Asian American Culture on Stage: The History of the East West Players

by Kurahashi; Yuko

• ISBN13: 9780815331476
• ISBN10: 0815331479
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1999-06-01
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Asian American Culture on Stagecaptures the 30-yearhistory of the East West Players (EWP), tracing the company's re-presentation of Asian Americans through the complicated social and cultural changes of the past three decades. Throughout its history, the changes in the focus and interest of the EWP reveal patterns in the development of Asian American ethnic theater. By examining productions, the progress of company members, and the forum offered for Asian American playwrights to stage new works this study charts the vital contributions of the EWP to Asian American communities and to other Asian American theaters.(Ph.D. dissertation, Indiana University, 1996; revised with new preface)

Table of Contents

FOREWORD	xi	(4)
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS	xv	(2)
INTRODUCTION	xvii
CHAPTER I: The Cultural Climate in the 1960s and the Foundation of the East West Players	3	(18)
Ethnic Theatre as the Site of Immigrants' Cultural Expression	3	(4)
The Growth of Regional Theatre and Contemporary Ethnic Theatre	7	(2)
The Politicization of Asian Americans: Expression of Asian American Identity	9	(3)
Asian American Actors and the Condition of the Theatre and Film Industries	12	(9)
CHAPTER II: Searching for Recognition: The Beginning Years, 1965-72	21	(24)
The First Production, Rashomon	21	(5)
Administration and Workshops	26	(3)
Restaging European and Asian Classics and Contemporary Works	29	(16)
European Classics and Contemporary Works	30	(3)
Three Kyogen Pieces (1969-72)	33	(5)
Children's Theatre	38	(7)
CHAPTER III: Slaying Asian Stereotypes: The Emergence of Asian American Playwrights	45	(24)
Two Plays by Soon-Tek Oh	46	(3)
Playwriting Contests and the Emergence of Asian American Playwrights	49	(3)
Grants for the Development of Asian American Plays	52	(1)
Writers in the Early 1970s: Bill Shinkai, Edward Sakamoto, and Jon Shirota	53	(9)
A Jewish Author's Compassion for Internees: Harry Kelly	62	(7)
CHAPTER IV: Gender, Cultural Nationalism, and Between Worlds	69	(22)
The Year of the Dragon	71	(8)
And the Soul Shall Dance	79	(12)
CHAPTER V: Dialogue with the Community: The Asian American Hearings, Outreach Projects, and Made in America	91	(18)
The Asian American Hearings	92	(4)
Outreach Programs	96	(7)
The Total Theatre Ensemble	97	(3)
The Special Project in Foreign Languages	100	(3)
Made in America	103	(6)
CHAPTER VI: Reaching Out to a Broader Audience: Musical Theatre, 1978-88	109	(22)
Administrative and Financial Development in the 1980s	110	(1)
The Development of Musicals	111	(2)
The Musicals of the 1970s: Princess Charley, The Avocado Kid, and Pacific Overtures	113	(9)
Princess Charley	113	(1)
The Avocado Kid	114	(4)
Pacific Overtures	118	(4)
Musicals in the 1980s: Godspell, A Chorus Line, and The Fantasticks	122	(9)
CHAPTER VII: Breaking the Silence: The Internment Camp Series, 1981-82	131	(20)
The Redress Movement and Its Impact on the EWP	132	(3)
Station J	135	(5)
Christmas in Camp	140	(1)
12-1-A	141	(3)
Pilgrimage	144	(3)
Conclusion	147	(4)
CHAPTER VIII: New Asian American Playwrights: David Henry Hwang, Velina Hasu Houston, and Philip Kan Gotanda	151	(18)
David Henry Hwang and his Quest for the Multicultural World: FOB	152	(5)
The Voice of Mothers: Velina Hasu Houston's Asa Ga Kimashita [Morning Has Broken]	157	(5)
Philip Kan Gotanda's Personal Saga, A Song for a Nisei Fisherman	162	(4)
Conclusion	166	(3)
CHAPTER IX: The Company Toward the Twenty-First Century	169	(18)
Mako's Resignation	169	(3)
Nobu McCarthy's Appointment and Her Goals	172	(4)
After the Appointment of Tim Dang	176	(2)
Assessment of the EWP's First Thirty Years and the Future	178	(9)
APPENDIX A: Production Photos	187	(14)
Rashomon (1965)
Three Kyogens (1969)
Yellow Is My Favorite Color (1973)
Harry Kelly (1974)
The Year of the Dragon (1974)
The Asian American Hearings (1976)
And the Soul Shall Dance (1977)
Pacific Overtures (1979)
Made in America (1979)
The Total Theatre Ensemble
Station J (1981)
Asa Ga Kimashita (1984)
APPENDIX B: List of Productions	201	(10)
WORKS CONSULTED	211	(18)
INDEX	229