MediaRites' Theatre Diaspora Announces 2017 Season and New Members

MediaRites, a nonprofit organization that provides innovative, award-winning documentary, theatre and outreach programs, today announced the 2017 season of enhanced staged readings produced by its Theatre Diaspora project, Oregon's only professional Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI) theatre company. Theatre Diaspora also announces two new members who will assist in the organization's mission of portraying authentic AAPI cultural, historical, and social perspectives to reach broad audiences through staged readings.

"I'm excited to announce our new season of enhanced staged readings which features younger playwrights delving on important social issues such as the housing crisis, mental health, and cultural differences within families," said Dmae Roberts, executive producer of MediaRites. "We are celebrating our third season of Theatre Diaspora with two new productions, socially relevant talkbacks and free theatre workshops. To further our visibility in the community of telling stories from the AAPI perspective, we are also announcing two new Theatre Diaspora members."

MediaRites' Theatre Diaspora project will produce two new enhanced staged readings and workshops in 2017.

Washer/Dryer by Nandita Shenoy, a comedy about a multi-cultural newlywed couple in a single-unit New York co-op apartment, will be performed Sunday, May 14th at 2:00pm at Portland Center Stage at the Armory (PCS - Ellen Bye Theatre) located at 128 NW 11th Avenue, Portland, OR 97209. A Skype talk with playwright Shenoy will follow the May 14th performance. The second performance will be on Saturday, May 20th at 2:00pm, followed by a panel on affordable housing for young people. Theatre Diaspora will also conduct a free introductory acting class on May 13th to encourage people of color in theater. All during May, Asian American/Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

The Brothers Paranormal by Prince Gomolvilas, is about two Thai-American brothers who open a ghost-hunting business and are hired by an African-American couple tormented by a terrifying spirit. The Brothers Paranormal will be performed on Oct. 20, 21, & 22 at Portland State University's Lincoln Hall Studio Theatre (1825 SW Broadway, Portland, OR 97201). Theatre Diaspora will conduct a free master class with Gomolvilas, an author talkback after each performance, plus a community talk on mental health issues in cultural communities.

Theatre Diaspora has expanded its membership with two theater arts specialists.

Jennifer Seung Hancock is a performing artist, creator, and an arts advocate. After earning her B.A. in arts management and dance, she moved to Portland for an internship with Disjecta Contemporary Art Center. Currently, she works at Coho Productions as their box office assistant and bookkeeper.

Lila Yang is a senior at Portland State University and will graduate the fall of 2017 with her BA in theater with a focus in costume design. Lila is currently an intern with FashioNXT and also works part time at Northwest Children's Theater and School.

Jennifer and Lila will support Theatre Diaspora with production assistance, community outreach, administrative, box office, and marketing activities.

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, Theatre Diaspora bridges 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 non-profit organization focused on cultural diversity by providing voices to the unheard. To learn more, visit the website: www.theatrediaspora.org.

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