Dear Yoko at Whitefire Theatre

Interview: Writer/Performer Anzu Lawson on the L.A. Debut of her Solo Show THE RUB

January 17, 2023

Anzu Lawson is gearing up to debut her second one-woman show, The Rub, inspired by her 30-minute single camera comedy pilot about her life as a stand-up comic who secretly pays her bills by being every Asian mother's worst nightmare... a masseuse. I first met Anzu when she was performing as Yoko Ono during the 2014 Hollywood Fringe Festival, a role she inhabits with her entire body, heart and soul. So it makes perfect sense that The Rub debuts on Yoko Ono’s 90th birthday on Saturday, February 18 at 8pm as part of Whitefire Theatre's Solofest 2023. Here's my interview with her about the show.

Debut Comedy THE RUB written and performed by Anzu Lawson announced at Whitefire Solofest 2023

January 10, 2023

​​​​​​​Anzu Lawson gears up to debut and perform her 2nd One Woman Show The Rub inspired by her 30 minute single camera comedy pilot “The Rub” about her life as a stand-up comic who secretly pays her bills by being every Asian mother's worst nightmare… a masseuse.

VERSATILE Comes to Theatre West in August

June 30, 2022

Versatile, the award-winning show, is an Official Selection of Solopalooza 2.022. Written and performed by Kevin Neighbors. Directed and developed by Jessica Lynn Johnson. Produced for Theatre West by Dina Morrone.

NATURALLY TAN Opening May 14 At ARTSpace Black Box Theatre

April 07, 2022

Told through the bold perspective of a vivacious drag queen named Tanvi, Naturally Tan follows Tanya Thomas' desperation to fit in as a minority in Singapore and her search for acceptance in America. Fueled by assimilation pains, Tanya delves into the heart of colorism that plagues the Asian diaspora, the complexities of racial identity, and the consequences of damaging beauty standards. Will Tanya hide behind her insecurities forever or will she embody her worth as a woman of color, mother, and artist?

POSTPARDON ME Comes to The Whitefire Theatre, February 17

February 01, 2022

Postpardon Me, a new one-woman show, written and performed by Liesel Hlista. Developed and directed by Jessica Lyyn Johnson comes to the Whitefire Theattre.

WORTH IT to be Presented at Santa Monica Playhouse

September 30, 2021

Worth It follows Casey, a talented songstress, who's content to sing back-up when life beckons her to take the lead! Raised to think penny-pinching is practical, her stinginess is spilling into unexpected areas of her life.

WORTH IT! Comes to Broadwater Black Box Next Month

July 24, 2021

Worth It follows Casey Dawning, a talented songstress, who's content to sing back-up when life beckons her to take the lead! Raised to think penny-pinching is practical, her stinginess is spilling into unexpected areas of her life. When Casey stumbles into a 'Bank of the Future', with vaults filled with conscientious cabaret singers instead of cash, she begins to question whether her self-worth is at the root of her net worth.

THE BOOK THAT WON'T CLOSE Comes to Broadwater Black Box Next Month

July 18, 2021

The Book That Won't Close: Confessions of a Love Addict will be performed in front of live audiences at Broadwater Black Box. It will also be livestreamed, so there will be that option for online audiences as well.

YES? NO? MAYBE SO? to be Presented in August at Broadwater Black Box

July 02, 2021

Catherine is a professional musician. One day, she goes to see a medical specialist to address a physical issue that affects her performance. Instead of comforting treatment, she experiences sexual harassment. What to do now? Turn him in to the authorities? Shrug it off?

VERSATILE Will Be Performed at the Broadwater Black Box in August

June 18, 2021

Versatile has been selected previously for the 2020 Black Voices Theatre Festival, the Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival's Hot Off the Press event (2020), the Whitefire Theatre's SoloFest 2021 (the largest solo performance festival on the West Coast), and was designated a Spotlight Production at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.

FORGETTING NOT FORGOTTEN Begins November 6 at Whitefire Theatre

October 22, 2020

Forgetting, Not Forgotten. A multimedia virtual show (presented online) livestreamed from the Whitefire Theatre in Sherman Oaks. An official selection of the Black Voices Festival.

BWW Spotlight Series: Meet Anzu Lawson - Asian-American Actress, Playwright, Stand-Up Comic, and Yoko Ono Doppelganger

March 25, 2020

With the current theatre world on hiatus, I have created a Spotlight Series of interviews with some of am the many talented artists who make our Los Angeles theatre community so exciting and vibrant thanks to their ongoing contribution to keeping the arts alive in the City of the Angels. And like all of us, how are they dealing with the abrupt end of productions in which they were involved? This Spotlight focuses on Anzu Lawson, an Asian-American Actress, Playwright, Stand-Up Comic, and Yoko Ono doppelganger who I first met during the 2014 Hollywood Fringe Festival.

SOLOFEST 2020 Announces February Shows at the Whitefire Theatre

February 02, 2020

The Whitefire Theatre presents SOLOFEST 2020, the largest solo theater festival on the West Coast. Now in its 8th year, SOLOFEST 2020 brings 80 shows in 90 days celebrating solo artists from around the globe a?' each story-teller sharing their compelling and often unusual take on life. SOLOFEST 2020 will run January 4 a?' March 28.

DEAR YOKO Opens At Whitefire Theatre On February 2

December 05, 2019

Following successful 2019 engagements at the Whitefire Theatre and Santa Monica Playhouse, the acclaimed show Dear Yoko returns to the Whitefire Theatre for a single performance as part of the Whitefire's Solofest 2020. Anzu Lawson (who plays Ashley Kim on NBC's Chicago Med) is an Asian-American actress who grew up in Southern California in a broken family.

Review: Anzu Lawson Opens Her Heart and Shares Her Soul in DEAR YOKO

August 27, 2019

I was unaware of how Anzu's personal history inspired Ono's spirit to speak so directly to her until I was in the audience at her World Premiere solo show, DEAR YOKO, in which Anzu opened her heart and soul as she revealed how her personal history of non-acceptance as an Asian woman and her overwhelming depression was turned around when she discovered Ono as she studied her story and writings. During her 90-minute performance, directed by Jessica Lynn Johnson at the Whitefire Theatre, Anzu not only portrayed Ono with her signature dialect, hat and sunglasses, but also personal family members, rock musicians she met while touring as a singer/songwriter, agents and entertainment moguls who brought on the need for the #MeToo movement, and others who assisted her in turning her life around and accepting herself as the person she really was meant to be. And that road was never easy but so worth the journey.