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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

Video
Investigating Vietnamese Diasporic Theatre through Mary Magdalene, Daughter, Boatperson
A Staged Reading and Post-Show Conversation with CHUANG Stage and Fresh Ink Theatre
Saturday 9 May 2026
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Video
Resistance in Action: Building Solidarity
CAATA Conversations
Monday 3 August 2026
United States
Video
Diaspora Stories: MENA/SWANA Over the Years
CAATA Conversations
Monday 11 May 2026
United States
Headshots of Max and Celine
Video

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
Essay
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
Essay
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
Video

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
Video

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).

Essay
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.

Video
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.

Video

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.

Essay
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.

Video
Saturday 21 October 2017
Boston, MA, United States

The Boston Asian American Film Festival and New England Foundation for the Arts presented Beyond Orientalism: The Forum livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer produced HowlRound.TV network on Saturday 21 October at 10:30 a.m. EDT (New York) / 9:30 a.m. CDT (Chicago) / 7:30 a.m. PDT (San Francisco).

Essay

One Mother of a Musical

19 October 2017

Dragon Lady, written and performed by Sara Porkalob, brings bring race, female stories, and intersectionality into the American theatre conversation.

Essay

Expanding Meanings and Breaking Boundaries with Deb Sivigny

9 October 2017

DC based playwright Annalisa Dias interviews fellow The Welders collective member Deb Sivigny on the world premiere of her new play, Hello My Name Is....

Essay

Choosing the “Best” Person for the Job

20 May 2017

Director Carol Ann Tan explores her reaction to the question of whether it's easier for her to get work because she's Asian.

Video
Friday 31 March 2017
Houston, TX, UNited States

Asia Society in Houston, Texas presented a panel discussion Representation and 21st Century Responsibilities in the Performing Arts livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Friday 31 March at 8:00 p.m. EDT (New York) / 7:00 p.m. CDT (Chicago) / 5:00 p.m. PDT (Los Angeles).

Essay
25 March 2017

Ralph B. Peña offers advice to those looking to diversify their theatre companies and productions.

Video
Saturday 18 March 2017
Boston, MA, United States

ArtsEmerson in Boston and Chinese Historical Society of New England (CHSNE) presented Facing Exclusion: Pioneering Activists Harry Hom Dow and Tien Fu Wu, a theatrical presentation and conversation livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Saturday 18 March at 2 p.m. EST (New York), 1 p.m. CST (Chicago), 12 p.m. MST (Denver), and 11 a.m. PST (Los Angeles).

Essay
15 March 2017

Arlene Martínez-Vázquez looks at how colonization impacts her view of Hamilton and Vietgone.

Essay

The Seed for Brooklyn Museum: Techniques & Process for Ensemble Interdisciplinary Performance

20 February 2017

Writer and performer Kelly Tsai shares the process of devising Ai Weiwei: The Seed, which is based on the art and writings of activist-artist Ai Weiwei.

Essay
3 January 2017

Rick Shiomi discusses the Philadelphia Asian Theater Project, sharing his process working with local theatre companies and organizations to promote Asian American theatre artists.

Video
Sunday 16 October 2016
Boston, MA, United States

Huntington Theatre Company in Boston presented a panel conversation about Mike Lew's Tiger Style! with Ma-Yi Writers Lab members livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv Sunday 16 October at 9 p.m. EDT (New York) / 8 p.m. CDT (Chicago) / 6 p.m. PDT (Los Angeles). Follow @HowlRoundTV on Twitter and share your thoughts with #howlround.

Essay

Claiming Our Narrative

2 October 2016

Emilya Cachapero, director of artistic and international programs at TCG, talks with playwright Victor Maog and Artistic Director of Mu Performing Arts Randy Reyes about being Pilipino theatre practitioners.

Video
Saturday 1 October to Wednesday 5 October 2016
Ashland, OR, United States

The Consortium of Asian American Theaters & Artists National Conference & Festival, hosted by The Oregon Shakespeare Festivallivestreamed on the global, commons-based peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv from Saturday 1 October to Wednesday 5 October 2016

Essay
1 October 2016

Director Lavina Jadhwani shares her experience as an Asian American director, advocating the need for more spaces and opportunities for Asian American theatre artists to collaborate together. 

Essay
12 September 2016

Playwright Cherry Lou Sy discusses Vineyard Theatre’s production of Indecent, reflecting on the culture of fear and the queer artists who have influenced her.

Essay

Orientalism in Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus

3 August 2016

Matt DiCintio explores the orientalism in Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

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