Jeanne Sakata News

The story of Gordon Hirabayashi's five-decade struggle for justice for the forced detention of Japanese-Americans during WWII is powerfully recreated in Jeanne Sakata's lovingly researched historical drama buoyed by a stellar performance by Jomar Tagatac.

San Francisco Playhouse  announced its return to in-person performances with fully staged productions of Hold These Truths by Jeanne Sakata, The Song of Summer by Lauren Yee, and Starting Here, Starting Now by Richard Maltby, Jr. and David Shire. All three productions will also be available as on-demand video streams for audiences to enjoy at home.

In sync with Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, L.A. Theatre Works will be releasing two audio theater recordings about the horrific Japanese American experience during World War II - Jeanne Sakata’s FOR US ALL and Ken Narasaki’s NO-NO BOY. FOR US ALL’s available for purchase now, with NO-NO BOY on May 15, 2021. Anna Lyse Erikson directs both show’s large ensemble casts, with Greg Watanabe voicing the lead characters in both.

Thanks to the support made possible by the Federal Government and additional funding raised through the community, Virginia Stage Company is putting artists back to work.

San Francisco Playhouse announced its return to in-person performances with a fully staged production of Hold These Truths by Jeanne Sakata, directed by Jeffrey Lo.

L.A. Theatre Works has announced two new state-of-the-art audio theater recordings about the Japanese-American experience.

Be An #ArtsHero & The Dramatists Guild of America released brand new “Dear Mr. President and Madam Vice President” letters as part of ARTS WORKERS UNITE: 100 Days of Art and Activism, to make Arts & Culture Workers a legislative and economic priority.  Additional playwrights include John Leguizamo, Martyna Majok, Jeanne Sakata and Stephen Flaherty.

The Drama League has announced the formation of its first Directors Council, featuring nationally-renowned directors Daniel Banks, Melia Bensussen, Christopher Burris, Jillian Carucci, Jennifer Chang, Desdemona Chiang, R.J. Cutler, Estefanía Fadul, Raz Golden, Brian Eugenio Herrera, Adam Immerwahr, Gwynn MacDonald, Tony Phelan and more.

L.A. Theatre Works has announced a 2020-21 Digital Season of nine plays. All plays in the 2020-21 season are being recorded in-studio, using state-of-the-art technology. L.A. Theatre Works is the world's leading producer of audio theater. Each of the recordings will include bonus features, such as interviews with the playwrights and more.

@cvrep Theater Thursday features a conversation between Ron Celona and @JeanneSakata 11/5/2020

A legion of fans and supporters of TheatreWorks Silicon Valley gathered online Saturday, October 17 for TheatreWorks's first-ever virtual gala, From TheatreWorks with Love: A Party with Bond… Tim Bond, a 007-themed event that celebrated new Artistic Director Tim Bond as he begins his tenure at the Tony Award-winning theatre company.

Under Artistic Director Tim Bonda??s leadership, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley has just launched an ambitious new online initiative entitled Voices of Democracy, with the intention of encouraging audiences to get out the vote and stand up for racial justice. Leading up to the 2020 election, Voices of Democracy offers digital theatrical experiences that celebrate diverse voices and build a bridge from empathy to action, including plays, poetry, and curated quotes that shine a light on pressing issues during this election year. It will also feature an interview with Tony Award winner & TheatreWorks alum James Monroe Iglehart (Broadwaya??s Aladdin and Hamilton). BroadwayWorld recently caught up with Tim Bond to learn more about Voices of Democracy and his own history before coming to TheatreWorks. Bond is a fascinating guy to talk to so our conversation took all kinds of interesting twists and turns. A true people person, he is especially committed to using theater to build community and effect change. In conversation, he often takes his time to respond to questions and is apt to speak in complex sentences that show a great deal of thought. He is not someone who needs to shout to make his voice heard and frequently leavens his responses with gentle laughter. At once brainy and comfortable expressing his emotions, Bond is clearly a person of heart and mind.

Voyage Theater Company/PARTS UNKNOWN Play Reading Series will present a staged reading via Zoom of THE DAY MY FATHER KILLED ME by Charlotte Boimare and Magali Solignat, translated by Amelia Parenteau, and directed by Lisa Rothe, Thursday, October 22 at 6pm. Please RSVP here.

TheatreWorks Silicon Valley encourages its audiences to a?oeget out the votea?? and stand up for racial justice as it launches a new online initiative entitled Voices of Democracy. Part of TheatreWorks from Home, a virtual stage for the Tony Award-winning theatre while in-person performances are on hold during the pandemic, Voices of Democracy offers digital theatrical experiences that celebrate diverse voices and build a bridge from empathy to action.

TheatreWorks Silicon Valley is now streaming Jeanne Sakata's Hold These Truths, filmed during the 2018 TheatreWorks production. Presented as part of TheatreWorks's online initiative Voices of Democracy which encourages audiences to a?oeget out the votea?? and stand up for racial justice, Hold These Truths shares the story of a Japanese American who passionately defends his Constitutional rights against an unexpected adversary: his own country.

TheatreWorks Silicon Valley will encourage its audiences to a?oeget out the votea?? and stand up for racial justice as it launches a new online initiative entitled Voices of Democracy. Part of TheatreWorks from Home, a virtual stage for the Tony Award-winning theatre while in-person performances are on hold during the pandemic, Voices of Democracy will offer digital theatrical experiences that celebrate diverse voices and build a bridge from empathy to action.

While the live production of Hold These Truths (originally scheduled to run March 18 through April 19 at People's Light) was cancelled due to COVID-19, audiences can stream the performance at peopleslight.org now through May 10.

Stay connected with People's Light 24/7 from anywhere in the world with People's Light - Always On, an online hub for virtual theatre and arts education programs, behind-the-scenes content, community resources, videos, and more!

Capital Stage announces its 2020/21 Season. Capital Stage's 16th season will be the 5th season at the helm of Producing Artistic Director, Michael Stevenson.

Heritage Theatre Festival officials announced today the postponement of the 2020 season. The announcement follows Monday's stay at home order from Virginia Governor Ralph Northam and the subsequent cancellation of summer programming at UVA this year.