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STAGED
READINGS & PLAY DEVELOPMENT LABS |
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3 PLAY DEVELOPMENT/PREVIEW READINGS 2011 |
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Pan Asian continues its tradition of fostering emerging Asian American Artists and new works with their Staged Readings play development series. Pan Asian Rep has selected three plays by emerging Asian-American playwrights. Each play will be guided by Artistic Associates Ron Nakahara and Ernest Abuba, culminating in staged public readings. |
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Window Shadows
by Brian Faizul Khan
Directed by Count Stovall
October 10th, 2011 in the Bruce Mitchell Room
(520 8th Ave, 3rd floor) at 7:00pm
An inter-racial couple struggle to come to terms with their fears and their lives.
Sharon is traumatized by an earthquake and wants a baby before it’s too late. Daniel wants his degree so he won’t be like his father with nothing at the end of his life. “There is no greater fear than fear itself.”
Brian Faizul Khan: appeared On Broadway in Comedians directed by Mike Nichols and Meeting by the River directed by Albie Marre; Off-Bdway, he was the Samurai in Rashomon and Gilgamesh in Gilgamesh. He co-Starred in the EMMY winning WQED-TV series Leatherstocking Tales “Last of the Mohicans” as Magwah in addition to spending a full season of repertory at Arena Stage, and appeared in many Off-Off-Bway shows. He has been away from the theatre since 1980, and only recently returned. As a playwright, he was awarded NEA Creative Writing Fellowship for his first play, The Shanty, which was produced at Theatre at St. Clements, and optioned for Broadway. Since June 2010, he has completed four new plays, Jolly Roger, Window Shadows, The Roti Shop- a West Indian Deli and Caviar with Rice and Beans-an Immigrant’s Journey. He continues writing novels and plays.
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A Dream of Red Pavilions
by Jeremy Tiang
Directed by Lu Yu
December 2nd, 2011 in the Bruce Mitchell Room
(520 8th Ave, 3rd floor) at 7:00pm
A tragic love story of two beings from the spirit world based on the classic Chinese novel by Cao Xueqin, Dream of the Red Chamber. Set in pre-Revolution 18th-Century China it traces the rise and fall of the aristocratic Jia family, exploring wealth, poverty, corruption and guilt, steeped in Buddhism.
Jeremy Tiang: trained as an actor at Drama Centre London after reading English at Oxford. A Dream of Red Pavilions was written with the support of London's Yellow Earth Theatre, and first given a staged reading at London’s Soho Theatre studio. Other work for the stage includes Polyglottalstop (Tabard Theatre, London), godshaped hole (Tristan Bates reading) and Operation Opera (Esplanade, Singapore). He has translated from the Chinese Quah Sy Ren’s The Assassin, the Medium and the Massage Girl, Han Lao Da’s Floathouse 1001 and Yeng Pway Ngon’s Bronze Statue. Jeremy won Singapore’s Golden Point Award 2009 for his short story Trondheim, and has just completed his first novel, MacDonald House. He recently attended the International Writing Program at the University of Iowa. His work as a performer includes Peace Pagoda (Royal Opera House), Jingo (Finborough) and the Bollywood film Show Man. www.JeremyTiang.com
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Three Trees
by Alvin Eng
Directed by Kaipo Schwab
December 14th, 2011 in the Bruce Mitchell Room
(520 8th Ave, 3rd floor) at 7:00pm
Three Trees is a poetic, philosophical rumination about the relationship between sculptor Alberto Giacometti, his muse/model, Japanese existential philosopher Isaku Yanaihara, and Giacometti’s wife Annette. Alvin Eng was last seen at Pan Asian Rep’s 2005 Two Nights Only series with The Last Emperor of Flushing.
Last summer, Alvin was a Fulbright Specialist in Theatre/U.S. Studies at City University of Hong Kong. There, he taught a playwriting and performance workshop, “Our Town: HK/USA," with his wife, producer/director/actress, Wendy Wasdahl. In July, he made his Asian debut performing his memoir monologue play, The Last Emperor of Flushing (LEOF) at XiaoZhou People’s Hall in his family’s ancestral Guangdong Province, China. In “Emperor persona” he gave a commentary on NPR’s All Things Considered. LEOF excerpts were published in Performing Arts Journal (MIT Press). Alvin developed LEOF with Pan Asian Rep. and an Urban Artist Initiative/NYFA grant. He is thrilled to be working with Pan Asian again on Three Trees, his historical drama that explores the relationship between sculptor Alberto Giacometti and his muse-model, Japanese existentialist philosopher, Isaku Yanaihara. It is also the first work of ART/PLAYS, a trilogy of historical dramas that Eng is writing about artists and the nature of portraiture. www.alvineng.com |
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The three play readings are free and open to the public, with suggested donation of $10 collected at the door.
For reservations and more information email info@PanAsianRep.org or call 212-868-4030.
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3 PLAY DEVELOPMENT/PREVIEW READINGS 2010 |

Minh Ngoc Nguyen

Adeline Yen Mah

Anne Noelani Miyamoto
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at 520 Eighth
Avenue
(btw 36th and 37th Streets)
Third Floor, in the Bruce Mitchell Room |
WE ARE
written and directed by Nguyen thi Minh Ngoc
Preview of selected scenes of a new play by the creator of THE MISSING
WOMAN, part of Pan Asian Rep’s Vietnam Project II.
Starring Daniel Le, Nguyen thi Minh Ngoc
Nguyen thi Minh Phuong, Viet Nguyen,
Tiffany Rothman, Jennifer Ha Thanh, Chantal Thuy and Tran T Thuc
Hanh
Reading Sat Oct 16 at 7pm
FALLING LEAVES
by Adeline Yen Mah, directed by Tina Chen
A Chinese Cinderella story - Born to the successful Yen family of
pre-revolution Shanghai and Tianjin, but outcast from her family
after her mother’s death, the play focuses on two pivotal
meetings in 1988 and 1990 of the four older siblings as they struggle
for answers and closure to events of the past.
Starring Raul Aranas, Nancy Eng, Ariel Estrada,
Ming Lee and Rosanne Ma Readings Fri Nov 12 at 7pm
& Sat Nov 13 at 3pm
AIR & ANGELS written and directed
by Anne Noelani Miyamoto
The ghost of Jack Mana visits his long-neglected wife, with just
one day left to redeem himself.
Starring Nancy Eng, Kaipo Schwab and Keoni Scott
Readings Thu Dec 2 & Fri Dec 3 at 7pm
$10 suggested donation, collected at the door
Call Pan Asian Rep, 212-868-4030, to reserve a seat or for more
information |
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Development Lab Playwright bios:
Nguyen thi Minh Ngoc is a theatre director, writer,
playwright, theatrical professor, and principal of Tran Huu Trang
Theater (a traditional arts training school), journalist and co-founder
of Small Theatre, an initiative to reinvigorate the performing arts
in Vietnam. She has written and directed many plays and screenplays,
including THE MISSING WOMAN (Pan Asian Rep), HAI NGUYET, which won
the “A” prize of the National Cinema Association and
was shown at the 3 Continents Festival in Nantes, France 1998, and
the upcoming Vietnamese feature film that will be internationally
released, “Oriental Pearls.”
Adeline Yen Mah was born in Tianjin, China. While
living in Hong Kong, she won an international writing competition
at the age of fourteen. She graduated as a physician from London
Hospital Medical School, where she specialized in anesthesiology.
Her first book, Falling Leaves, published in 1997, was
a London Times and New York Times best-seller and was translated
into eighteen languages. Her second book was a children’s
book titled Chinese Cinderella, which received an award
from Children’s Literature Council of Southern California
for Compelling Autobiography. She has also written Watching
the Tree, A Thousand Pieces of Gold and a book on Chinese history
for young adults titled China: Land of Dragons and Emperors.
Adeline Yen Mah lives with husband in California and London, England.
Anne Noelani Miyamoto is a playwright, director
and actress. Awards include the 2010 Gurfein Fellowship from Sarah
Lawrence College and the Writing Institute; her play THE MANGO
TREE won the 2009 Hawai’i Playwriting Prize and FEETS
won the 2008 15th Annual NJ Wordsmith Competition. While living
in Edinburgh, she was awarded film script development grants from
the Scottish Film Trust and the Edinburgh Film Workshop Trust and
was selected to participate in Scotland’s national film writer’s
conference with the BBC. Her newest play, AIR AND ANGELS
was part Pan Asian Rep’s NEWWORKS 2010 in March and had a
reading at the Marblehead Theatre, MA, this past summer. She was
awarded writing fellowships to residences at Yaddo, Ragdale, The
Virginia Center for the Creative Arts and Columbia University. |
DECEMBER READINGS 2009 |
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at 520 Eighth Avenue
(btw 36th and 37th Streets)
Third Floor, in the Bruce Mitchell Room |
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Friday December 11 at 7:00
pm
RANGOON
By Mayank P. Keshaviah
Directed by Kaipo Schwab
(followed by Q&A and Reception)
This is a brand-new, contemporary play that spans from the Bible
belt to Rangoon, Burma. A family of Indian immigrants must deal
with seductions of American life, while trying to keep its heritage
and a compelling family story alive. RANGOON is both
funny and tragic—it is a quintessential 21st century American
tale.
Tuesday December 15 at 7:00pm
NEWS TO A MUSE
By Richard Chang
(followed by Q&A and reception)
"A Farcedy of Terrors" – Five journalists are
trapped in a short-staffed newsroom during a freak storm and an
epic financial crisis that threatens to destroy the world. A suspected
terrorist attack drives the staff to seek safety in the ladies’
restroom where their individual closets are exposed and the truth
is bared.
Friday December 18 at 7:00pm
"CHING CHONG CHINAMAN"
By Lauren Yee
Directed by May Adrales
(followed by Holiday Party)
The Wongs are your average American family, but their lives change
when a mysterious servant from China arrives in their home. “Ching
Chong” is anything but clueless and is about to dance his
way to Stardom and the American Dream!
RSVP by calling 212-868-4030 or emailing info@panasianrep.org
$10 suggested donation, collected at door |
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MAYANK
KESHAVIAH (Playwright, RANGOON) is a Los Angeles-based
playwright and screenwriter. Prior to moving to L.A. in 2005,
he served on the board of South Asian Theatre Arts Guild Experiment
(STAGE) in Washington, D.C. As part of STAGE, he directed REARRANGED
MARRIAGE and PSYCHO for the annual South Asian Literary and Theatre
Arts Festival (SALTAF). He also assistant directed LENNY &
LOU, which opened Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company's 25th Anniversary
season. Since moving to Los Angeles, Mayank has worked as the
Literary Intern on the world premiere of LEWIS AND CLARK REACH
THE EUPHRATES at the Mark Taper Forum and in the Literary Department
of Center Theatre Group. In 2007, his play THOSE WHO CAN'T received
a workshop production as part of the USC School of Theatre’s
Blueprints festival, and in 2008, his thesis play RANGOON was
given a staged reading as part of the Under Construction festival
of graduate playwrights.
KAIPO SCHWAB (Director, RANGOON)
is an actor/director who has previously worked with Pan Asian
Rep directing THE MANGO TREE, which was part of 2 + 3 NIGHTS ONLY,
and starring in the title role of SHOGUN MACBETH in 2008. He has
also worked with The Roundabout, Manhattan Theatre Club, The Public
Theatre, Second Stage, Playwrights Horizons, The New York Theatre
Workshop, Hartford Stage Company, Cincinnati Playhouse in the
Park. Mr. Schwab is a New York Theatre Workshop Usual Suspect
and the Artistic Director of the Imua! Theatre & Film Company.
RICHARD CHANG (Playwright, NEWS TO
A MUSE) has appeared in the New York Fringe Festival, Midtown
Theatre Festival, Chinese Theatre Works, and Goodwin Theater,
among others. His one-man show, GOY VEY! ADVENTURES OF A DIM SUN
IN SEARCH OF HIS WANTON FATHER, developed within Pan Asian's workshop
program and produced in full in 2002, was hailed by the Jewish
Telegraph (UK) in a review headlined "The Greatest Show in
Festival's History" at the 2007 Leeds Jewish International
Performing Arts Festival. Richard can be seen in the film “New
York, I Love You,” currently in theatres. He stars in "No
Menus Please", an independent short which was shown on PBS-TV
nationwide in February. Richard is a 2008 Fellow recipient from
the Urban Artist Initiative/New York City.
LINDA BURSON (Director, NEWS TO A
MUSE), Stage Directors & Choreographers Society, National
Theatre Conference, has directed over 250 productions throughout
the world, including Richard Chang's GOY VEY! - the "Best
Production in History" of Leeds (England) Jewish International
Performing Arts Festival. Among "Best Director" awards:
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (NJ), SCAPINO! (KY), THAT CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON
(NY). Selected venues: Lincoln Center, International Fringe, CSC,
Primary Stages, New Day Rep, East Lynne Theatre, Albuquerque Civic
Light Opera, Chatham, Count Basie, Millbrook Playhouse. Honors
include: Distinguished Women of American Theatre, Who's Who in
Entertainment, Outstanding People of the 20th Century, International
Who's Who of Professionals.
LAUREN YEE (Playwright, CHING
CHONG CHINAMAN) is the recipient of a 2009 MacDowell
Colony residency, a member of the 2009 Public Theater Emerging
Writers Group, and a 2008/09 Dramatists Guild fellow. She was
also a finalist for the Jerome Fellowship, the PONY Fellowship,
the Djerassi Resident Artists Program, the Jane Chambers Playwriting
Award, and the Humana Festival’s Heideman Award. Lauren
has received fellowships from the American Antiquarian Society,
the Byrdcliffe Artist Colony, the Edward Albee Foundation, the
Hawthornden International Retreat for Writers, the New York Mills
Arts Retreat; commissions from the Bay Area Playwrights Festival,
the O’Neill Studio at Yale, and PlayGround; and funding
from the Ludwig Vogelstein Foundation and Theatre Bay Area. Other
awards include Kumu Kahua Theatre’s 2007 Pacific Rim Prize
and the 2007 Yale Playwrights Festival. Lauren is a member of
the Dramatists Guild and a recent graduate of Yale University.
She is currently pursuing her MFA in playwriting at UCSD.
MAY ADRALES (Director, CHING
CHONG CHINAMAN) has directed and developed work at Williamstown
Theater Festival; The Public Theater; Second Stage Theatre; New
York Theater Workshop; The Hangar Theatre; Long Wharf Theatre;
Midtown International Theater Festival (Best Solo Show); Partial
Comfort Productions (Time Out NY Critic Pick); New Jersey Repertory;
Ensemble Studio Theater; New York University, Bard College, Fordham
University and The New York International Fringe Festival. Awards:
SSDC Denham Fellowship; Williamstown Theater Festival's Bill Foeller
Fellowship; Van Lier Directing Fellowship, New York Theatre Workshop
Directing Fellowship, SDCF Observership, and Drama League Directing
Fellowship. She is an alumnus of the SoHo Rep Writers/Director's
Lab and Women's Project Directors Lab and former Artistic Associate
at The Public Theater. Currently, May is in residence at The Lark
Play Development Center as the recipient of the TCG New Generations
Grant. Faculty, Public Theater Shakespeare Lab. MFA, Yale School
of Drama, directing. |
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DECEMBER READINGS 2008
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at the
Julia Miles Theater
424 W. 55th St (between 9th and 10th) |
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Suggested Donation $10
Wednesday, December 10, 7:00pm
VOICES FROM OKINAWA
By Jon Shirota
Directed by Regge Life
With Calvin Ahn, Claro Austria, Chris Doi,
Nadia Gan, Akiko Hiroshima, Yoko Hyun,
Karen Tsen Lee and Ken Park
Followed by Q&A and wine and nosh in lobby
Friday, December 12, 7:00pm
DAPHNE DOES DIM SUM (MAI DAN!)
By Eugenie Chan
Directed by Ron Nakahara
With Wai Ching Ho, Glenn Kubota,
Claro de los Reyes, Bea Soong and Henry Yuk
Followed by Holiday Party in lobby
To RSVP please email info@panasianrep.org
Or call 212/868-4030
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JON SHIROTA
(Playwright, Voices from Okinawa) was
born and raised on Maui, Hawaii. He is the author of two novels,
Lucky Come Hawaii and Pineapple White which
were both adapted into award winning plays. Among his many grants/
awards, Mr. Shirota received a creative Artists Exchange Fellowship
from the Japan/US Friendship Commission and the National Endowment
for the Arts (2005). The idea for Voices From Okinawa
originated at an American literature class he was lecturing at
the University of the Ryukyus.
REGGE LIFE (Director, Voices from Okinawa)
is pleased to be directing for Pan Asian Repertory Theatre. Recent
credits include Ghosts for the Pearl Theater, A Piano
Lesson for Virginia Stage, Second Line for the Passage
Theater, and Little Women for Cornell University. Mr.
Life was a Fullbright Journalist fellow in Okinawa where he met
playwright Jon Shirota. Mr. Life has lived and worked in Japan
receiving two Japan Foundation grants for his continuing work
in developing Okinawan literature for screen and stage.
EUGENIE CHAN (Playwright, Daphne Does Dim Sum)
is a 4th generation San Franciscan. Her work has been produced
or developed at the Public Theatre, Playwrights Horizons, Ma-Yi
Theatre, Pan Asian Rep, and Centenary Stage; on the West
Coast at the Bay Area Playwrights Festival, the Northwest Asian
American Theatre, the Group Theatre, and East West Players. She
has received commissions from the San Francisco and Wallace Foundations,
and the Magic Theatre/Sloan Science Initiative. Eugenie is a resident
playwright at New Dramatists and the Playwrights Foundation. She
holds a B.A. in Literature from Yale and an M.F.A. from NYU’s
Dramatic Writing program.
RON NAKAHARA (Director, Daphne Does Dim Sum)
is Artistic Associate with Pan Asian Repertory Theatre and has
directed, and acted in, numerous plays for the company. Notable
productions at Pan Asian Rep include: The Legacy Codes, Rashomon,
Forbidden City Blues, Aloha Las Vegas, Carry the Tiger to the
Mountain, Private Lives, and The Teahouse of the August
Moon, and most recently, Shogun Macbeth. He has
worked at various NYC theatres including The Second Stage Theatre,
NYSF/Public Theatre, LaMaMa, ETC., NAATCO, Ma-Yi Theatre, and
Ensemble Studio Theatre. |
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December
Readings 2007 |
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Wednesday December 5, 7:00pm
THE SECRET OF O SONO – by Elsa Okon Rael
Directed by Ron Nakahara
Improvised Music by Jason Hwang
With John Baray, Paul Keoni Chun,
Chris Doi, Emi Fujinami Jones,
Wai Ching Ho, Carol Honda, David Ige, Shigeko Suga, Henry Yuk
O-Sono’s spirit cannot rest in fear her secret will be revealed.
This play, based loosely on a 17th C. Japanese folk tale collected
by Lafcadio Hearn, is composed in English using Haiku, linked-renga
and choka forms of Japanese poetry.
Wednesday December 12, 7:00pm DUMPLING – by Wesley Du
Directed by Nelson T. Eusebio III
With Claro Austria, Louis Changchien, Chris Doi, Glenn Kubota, Ron
Nakahara, Bea Soong
Daniel, a battle-scarred warrior who came into the world fist-first,
must try and protect his son, Less, from the evils of MASH, poorly
made dumplings and his mother. A heartbreaking comedy about family,
friends and the fights that bind us together.
Friday December 14, 7:00pm
Scenes from THE MISSING WOMAN
Written and directed by
Nguyen Thi Minh Ngoc
With Tiffany Rothman, Hanh T. Thuc Tran, Nguyen Thi Minh Ngoc, Giovanni
Sferrazza and John Nguyen (Vu)
A painter yearns for his subject matter who comes to life Performed
in Vietnamese and English
Q&A Session with Artists, Wine and Hors D’oeuvres follow each reading
Christmas Party on December 14! |
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