2014: Year in Review

As we now plan for our fifth season, Artists at Play will continue to present shows created by Asian American artists, stories of those underrepresented in Los Angeles theatre. Won't you make an online tax-deductible donation to join us in our mission? 

At the start of the new year, Artists at Play will host a January kick-off event and announce our next mainstage production. Along with the spring readings and summer fundraiser, our 2015 season will include a partnership with Center Theatre Group, plus some other events in the works. And as a new board member of the Consortium of Asian American Theaters and Artists, we will be working on a national level to improve diversity and inclusion in American theatre.

We hope you will help Artists at Play in 2015 with a tax-deductible donation, making you our partner in curating quality theatre in Los Angeles.

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In 2014, Artists at Play was able to contribute to Los Angeles theatre with various readings and our fourth L.A. premiere production. Here’s a recap of the year…

In the spring, we shared with you two new plays as part of the Artists at Play Readings: She Kills Monsters: Adventurer's Edition by Qui Nguyen, a fun new version of an already published/produced work, along with the still-in-development Marabella by local playwright Boni B. Alvarez.

In the summer, we had a special benefit reading of The Parisian Woman by Beau Willimon (creator/executive producer of House of Cards). Hosted by Randy and Mari Tamura, the event featured Francois Chau, Amy Hill, Tamlyn Tomita and Trieu Tran. Attendees loved the diverse casting of a mainstream play, and those who saw the production at South Coast Repertory remarked how they preferred our cast!

In the fall, we produced the Los Angeles premiere of 99 Histories by the writer Julia Cho (not to be confused with founding member Julia Cho, who starred in the production). We were honored to present the "homecoming" for this play, which is set in Los Angeles and written 10 years ago.
 

This year, Artists at Play attended the Theatre Communications Group (TCG) national conference in San Diego as well as the 4th National Asian American Theater Festival & Conference in Philadelphia. Expanding on our local theatre presence, we are proud of our recent appointment to the board of the Consortium of Asian American Theaters and Artists and excited to help organize the next gathering of Asian American theatre professionals in 2016!

Artists at Play will continue to build upon the artistic quality and diversity of our past shows: Ching Chong Chinaman by Lauren Yee, Edith Can Shoot Things and Hit Them by A. Rey Pamatmat, Cowboy Versus Samurai by Michael Golamco, and our most recent production, 99 Histories. You can offer your support here or here.

Thank you for another great season, and here's to 2015!

Artists at Play Readings 2014

Marabella by Boni B. Alvarez

She Kills Monsters by Qui Nguyen

Continuing our mission to present stories of underrepresented communities, Artists at Play will develop and showcase two new works to the Los Angeles theatre community for our second springtime reading series.

Expanding upon our mainstage fall production, Artists at Play hopes to develop talented writers whose works deserve to be shared with our local audience. Also, in the midst of a national discussion on the lack of diversity in American theatre, we are proud to present plays that feature hugely diverse casts including an eclectic array of female characters.

Playwrights like Boni B. Alvarez and Qui Nguyen provide unique voices that shed light on the complexities of relationships and humanity. This is why we find their plays so dynamic, stories that both intrigue and excite us.

The readings will be presented on Sunday, April 6, at the Women's Club of South Pasadena. Marabella will be presented at 2 p.m., and She Kills Monsters at 5 p.m.

Each play will be followed by a talkback. All readings are complimentary. Pre-sale $15 ticket includes dinner, hosted bar and dessert reception. (Tickets are $20 at the door.)

Get Your Tickets!

The Plays, Playwrights and Directors

As part of our second reading series, Artists at Play will present Marabella by Boni B. Alvarez along with She Kills Monsters by Qui Nguyen. Learn more about the respective playwrights and directors below, then join us for the readings on Sunday, April 6. Tickets available here.

Marabella
When her baby's father loses his wife, Marabella returns to her beloved Jason and his two sons whom she once nannied... and the attractive new tutor. A contemporary adaptation of Medea that leads a multi-ethnic cast in a thrilling and provocative journey.

Boni B. Alvarez (Playwright) is a Los Angeles-based playwright whose plays include Dallas Non-Stop, Dusty De Los Santos, The Special Education of Miss Lorna Combonga, Poke Back, and Ruby, Tragically Rotund. His plays have been produced/developed by Playwrights’ Arena, Los Angeles Theatre Center, Chalk Rep, Skylight Theatre, The Vagrancy, and Second Generation (2g). He won a 20/20 Development Award from InterAct Theatre and has been a finalist for the PEN Center USA Literary Award, Aurora Theatre’s Global Age Project, and Clubbed Thumb’s Biennial Commission. He attended Sarah Lawrence College (BA), ART/MXAT Institute at Harvard University (MFA), and USC (MFA).

Peter J. Kuo (Director) is a co-founder of Artists at Play, and an L.A. based theatre artist and administrator. His written plays, The Amazing Wedding Race and Three Steps Back, were developed in East West Players' David Henry Hwang Writers Institute. He wrote the book for The Antique Shop with composer Nathan Wang. Commonly known as a director, his directing credits include: Ching Chong Chinaman, Ordinary Days, Songs for a New World and Letters to a Student Revolutionary. As an arts administrator he's worked at South Coast Repertory, East West Players and LA Stage Alliance, among others.

Tiffany Moon (Dramaturg) is a dramaturg and theatre manager devoted to the development and production of new works. She is a member of the reading committee and the general manager of the Ojai Playwrights Conference, and is currently associate-producing Alice Tuan's Hit with Los Angeles Theatre Center. In addition, she leads post-show conversations and guides audience members through lobby engagement activities at the Kirk Douglas Theatre. Tiffany will graduate with her MFA/MBA in Theatre Management from CSULB in May, where she serves as the general manager of California Repertory Company.


She Kills Monsters
After the passing of her younger sister, Agnes finds Tilly's Dungeons & Dragons notebook. What follows is a journey of self-discovery and action-packed adventure in the imaginary world that was Tilly's refuge. An homage to the geek and warrior in all of us.

Qui Nguyen (Playwright) Originally from Arkansas, Qui Nguyen is a Brooklyn-based writer, fight choreographer, and co-artistic director of the OBIE award-winning Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company. His scripts include Krunk Fu Battle Battle (East West Players); Bike Wreck (produced at Youngblood and Metropolitan Playhouse); Trial By Water (produced at Ma-Yi Theater/Queens Theatre in the Park); Aliens Vs. Cheerleaders (Keen Teens); and the critically acclaimed Vampire Cowboys productions of The Inexplicable Redemption of Agent G, Alice in Slasherland, Fight Girl Battle World, Men of Steel, Living Dead in Denmark, Stained Glass Ugly, A Beginner's Guide to Deicide, Vampire Cowboy Trilogy, and Soul Samurai. Additionally, he is a resident playwright of New Dramatists, a member of Ensemble Studio Theatre, co-director of the Ma-Yi Writers Lab, an alumnus of Youngblood, and an advanced actor/combatant with the Society of American Fight Directors. He has an MFA in Playwriting from Ohio University.

Andy Lowe (Director) Finalist of the California Young Playwrights (1994), Founding Artistic Director of the Asian American Repertory Theatre ('95-'05), Andy Lowe has been a producer of events and writer, director and/or producer of over 50 theatrical productions throughout San Diego. Receiving two mayoral commendations, he was recognized as one of 2001's "Top 30 Most Influential Asian Americans Under the Age of 30" by Political Circus Magazine. From 2007–12, Andy served as “Theatre-in-Residence Program Coordinator” for the La Jolla Playhouse, while developing projects as producer/director of ChinesePirateProductions.com including a nationally recognized stage adaptation of Joss Whedon’s “Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog” (2011).  Andy is an advisor for Gam3rCon San Diego and current Production Manager for East West Players.


Come enjoy the readings on Sunday, April 6 and stay for dinner, drinks and dessert! Get your tickets now: http://bit.ly/AAPReadings14