Philip Kan Gotanda News

The Drama Desk and Obie Award-winning Asian-American Off-Broadway MA-YI THEATER COMPANY will present the World Premiere of PEER GYNT & the Norwegian Hapa Band, a new rock musical by Michi Barall, with music by Paul Lieber and Matt Park.

Crowded Fire's Artistic Director Mina Morita unveiled the 2017 mainstage season lineup including two contemporary plays that continue to uphold the company's long tradition of producing boundary - pushing, thought-provoking theater. At a season-announcement party on Saturday, November 19th Morita addressed Crowded Fire donors, patrons, and artists saying "We are a divided country in the midst of a divisive time. It is more important now, more than ever to use our creative and critical thought to mine our cultural memory and to interrogate our existence. I am thrilled to present selections next season that do just that."

A world-premiere play, Among the Dead by Hansol Jung; a world-premiere musical by Michi Barall, Paul Lieber, and Matt Park, PEER GYNT & the Norwegian Hapa Band; and the special presentation of the hit play The Wong Kids in the Secret of the Space Chupacabra Go! by Lloyd Suh in Manila comprise the season to be produced by Ma-Yi Theater Company during their 2016-2017 season, it is announced by the company's Producing Artistic Director Ralph B. Peña and Executive Director Jorge Z. Ortoll. 

Portland Center Stage at The Armory debuts its new Northwest Stories series with Jeanne Sakata's Hold These Truths, a play inspired by the life of civil rights hero Gordon Hirabayashi, a Seattle native who was posthumously awarded the 2012 Presidential Medal of Freedom. Hold These Truths opens in the Ellyn Bye Studio on October 7, with previews beginning October 1 and performances running through November 13. Hold These Truths will be directed by Jessica Kubzansky, who directed the world premiere at East West Players in Los Angeles. Actor Ryun Yu, who originated the role of Hirabayashi at East West Players, will once again play the role in Portland.

A world-premiere play, Among the Dead by Hansol Jung; a world-premiere musical by Michi Barall, Paul Lieber, and Matt Park, PEER GYNT & the Norwegian Hapa Band; and the special presentation of the hit play The Wong Kids in the Secret of the Space Chupacabra Go! by Lloyd Suh in Manila comprise the season to be produced by Ma-Yi Theater Company during their 2016-2017 season, it is announced by the company's Producing Artistic Director Ralph B. Peña and Executive Director Jorge Z. Ortoll. 

Dramatists Guild Fund President Andrew Lippa and Executive Director Rachel Routh announce three additional Traveling Masters events for the fall: Adam Szymkowicz (Clown Bar), Chris Miller & Nathan Tysen (Tuck Everlasting), and Josefina Lopez (Real Women Have Curves).

George Takei, who recently starred in the Broadway musical Allegiance, has been cast as 'Reciter' in Classic Stage Company's upcoming production of Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman's PACIFIC OVERTURES, to be directed by Tony Award winner (and 2016 Tony Award nominee) John Doyle, who this season takes the reins as Artistic Director of the vital East Village theater company.

Celebrated playwright and teacher Paula Vogel spent 2 days at the Playwrights' Center in this week as part of the Dramatists Guild Fund's Traveling Masters Program. Vogel's visit concluded with a public conversation on Monday, June 20, at 7 p.m. at the Playwrights' Center, 2301 E. Franklin Avenue in Minneapolis. Check out photos below!

Gloucester Stage Company continues the 37th season of producing professional theater on Cape Ann with Matthew Spangler and Benjamin Evett's Albatross opening on June 16 and running through July 3 at 267 East Main Street, Gloucester, MA.

Celebrated playwright and teacher Paula Vogel will spend two days at the Playwrights' Center in June as part of the Dramatists Guild Fund's Traveling Masters Program. Vogel's visit will conclude with a public conversation on Monday, June 20, at 7 p.m. at the Playwrights' Center, 2301 E. Franklin Avenue in Minneapolis. Reservations for this free event are encouraged: pwcenter.org/vogel, info@pwcenter.org or (612) 332-7481.

Philip Kan Gotanda, award-winning playwright and filmmaker, led a Master Class at Portland Center Stage on June 3rd as part of the Dramatists Guild Fund's Traveling Masters Program in partnership with MediaRites' Theatre Diaspora. 

Artistic Director Oskar Eustis was recently featured in the latest episode of The New Yorker Radio Hour, co-produced by WNYC Studios, where he was interviewed by New Yorker editor David Remnick. The pair talked about social change, HAMILTON, and more - you can listen below!

MediaRites, a nonprofit organization that provides innovative, award-winning documentary and theater programs, announced today that award-winning playwright Philip Kan Gotanda will conduct a playwriting master class on Friday, June 3, 2016.

The March 2016 Issue of Vogue magazine features a profile on The Public Theater's artistic director Oskar Eustis, one of the players behind Broadway's insanely successful HAMILTON and more. Scroll down for a look at Eustis' portrait, and read the full article by Adam Green here!

The Dramatists Guild of America presents their annual awards at their 2016 meeting today, February 22, at The American Airlines Theatre Penthouse Lobby in New York.

The University of Washington School of Drama's historic 75th anniversary continues to celebrate the Seattle theatre community's rich history. With their Seattle Theatres Lost and Founded Series, produced in partnership with the UW World Series and One Coast Collaboration, the School of Drama pays tribute to inspiring companies no longer up and running, including: Alice B. Theatre, Bathhouse Theatre, Empty Space Theatre, Northwest Asian American Theatre, and the Seattle Group Theatre.

The Dramatists Guild of America has announced the recipients of their annual awards, which will be presented at their annual meeting on Monday, February 22, 2016, at The American Airlines Theatre Penthouse Lobby in New York.

As part of its 75th Anniversary Season, the University of Washington School of Drama is hosting a New Play Workshop Series with the goals of championing new and diverse voices in both the regional and national theatre community.

ACT - A Contemporary Theatre was recently awarded $35,000 for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Art Works Award to support the development of the medieval Japanese epic Tale of the Heike, slated for production in 2017. The thirteenth-century epic is about two clans fighting for control of Japan. It will be directed by Artistic Director Emeritus Kurt Beattie and will combine dance, puppetry, and mask work to tell the story. It is currently being co-adapted by notable playwrights Philip Kan Gotanda and Yussef El Guindi.

The University of Washington School of Drama, under the leadership of Executive Director Todd London, is proud to announce its 75th Anniversary Season. This historic season will celebrate, honor, and build upon the School of Drama's deep connections to Seattle's theatre community and serve as a bridge between the School's rich history and its future.