Photo by John Autey


This is our testing ground of new works. Come hear readings and be a part of the conversation afterward. What worked? What didn't? Is there something promising in this piece? Be a part of the conversation! Many of these plays end up in future seasons. Tickets are only $5. Or buy a festival pass to see all readings for $15!

TRAPEZOID
by Nic Cha Kim

In this new-age comedy, Peter is a slam poet who gets a strange invitation to work for a computer company on the development of AIMEE: Artificially Intelligent Mechanical and Emotional Entity. Peter injects AIMEE with his poetry, giving her emotion and making her wild for him. After finding out his girlfriend is pregnant, Peter must balance his personal life with the rampaging robot who is after him.
Date: Thursday, Jan 15 at 7 pm


THE ORPHAN OF ZHAO
by Mia Chung

The Orphan of Zhao is a classic tale of epic adventure from the warlord era of China. In this new interpretation, a female doctor of the court ends up sacrificing her own son to save the life of the only true heir to the throne.
Date: Friday, Jan 16 at 7 pm

EXCERPTS OF WORKS IN PROGRESS:

• DANCING WITH DEMONS - by Iris Shiraishi and Martha Johnson. 
Dancing with Demons offers two comedic looks at successful female artists haunted by their own anxieties.


• BECOMING - by Iris Shiraishi. 
A story of one Asian American woman's musical coming-of-age.


• THE HAWK: THE MICHIO ITO STORY - by R.A. Shiomi & Dana Tai Soon Burgess. This is a dance/theater piece that traces the life and work of Michio Ito, one of the unknown pioneers of modern dance. It looks at his rise to prominence in New York and LA and how WWII internment camps and subsequent deportation destroyed his career.
  

Date: Saturday, Jan 17 at 2 pm

FAYETTE NAM
by Aurorae Khoo

In the small town of Fayetteville where the main business survives off the local military base, a young African American solider finds solace and support in the local donut shop run by a middle aged Korean American woman, her college drop out daughter, and her quirky teenaged son.
Date: Saturday, Jan 17 at 7 pm


THE ANNA MAY WONG STORY
by Jeany Park

Anna May Wong was the epitome of Asian glamour as the most recognized Asian American actress in the early years of Hollywood. This play, starting at the end of Anna’s life and moving backward toward her first acting job, follows the trials and tribulations of her rise and fall, revealing the complicated issues of Asian American fame along the way.
Date: Sunday, Jan 18 at 2 pm