MediaRites Theatre Diaspora Presents Julia Cho's THE LANGUAGE ARCHIVE, Beginning Tonight

MediaRites, a nonprofit organization that provides innovative, award-winning radio, theatre and documentary programs, will produce The Language Archive, written by award-winning playwright and television writer, Julia Cho.

MediaRites' Theatre Diaspora produces staged readings focusing on Asian American identity and cultural issues, providing visibility and engaging audiences in insightful talkback discussions on cultural diversity. The Language Archive is a poignant comedy about a language archivist consumed with preserving and documenting the dying languages from far-flung countries. But closer to home, he can't communicate with his frustrated wife, nor deal with the deep feelings his lab assistant has for him.

Written by Julia Cho, an American playwright and television writer from Los Angeles of Korean descent, The Language Archive delves into the complexities of the heart. Dmae Roberts, executive producer of MediaRites directs the play, which will open at Portland Center Stage (today, March 26 at 2:00 pm; 128 NW Eleventh Avenue, Portland, OR 97209) and close at Milagro Theatre (April 2 at 2:00 pm; 525 SE Stark St., Portland, OR 97214).

The cast includes Tonya Jone Miller(previously in Breaking Glass); Leo Lin; Sofia May-Cuxim; Enrique E. Andrade; Wynee Hu (Theatre Diaspora producing ensemble member); singer/musician Partfait Bassalewho will narrate and provide musical performances in this staged reading.

Tickets are $8 and can be purchased atPCS.org for the March 26th 2pm show at Portland Center Stage
and at BrownPaperTickets.com (plus service charge) for the Milagro show on April 2nd 2pm at Milagro Theatre (www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2510978). $5 Arts For All (Oregon Trail Card) at the door.

"As a radio producer, I worked on a documentary in Kodiak Island, Alaska about efforts to preserve the Alutiiq language. The themes of dying languages and the importance to communicate with others are of prime importance to me," stated Dmae Roberts. "I saw The Language Archive at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in 2011 and fell in love with the witty writing and deeply human characters. I was equally surprised to find that the play's lead characters have rarely been performed by an Asian cast. I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to work with this talented cast for Theatre Diaspora."

Theatre Diaspora is Oregon's only professional Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI) theatre company, committed to portraying authentic AAPI cultural, historical, and social perspectives to reach broad audiences. By strongly advocating through compelling performances and post-show discussions, we are bridging communities to foster inclusion, social-awareness, and open conversations on race and cultural diversity - celebrating the AAPI experience. Theatre Diaspora is a project of MediaRites, an award-winning 501 (c) 3, non-profit multicultural production organization focused on cultural diversity by providing voices to the unheard. To learn more, visit the website: www.theatrediaspora.org.

Julia Cho is an American playwright and television writer who has won national awards for her work. She was born in Los Angeles, California, and is the daughter of Korean immigrants. Her plays include, The Language Archive, The Piano Teacher, Durango, The Winchester House, BFE, The Architecture of Loss and 99 Histories.She has been a resident playwright at New Dramatists since 2004. Her work has been produced at the Vineyard Theatre, The Public, South Coast Repertory, Long Wharf Theatre, Playwrights Horizons, New York Theatre Workshop, East West Players, Theatre @ Boston Court, and Silk Road Theatre Project, among others. Honors include the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, Barrie Stavis Award, the Claire Tow Award for Emerging Artists, and the L. Arnold Weissberger Award. Durango was also named one of the Top 10 Plays of 2006 by Entertainment Weekly and one of the Best of 2007 by the The L.A. Times. She is an alumna of the Juilliard School and NYU's Graduate Dramatic Writing Program.