Magic Theatre Celebrates Asian Writers, 2/9-13

Magic Theatre continues its mission of championing new, innovative theatrical voices with its 2012 Asian Explosion from February 9 through 13. This five-day festival will coincide with Magic Theatre's world premiere production of Lloyd Suh's Jesus in India, and will provide a forum for discovering and celebrating the vibrant community of Asian and South Asian writers for the theatre through a series a five readings and two solo performances offered for free to the public.

Acclaimed spoken word comedian powerhouse Kate Rigg (Kate's Chink-O-Rama, Birth of nASIAN) will help to lead the festival events and will offer a special solo performance Friday night as will award-winning poetry slam pioneer Regie Cabico (HBO's Def Poetry Jam, NPR's Snap Judgment).

"Asian Explosion is just that – an explosion of thrilling new work from young and inventive Asian and South Asian writers," said Loretta Greco, Magic Theatre's producing artistic director. "I look forward to the community coming out to revel in the writing of so many remarkably gifted writers from the Bay Area, LA, DC, and New York as they tackle a variety of exciting stories in a variety of exciting ways through morning and afternoon readings and late night performances–all wrapped around our world premiere production of Lloyd's wonderful play."

Magic canvassed groups in the Bay Area and across the country (including USC, Ma-Yi's emerging writers Lab in NY, The Taper in LA, Pan Asian Rep in NY and many others) to find these incredible writers. In addition to Rigg and Cabico, pieces from Chris Chen, Eugenie Chan, JC Lee, Rehana Mirza, and A. Rey Pamatmat will be featured. 

All events on February 9-12 will take place at Magic Theatre. The February 13 reading will take place at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco and is also a part of Magic Theatre's Martha Heasley Cox Virgin Play Series. 

Asian Explosion is made possible by a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

For the festival schedule, playwright bios, and more information please visit: http://magictheatre.org/about/new-play-development-magic/asian-explosion

GENERAL INFORMATION

Thursday 2/9: 100 FLOWERS PROJECT by Chris Chen 4pm-6pm at Magic Theatre
Friday 2/10: MADAME HO by Eugenie Chan 3pm-5pm at Magic Theatre
Friday 2/10: OUT OF JOINT by A. Rey Pamatmat 5:30pm-7pm at Magic Theatre
Friday 2/10: REGIE CABICO LIVE 10pm-11pm at Magic Theatre
Friday 2/10: Kate Rigg LIVE 11pm-Midnight at Magic Theatre
Saturday 2/11: THE PHOENIX RIDES A SKATEBOARD by Kate Rigg 10pm-Midnight at Magic Theatre
Sunday 2/12: WICKED FOX by JC Lee 11am-1pm at Magic Theatre

Monday 2/13: LONELY LEELA by Rehana Mirza 7pm-9pm at the Jewish Community Center

PRICES AND DISCOUNTS:

FREE!

ABOUT MAGIC THEATRE

Now celebrating its 45th year, Magic Theatre is dedicated to the cultivation of innovative plays, playwrights, and audiences – and to explosive and entertaining productions of original work. Working side-by-side with adventuresome playwrights, Magic Theatre fosters new works from page to stage as world premieres, or seizes the rare opportunity to further develop a new work with a second or third production.

The list of playwrights cultivated and premiered at Magic Theatre is a veritable who's who of American theatre: Sam Shepard, Michael McClure, Octavio Solis, Nilo Cruz, Paula Vogel, Rebecca Gilman, Theresa Rebeck, and Luis Alfaro, to name few. Experience new play development at Magic Theatre.