigenia Crash Land Falls on the Neon Shell That Was Once Her Heart, and QPH—playwright Massi Monfiletto examines theatre’s revolutionary potential.

The Consortium of Asian American Theaters & Artists National Conference & Festival
Video

The Consortium of Asian American Theaters & Artists National Conference & Festival

Tuesday 14 August - Friday 17 August 2018
Chicago, IL, United States

The Consortium of Asian American Theaters & Artists presented their 2018 National Conference & Festival livestreamed from Chicago on the global, commons-based peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv from Tuesday 14 August to Friday 17 August 2018.

Pride Voices: New Plays from Taiwan with Li-Ying Chien and Pao-Chang Tsai
Video

Pride Voices: New Plays from Taiwan with Li-Ying Chien and Pao-Chang Tsai

Martin E. Segal Theatre Center

Tuesday 26 June 2018
New York City, NY, United States

The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center presented the Pride Voices: New Plays from Taiwan with Li-Ying Chien and Pao-Chang Tsai livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Tuesday 26 June at 6:30 p.m. EDT (New York) / 5:30 p.m. CDT (Chicago) / 3:30 p.m. PDT (San Francisco). Follow @HowlRound on Twitter for updates, and use #howlround.

Making Theatre Out of Slam Poetry
Essay

Making Theatre Out of Slam Poetry

25 March 2018

Yan Chen talks with poet, performer, and playwright Kit Yan about the intersections of genre and intersections of identity in his work.