About the Theatre
EWP was founded by nine Asian American artists (Mako, Rae Creevey, Beulah Quo, Soon-Tek Oh, James Hong, Pat Li, June Kim, Guy Lee, and Yet Lock) seeking to create roles beyond the stereotypical parts they were offered in mainstream Hollywood. In 1998, EWP Artistic Director Tim Dang led the company’s move from a 99-seat Equity Waiver “black box” theatre into a new 240-seat venue at an Actors Equity Association contract level. EWP’s main stage is the David Henry Hwang Theater, housed within the Union Center for the Arts in downtown Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo district. The theater serves more than 25,000 people each year, and has become a creative center in this historically significant setting. When Dang retired in 2016, his successor Snehal Desai was appointed to guide East West Players into a new wave of artistic leadership. Desai has committed to steering the work of East West Players with an intersectional focus that further unveils the diversity of Asian Pacific identities as portrayed on stage.RELATED STORIES
Updated FLOWER DRUM SONG and More Set For East West Players' 60th Anniversary Season
by Stephi Wild - December 10, 2024
East West Players has announced its 60th Anniversary Diamond Legacy Season, helmed by recently appointed Artistic Director Lily Tung Crystal. Learn more about the lineup here!...
Latest Standings Announced For The 2024 BWW Los Angeles Awards
by BWW Awards - December 09, 2024
Don't miss your chance to vote for the 2024 BroadwayWorld Los Angeles Awards! Voting ends on 12/31 at midnight. Don't miss out on making sure that your favorite theatres, stars, and shows get the recognition they deserve!...
First Standings Announced For The 2024 BWW Los Angeles Awards
by BWW Awards - December 02, 2024
Check out the first stats for the 2024 BroadwayWorld Los Angeles Awards! Voting ends on 12/31 at midnight. Don't miss out on making sure that your favorite theatres, stars, and shows get the recognition they deserve!...
Interview: The Ageless Gedde Watanabe Returns to PACIFIC OVERTURES After 48 Years
by Gil Kaan - November 11, 2024
Stephen Sondheim’s Pacific Overtures has just opened at the East West Players. Former EWP Artistic director Tim Dang returns to direct the cast led by Jon Jon Briones and Gedde Watanabe with Scott Keiji Takeda, Brian Kim McCormick, Adam Kaokept, Kerry K. Carnahan, Ashley En-Fu Matthews, Kavin Panmee...
Jon Jon Briones and Gedde Watanabe Lead PACIFIC OVERTURES At East West Players
by A.A. Cristi - October 01, 2024
East West Players announced the cast for the upcoming production of PACIFIC OVERTURES, set to return to the stage. The production will feature a talented ensemble bringing this classic musical to life....
Jaime Barcelon To Perform Live at The Gardenia This October
by A.A. Cristi - August 21, 2024
Jaime Barcelon is set to perform live at The Gardenia, showcasing his vocal talents in an intimate setting. Don't miss this special event featuring a range of musical selections....
East West Players' ON THIS SIDE OF THE WORLD Cast Recording Available Now
by Stephi Wild - June 06, 2024
East West Players has released the World Premiere Cast Recording of the soaring new musical, On This Side of the World.
...
Rising Phoenix Repertory Announces Lina Patel As The Recipient Of The Cornelia Street American Playwriting Award
by A.A. Cristi - May 23, 2024
Lina Patel wins the Cornelia Street Playwriting Award for 2024, recognizing her outstanding contributions to contemporary theater....
East West Players Name Lily Tung Crystal As New Artistic Director
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 15, 2024
Lily Tung Crystal has been appointed as the new Artistic Director of East West Players. Learn more about Tung and about the theatre....
Cast Set for UNBROKEN BLOSSOMS at East West Players
by Chloe Rabinowitz - April 17, 2024
East West Players will present Unbroken Blossoms, by Philip W. Chung and directed by Jeff Liu. See who is starring and learn how to purchase tickets....
Past Shows
Pacific Overtures
11/7 - 12/1/2024
Pacific Overtures The 2024 Season culminates with the Tony Award winning musical Pacific Overtures, with music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by John Weidman, ...
On This Side of the World
5/11 - 6/4/2023
On This Side of the World Music & Lyrics by Paulo K Tiról Created with & Directed by Noam Shapiro A World Premiere Musical ...
The Brothers Paranormal
11/17 - 12/11/2022
Two Thai brothers–one born in Thailand and the other in the American Midwest–struggle to launch a ghost-hunting business when they are called to investigate the ...
Interstate: A New Musical
6/2 - 6/26/2022
INTERSTATE is an Asian-American pop-rock poetry musical that follows Dash, a transgender spoken word performer who becomes internet-famous along with his best friend Adrian, a ...
ASSASSINS
2/17 - 3/20/2022
A darkly comic Tony-award winner that examines the motives of the nine notorious Americans who took their shot at the President of the United States, ...
The Sitayana (or "How To Make An Exit")
9/25 - 10/17/2021
The Sitayana (Or How To Make An Exit) is an artful transposition of the Hindu epic The Ramayana told from Sitas point of view. Part ...
1 Hour Photo
6/12 - 6/20/2021
East West Players (EWP), the nations largest producer of Asian American theatrical works, is proud to present Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre (vAct)s 1 Hour Photo, ...
East West Players is excited to present multiple GRAMMY-winning musician Daniel Ho in concert on December 19th. Enjoy an evening of Aloha spirit with Daniels ...
Crazy Talented Asians
12/13
East West Players, the nations premiere Asian American theatre organization, is partnering up with online musician AJ Rafael for Crazy Talented Asians, a concert series ...
Assassins
3/12 - 4/5/2020
A multiple Tony Award-winning theatrical tour-de-force, Assassins combines Sondheim's signature blend of intelligently stunning lyrics and beautiful music with a panoramic story of our nation's ...
Sugar Plum Fairy
12/5 - 12/22/2019
The Madwoman in the Volvo is back—and Scrooge isn’t the only one bitter about the holidays! With signature irreverence, NPR superstar Sandra Tsing Loh recounts ...
The Great Leap
11/10 - 12/1/2019
Lauren Yee; dir: BD Wong....
Hannah and the Dread Gazebo
8/17 - 9/22/2019
Jiehae Park; dir: Chay Yew. Thomas Theatre:...
MAMMA MIA!
5/9 - 6/23/2019
MAMMA MIA! is the ultimate feel–good show that has audiences coming back again and again to relive the thrill. Now it's your turn to have ...
MAMMA MIA!
5/9 - 6/9/2019
MAMMA MIA! is the ultimate feel–good show that has audiences coming back again and again to relive the thrill. Now it's your turn to have ...
Man of God
1/31 - 2/24/2019
David Henry Hwang Theater: Anna Moench; dir: Jesca Prudencio....
Allegiance
2/21 - 4/1/2018
East Coast Regional Premiere! Inspired by the true childhood experience of actor and social media icon George Takei (Mr. Sulu on "Star Trek"), ALLEGIANCE tells ...
Yohen
10/26 - 11/19/2017
Philip Kan Gotanda; dir: Ben Guillory....
NEXT TO NORMAL
5/11 - 6/11/2017
Next to Normal delves into the raw and complex world of mental illness, specifically focusing on bipolar disorder. The story centers around Diana, a wife ...
Free Outgoing
2/9 - 3/12/2017
Anupama Chandrasekhar; dir: Snehal Desai. David Henry Hwang Theater:...
Kentucky
11/10 - 12/11/2016
Leah Nanako Winkler; dir: Deena Selenow....
Kentucky
11/10 - 12/11/2016
Leah Nanako Winkler; dir: Deena Selenow....
La Cage Aux Folles
5/12 - 6/26/2016
Harvey Fierstein; book: Jean Poiret; lyrics: Jerry Herman; music: Jerry Herman; dir: Tim Dang....
Chinglish
12/3 - 12/13/2015
Chinglish – Back by Popular Demand! By David Henry Hwang Directed by Jeff Liu December 3, 2015 – December 13, 2015 “CRITIC’S CHOICE!…deliriously funny, deliciously ...
THE WHO'S TOMMY
5/7 - 6/7/2015
The Who's Tommy is a rock musical bursting with energy, based on the iconic 1969 rock opera album of the same name by The Who. ...
Washer/Dryer
2/12 - 3/15/2015
Nandita Shenoy....
A Nice Indian Boy
2/20 - 3/23/2014
David Henry Hwang Theater: Madhuri Shekar; dir: Snehal Desai....
The Nisei Widows Club: How Tomi Got Her Groove Back
11/7 - 12/8/2013
David Henry Hwang Theater: Betty Tokudani; dir: Amy Hill....
Steel Magnolias
9/5 - 10/6/2013
The action is set in Truvy’s beauty salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana, where all the ladies who are “anybody” come to have their hair done. Helped ...
Chess
5/9 - 6/9/2013
East West Players: - Benny Andersson, Bjorn Ulvaeus; lyrics: Tim Rice; dir: Tim Dang....
Christmas in Hanoi
2/7 - 3/10/2013
East West Players: - Eddie Borey; dir: Jeff Liu....
A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC
5/10 - 6/24/2012
One of Broadway?s most neglected masterpieces, the romantic and achingly beautiful ?A Little Night Music? deals with the universal subject of love, in all its ...
A Little Night Music
5/10 - 6/10/2012
Three Year Swim Club
2/9 - 3/11/2012
THREE YEAR SWIM CLUB is inspired by the true life story of Soichi Sakamoto, who trained the youth of Maui to swim in the plantation ...
The Language Archive
11/3 - 12/4/2011
A Widow of No Importance
9/8 - 10/9/2011
Videos
 |
It's All Your Fault, Tyler Price!
The Hudson Theatre (11/7 - 12/15) | |
 |
New Year's Eve with D-Nice & Friends
Walt Disney Concert Hall (12/31 - 12/31) | |
 |
Chanticleer Deck the Hall Holiday Concerts
Walt Disney Concert Hall (12/17 - 12/17) | |
 |
Arturo Sandoval: Swinging Holiday - Deck the Hall Holiday Concerts
Walt Disney Concert Hall (12/23 - 12/23) | |
|
Chamber Music & Wine: Mendelssohn's Octet
Walt Disney Concert Hall (4/22 - 4/22) | |
|
Gil Scott-Heron Bluesology
Willie Agee Playhouse (3/28 - 5/27) | |
|
Magic at the Biltmore with David Minkin
The Biltmore Los Angeles (7/20 - 7/19)
PHOTOS
| |
|
Chrome Hearts
Chrome Hearts (11/10 - 5/21) | ||
|
Samora Pinderhughes
Bram Goldsmith Theater at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts (12/15 - 12/15) | |
| VIEW SHOWS ADD A SHOW | ||
Recommended For You
Get Los Angeles's #1 Newsletter
Get the best news & discounts for Los Angeles & beyond.
