MEDIA ADVISORY: Contemporary Asian Theater Scene Presents Inaugural AAPI Playwright Festival
The Californer/10285996

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Californer -- WHAT: Contemporary Asian Theater Scene (CATS) presents its inaugural Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Playwright Festival, a one-of-a-kind theater arts experience that fosters and showcases the talent of existing and emerging local Bay Area AAPI theater artists, from writers and actors to directors, stagehands, and others.

WHO: CATS, in partnership with award-winning Director and Playwright Jeffrey Lo, opens the inaugural AAPI Playwright Festival with staged readings of six unique short plays by six diverse AAPI playwrights:  Victoria Chong Der, Anthony Doan, Reed Flores, Kausar Mohammed, Conrad Panganiban, and Christina Ying. Lo is the festival's artistic producer, and Wynne Chan and Tasi Alabastro are directors.

Lo's directing credits are extensive. His most recent include Tennessee Williams' "The Glass Menagerie" with San Francisco Playhouse, and TheatreWorks Silicon Valley's production of "TIGER STYLE!" by Mike Lew.

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Chan's directing credits include Lloyd Suh's "The Chinese Lady" with The Pear Theatre, and Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Tell Me on a Sunday" with SDC Productions.

Alabastro's directing credits include "Eggshell; or Vỏ Trứng" with More Más Marami, and assistant directing "CLYDE'S" with City Lights Theatre Company.

11 AAPI actors are cast for the staged reading performances.

The AAPI Playwright Festival is co-produced with San Jose Stage, amplifying the vibrant creativity of both organizations.

WHEN: Saturday, July 27, 2024, 7:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

WHERE: San Jose Stage Company (The Stage), 490 S 1st St, San Jose, CA 95113

WHY: This landmark event is significant. It provides a unique opportunity for local AAPI theatre artists, showcases new and established AAPI voices and stories, and lifts the next generation of storytellers. To ensure more AAPI plays are developed and performed locally, CATS is committed to producing the AAPI Playwright Festival for at least three years, possibly longer.

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COST: $15.00 for General Admission, $20 for Premium Center, and $10.00 for Student/Senior admission, plus the Eventbrite fee.

HOW TO ATTEND:  Tickets can be purchased at Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/aapi-playwright-festival-tickets-924999286767. Reporters and journalists, contact Leianne Wong Lamb to attend.

ABOUT CONTEMPORARY ASIAN THEATER SCENE
Founded in 1995 by the late Dr. Jerry Hiura, the late Steve Yamaguma, and Miki Hirabayashi, CATS has been a beacon for AAPI artists, providing a platform for their voices and talents. CATS showcases comedians, authors, playwrights, musicians, dancers, performers, and filmmakers. CATS produces the annual Silicon Valley Asian Pacific Film Festival, which celebrates its 10th year in October 2024, and in July 2024 it presents its inaugural AAPI Playwright Festival. CATS, a 501c3 non-profit organization located in San Jose Japantown, continues to fulfill its founders' dreams of supporting, mentoring, and presenting AAPI artists and their stories while enriching the cultural landscape of San Jose and Silicon Valley.