AIRMW Announces Second Reading In 2019 And Playwright Workshop
By: A.A. Cristi Mar. 14, 2019
The AA Arts Incubator Program of Asian Improv Arts Midwest (AIRMW) is pleased to announce that its historic series, "Our Perspective: Asian American Play Readings," continues with its second reading in 2019. The next reading is the comedic full length play Lucy and Charlie's Honeymoon by Matthew C. Yee, Monday, May 13, at the Steppenwolf 1700 Theatre, 1700 N Halsted St, at 6:30 p.m. The running time is 90 minutes with no intermission. Tickets are $8 for general admission seating and may be reserved online at steppenwolf.org. Seating is limited. For any additional information about the event, go to Our-Perspective.com or call 773.972.6745.
Launched in February 2018, at Goodman Theatre in Chicago to a standing room only crowd, this is the first-ever play reading series in Chicago of short and full-length plays written by Midwest Asian Americans. This year, "Our Perspective: Asian American Play Readings" is a three part series with Mia Park serving as the project's guest curator and executive producer. In addition to Park, the "Our Perspective" team includes include producers Karissa Murrell Myers, Stephen George, and Sydney Mercado. Karissa Murrell Myers also serves as casting director.
ABOUT THIS READING
In an act of rebellion against their perceived cultural identity, two Chinese American newlyweds improvise a reckless plot to commit armed robbery to afford a modest honeymoon. A comedic, full length play with live singing and music inspired by classic country western and folk.
The cast of this reading includes Vi Tran (Charlie), Aurora Adachi-Winter (Lucy), Richard Costes (Jeff/Cashier), Rammel Chan (Peter), Moira Begale (Feinberg), Harmony Zhang (Bao Bao), Diana Lee (Grandma/Waitress), and Ray Rehberg (Gabriel). The play was written by Matthew C. Yee, and the reading will be directed by Karissa Murrell Myers and assistant director is Daniella Wheelock.
ABOUT Matthew C. Yee, playwright
Matthew C. Yee is excited to present the full-length version of his original piece with "Our Perspective." He mainly works as an actor and musician in Chicago. He was recently seen in Vietgone and Twelfth Night, or What You Will at Writers Theatre. Additional theatre credits include Once at Paramount Theatre; A Year With Frog and Toad at Chicago Children's Theatre; Treasure Island at Lookingglass Theatre), and The Wheel at Steppenwolf. Film/TV work includes "Empire," "Chicago Fire," "Chicago Justice" and the feature film "Consumed."
ABOUT Karissa Murrell Myers, director
Karissa Murrell Myers is a Chicago based director, actor, teacher and casting director. She founded the Broken Illusion Project in Boise, Idaho in 2003, a not-for-profit theatre program focused on fostering young people in the performing arts. Through this organization, she directed many full-length productions including Cinderella, The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe and The Importance of Being Earnest. Other directing credits: The Shape of Things, This Is Our Youth at Boise Little Theatre and assistant directed The Taming of the Shrew, Pride and Prejudice at Knock 'Em Dead Theatre. Murrell Myers received her MFA in Performance from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, BA in Acting and Directing from Boise State University, She is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA.
ABOUT DANIELLA WHEELOCK, assistant director
Daniella Wheelock is originally from San Diego, California, and graduated magna cum laude from the Conservatory for Theatre Arts at Webster University with a degree in Directing. She was an Emerging Professional Resident at Milwaukee Repertory Theatre for their 2016-17 season, and was a DirectorsLabChicago 2018 participant.
ABOUT Vi Tran (Charlie)
Vi Tran is a Kansas City and Chicago-based storyteller, member of the Actors' Equity Association, and creator of The Butcher's Son, his autobiographical refugee story and folk musical memoir about his family's escape from Vietnam, which was a winner of "Most Promising Musical" and "Best Leading Performer" ("Tran") at Underscore Theatre Company's 2018 Chicago Musical Theatre Festival (CMTF). Chicago credits: Miss Saigon at Paramount Theatre; director of Will The Circle by L.C. Bernadine at Underscore's CMTF and producer/playwright/performer of The Butcher's Son at Underscore Theatre Company's CMTF. Tran's regional credits include: Unicorn Theatre, Coterie Theatre, Heart of America Shakepeare, Starlight Theatre, Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre, Playhouse on the Square and the Kennedy Center of Performing Arts.
Vi Tran was born in the shadow of Sai Gon, Vietnam and raised in southwestern Kansas, He considers himself equal parts sea salt and wheat fields. Tran says his original work has been described as earnest and intimate, with the purpose of building bridges in an ever-divisive society, inviting dialogue and understanding, and inspiring hope and unity.
ABOUT Aurora Adachi-Winter (Lucy)
Aurora Adachi-Winter returns to Steppenwolf's 1700 space after appearing in Ike Holter's Stay Lit. Past credits include Lottery Day at Goodman Theatre; Red Rex and Hinter at Steep Theatre; Put Your House In Order for The Roustabouts at A Red Orchid Theatre; Vietgone at Writers Theatre; Bull In A China Shop at About Face Theatre); The Burials at Steppenwolf Theatre Company; peerless, Edith Can Shoot Things and Hit Them, Two Mile Hollow at First Floor Theater where she is a company member; good friday at Oracle Productions; M. Butterfly at Court Theatre; Mutt: Let's All Talk About Race at Stage Left Theatre and Ghost Bike with Buzz22 Chicago. Her TV credits include "Chicago Med" and Amazon's "Electric Dreams." Adachi-Winter has performed three consecutive years in The Inconvenience's "The Fly Honey Show" with the drum group Adachi Taiko. She holds a BFA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is represented by Gray Talent Group.
ABOUT Richard Costes (Jeff/Cashier)
Richard Costes' most recent performance were the roles of "Reverend D/Baby" in In the Blood at Red Tape Theatre. He has performed previously at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Porchlight Music Theatre, Broken Nose Theatre, Redtwist Theatre, Steep Theatre, Rasaka Theatre and many others throughout Chicago. Costes is represented by Gray Talent.
ABOUT Rammel Chan (Peter)
Rammel Chan's theatre credits include Cambodian Rock Band at Victory Gardens; Vietgone at Writers Theatre, King of the Yees at Goodman Theatre, Oblivion at S teppenwolf. Chan is an ensemble member with Stir Friday Night. Chan's film and television credits include "Cold War," "End of the Tour" on A24; "The Red Line" on CBS; "Crisis" and "Chicago Justice" on NBC; "Patriot" on Amazon and The Jamz.
ABOUT MOIRA BEGALE (Feinberg)
Moira is delighted to be a part of Our Perspective's reading for Steppenwolf's LookOut Series. Begale is an actor/producer/fighter and has performed at Red Orchid Theatre and Jackalope Theatre, to name a few. She is represented by Stewart Talent and up next you can catch her in Mudlark Theater's Candide.
ABOUT HARMONY ZHANG (Bao Bao)
Harmony Zhang is an actress from Arizona graduating in June from The Theater School. Recent graduate work includes The Wong Kids in the Secret of the Space Chupacabra, Go!. Regional credits include Hershel & The Hanukkah Goblins at Strawdog, and TV credits include "The Red Line," airing in April on CBS.
ABOUT Diana Lee (Grandma/Waitress)
Diana Lee recently performed in Crosstalk at the Baltimore Crankie Festival and the Chicago Puppet Theater Festival. Past credits include Bechdel Fest with Broken Nose Theatre at Steppenwolf; The Butcher's Son as part of Chicago Musical Theater Festival and Hellcab with The Agency Theater Collective.
ABOUT RAY REHBERG (Gabriel)
Ray Rehberg is an actor, musician and composer with Big Mouth Talent. Recent stage credits include Frederick at Chicago Children's Theatre, and CCT's Beatrix Potter Holiday Tea Party - for which he also wrote original music. He also will be in an upcoming commercial for The Room Place.
PLAY WRITING 101 WORKSHOP
Sunday, May 12 at 1 p.m.
Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St.
$20
"Our Perspective: Asian American Play Readings" presents a one day workshop intended for Asian Pacific Americans who want an introduction to play writing. All proceeds benefit the Our Perspective play reading series produced by the 501c3 arts group, Asian Improv Arts Midwest. No prerequisites or experience required. Participants should bring something to write with, digital or manual. Space is limited, reservations may be made at OurPerspectivePlaywrighting.eventbrite.com. To receive a tax donation letter for their $20 donation, participants may email kioto@airmw.org. All participants' names will be on a list at the door.
This 90-minute play writing intensive is led by accomplished playwright and Northwestern University professor Susan H Pak. Pak is a Chicago Dramatists resident playwright and assistant professor in residence at Northwestern University in Qatar. She received an MFA in writing for the screen and stage at Northwestern University; she received both a BA in English and a JD from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her plays have been produced in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles and include: Marabar at Chicago Dramatists, Ghost Girl at the Workshop Theater, T.A.B. at New York's Downtown Urban Theater Festival, and the Manhattan Repertory Theater Festival; Haters at New York's Midtown International Theater Festival; Baby Shower at New York's Network One Act Festival; Incredible Invisible at Chicago's Bailiwick Director's Fest; Ladies' Man at Chicago Dramatists; and The Writers at Theater Unleashed in Los Angeles. Her full-length play Boys enjoyed a 12-week run at the Tinfish Theater in Chicago.
THE FINAL READING IN THE SERIES IS:
Reading Three
DATE TBA, 2019
For more information on the readings, visit Our-Perspective.com and follow #OurPerspectiveReadings on Facebook and Twitter.
ABOUT "OUR PERSPECTIVE: ASIAN AMERICAN PLAY READINGS"
The Asian Pacific American (APA) population is seriously under represented on stage. "Our Perspective: Asian American Play Readings" is a staged play reading series intended to provide inspiration, space, and audiences for Midwest APA playwrights, directors, and actors. These are script-in-hand concert readings where actors read plays written and directed by Asian Americans. Presented by Asian Improv Arts Midwest's AA Arts Incubator, "Our Perspective" is the first ever Asian American play reading series in the Midwest. These history-making events are long overdue.
ABOUT THE "OUR PERSPECTIVE" INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
The "Our Perspective" team is happy to announce a new internship program. Interns may learn to produce play readings and plays. Focused, passionate, dedicated parties should e-mail their resume and Statement of Intention as to why they want to produce Asian American staged play readings and plays to Mia@MiaPark.com.
CALL FOR PLAY SUBMISSIONS
The "Our Perspective" team is pleased to announce it is currently accepting play submissions for the 2019 "Our Perspective" reading series. All play lengths will be considered with a strong preference for completed works that are ready to be read or produced. There is no cost to submit.
To be considered for the September 2019 play reading at Goodman Theatre, submit by June 15, 2019. Selected works are scheduled to be announced August 1, 2019.
Please e-mail play submissions to Sydney Mercado at sydney.r.mercado@gmail.com.
The AA Arts Incubator Program of Asian Improv Arts Midwest (AIRMW) is pleased to announce that its historic series, "Our Perspective: Asian American Play Readings," will present a reading of the comedic full-length play "Lucy and Charlie's Honeymoon" Monday, May 13 at the Steppenwolf 1700 Theatre, 1700 N. Halsted St, from 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $8 for general admission seating and may be reserved online at steppenwolf.org. Seating is limited. "Our Perspective" also announces a Play Writing 101 Workshop Sunday, May 12 at Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St., from 1 p.m. Tickets are $20 and may be reserved online at https://ourperspectiveplaywriting.eventbrite.com.
For any additional information about the events, go to Our-Perspective.com or call 773.972.6745.
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