#73 - David Henry Hwang and 20 Years of Asian American Playwriting

Shoes Off Inside with MKT (fka The May Lee Show)

The world of live theatre is largely still a white dominated industry with Asians being a very small minority. Just look at the numbers...66% of theatrical actors and 81% of directors are white, while Asian American directors stand at just 4.5%. When it comes to playwrights, nearly 72% are white versus 5% AAPI. No one has a better perspective on the ups and downs of AAPI playwrights than the masterful David Henry Hwang, one of the most prolific writers, librettists and producers in theatre. His award-winning productions include M. Butterly, Yellow Face, Aida and Soft Power, just to name a few. Hwang has constantly examined social, cultural and political issues through his work and has often questioned identity, racism and belonging. In a new documentary, "The First 20: 20 Years of Asian American Playwriting" on All Arts. Hwang is one of several AAPI playwrights who reflect on their journey and how Asian stories have and continue to evolve on stage. May's conversation with David Henry Hwang delves into his long journey, which includes his own Asian hate attack in 2015 when he almost died and his outlook on how storytelling can make a positive difference.
To watch the documentary use this link.
http://allarts.org/thefirsttwenty