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EAST WEST PLAYERS

120 Judge John Aiso St
Los Angeles, CA 90012

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About the Theatre

EWP was founded by nine Asian American artists (Mako, Rae Creevey, Beulah Quo, Soon-Tek Oh, James Hong, Pat Li, June Kim, Guy Lee, and Yet Lock) seeking to create roles beyond the stereotypical parts they were offered in mainstream Hollywood. In 1998, EWP Artistic Director Tim Dang led the company’s move from a 99-seat Equity Waiver “black box” theatre into a new 240-seat venue at an Actors Equity Association contract level. EWP’s main stage is the David Henry Hwang Theater, housed within the Union Center for the Arts in downtown Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo district. The theater serves more than 25,000 people each year, and has become a creative center in this historically significant setting. When Dang retired in 2016, his successor Snehal Desai was appointed to guide East West Players into a new wave of artistic leadership. Desai has committed to steering the work of East West Players with an intersectional focus that further unveils the diversity of Asian Pacific identities as portrayed on stage.


The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Reveals 2024 Season Award Finalists and Special Award Honorees


by Chloe Rabinowitz - March 05, 2025

The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle has revealed its 2024 Season Award Finalists and Special Award Honorees for theatrical excellence. See the list of nominees here!...

Review: CAMBODIAN ROCK BAND at East West Players


by Evan Henerson - March 02, 2025

Chay Yew’s production for East West Players - improbably the play’s L.A. premiere seven years after its debut at South Coast Repertory – is as raw and raucous as it is timely. Yee urges us to remember the past, be watchful of the future and enjoy the holy hell out of the process....

CAMBODIAN ROCK BAND Extends at East West Players Through Late March


by Chloe Rabinowitz - February 27, 2025

East West Players has extended Lauren Yee's CAMBODIAN ROCK BAND through late March. Learn more and see how to purchase tickets to upcoming performances....

Cast Set for CAMBODIAN ROCK BAND at East West Players


by Chloe Rabinowitz - January 08, 2025

East West Players has revealed the cast and creative team for the Los Angeles premiere of Lauren Yee's groundbreaking play, CAMBODIAN ROCK BAND. Learn more about the production and see how to purchase tickets....

Sierra Madre Playhouse Celebrates Lunar New Year With Multi-Week Festival


by A.A. Cristi - January 07, 2025

Sierra Madre Playhouse (SMP) pulls out the stops to present a multi-week Lunar New Year festival running from January 25 through March 9, 2025 featuring eight compelling theater, music, dance, film, and family programs that embrace a wide range of themes....

Updated FLOWER DRUM SONG and More Set For East West Players' 60th Anniversary Season


by Stephi Wild - December 10, 2024

East West Players has announced its 60th Anniversary Diamond Legacy Season, helmed by recently appointed Artistic Director Lily Tung Crystal. Learn more about the lineup here!...

Interview: The Ageless Gedde Watanabe Returns to PACIFIC OVERTURES After 48 Years


by Gil Kaan - November 11, 2024

Stephen Sondheim’s Pacific Overtures has just opened at the East West Players. Former EWP Artistic director Tim Dang returns to direct the cast led by Jon Jon Briones and Gedde Watanabe with Scott Keiji Takeda, Brian Kim McCormick, Adam Kaokept, Kerry K. Carnahan, Ashley En-Fu Matthews, Kavin Panmee...

Jon Jon Briones and Gedde Watanabe Lead PACIFIC OVERTURES At East West Players


by A.A. Cristi - October 01, 2024

East West Players announced the cast for the upcoming production of PACIFIC OVERTURES, set to return to the stage. The production will feature a talented ensemble bringing this classic musical to life....

Jaime Barcelon To Perform Live at The Gardenia This October


by A.A. Cristi - August 21, 2024

Jaime Barcelon is set to perform live at The Gardenia, showcasing his vocal talents in an intimate setting. Don't miss this special event featuring a range of musical selections....

East West Players' ON THIS SIDE OF THE WORLD Cast Recording Available Now


by Stephi Wild - June 06, 2024

East West Players has released the World Premiere Cast Recording of the soaring new musical, On This Side of the World.   ...

Past Shows

Pacific Overtures
Pacific Overtures
11/7 - 12/1/2024


Pacific Overtures The 2024 Season culminates with the Tony Award winning musical Pacific Overtures, with music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by John Weidman, ...

On This Side of the World
On This Side of the World
5/11 - 6/4/2023


  On This Side of the World Music & Lyrics by Paulo K Tiról Created with & Directed by Noam Shapiro A World Premiere Musical ...

The Brothers Paranormal
The Brothers Paranormal
11/17 - 12/11/2022


Two Thai brothers–one born in Thailand and the other in the American Midwest–struggle to launch a ghost-hunting business when they are called to investigate the ...

Interstate: A New Musical
Interstate: A New Musical
6/2 - 6/26/2022


INTERSTATE is an Asian-American pop-rock poetry musical that follows Dash, a transgender spoken word performer who becomes internet-famous along with his best friend Adrian, a ...

ASSASSINS
ASSASSINS
2/17 - 3/20/2022


A darkly comic Tony-award winner that examines the motives of the nine notorious Americans who took their shot at the President of the United States, ...

The Sitayana (or How To Make An Exit)


The Sitayana (Or How To Make An Exit) is an artful transposition of the Hindu epic The Ramayana told from Sitas point of view. Part ...

1 Hour Photo
1 Hour Photo
6/12 - 6/20/2021


East West Players (EWP), the nations largest producer of Asian American theatrical works, is proud to present Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre (vAct)s 1 Hour Photo, ...

An Evening of Aloha with Daniel Ho


East West Players is excited to present multiple GRAMMY-winning musician Daniel Ho in concert on December 19th. Enjoy an evening of Aloha spirit with Daniels ...

Crazy Talented Asians


East West Players, the nations premiere Asian American theatre organization, is partnering up with online musician AJ Rafael for Crazy Talented Asians, a concert series ...

Assassins
3/12 - 4/5/2020


A multiple Tony Award-winning theatrical tour-de-force, Assassins combines Sondheim's signature blend of intelligently stunning lyrics and beautiful music with a panoramic story of our nation's ...

Sugar Plum Fairy
12/5 - 12/22/2019


The Madwoman in the Volvo is back—and Scrooge isn’t the only one bitter about the holidays! With signature irreverence, NPR superstar Sandra Tsing Loh recounts ...

The Great Leap
11/10 - 12/1/2019


Lauren Yee; dir: BD Wong....

Hannah and the Dread Gazebo
8/17 - 9/22/2019


Jiehae Park; dir: Chay Yew. Thomas Theatre:...

MAMMA MIA!
5/9 - 6/23/2019


MAMMA MIA! is the ultimate feel–good show that has audiences coming back again and again to relive the thrill. Now it's your turn to have ...

MAMMA MIA!
5/9 - 6/9/2019


MAMMA MIA! is the ultimate feel–good show that has audiences coming back again and again to relive the thrill. Now it's your turn to have ...

Man of God
Man of God
1/31 - 2/24/2019


David Henry Hwang Theater: Anna Moench; dir: Jesca Prudencio....

Allegiance
2/21 - 4/1/2018


East Coast Regional Premiere! Inspired by the true childhood experience of actor and social media icon George Takei (Mr. Sulu on "Star Trek"), ALLEGIANCE tells ...

Yohen
10/26 - 11/19/2017


Philip Kan Gotanda; dir: Ben Guillory....

NEXT TO NORMAL
5/11 - 6/11/2017


Next to Normal delves into the raw and complex world of mental illness, specifically focusing on bipolar disorder. The story centers around Diana, a wife ...

Free Outgoing
2/9 - 3/12/2017


Anupama Chandrasekhar; dir: Snehal Desai. David Henry Hwang Theater:...

Kentucky
11/10 - 12/11/2016


Leah Nanako Winkler; dir: Deena Selenow....

Kentucky
11/10 - 12/11/2016


Leah Nanako Winkler; dir: Deena Selenow....

La Cage Aux Folles
5/12 - 6/26/2016


Harvey Fierstein; book: Jean Poiret; lyrics: Jerry Herman; music: Jerry Herman; dir: Tim Dang....

Chinglish
Chinglish
12/3 - 12/13/2015


Chinglish – Back by Popular Demand! By David Henry Hwang Directed by Jeff Liu December 3, 2015 – December 13, 2015 “CRITIC’S CHOICE!…deliriously funny, deliciously ...

THE WHO'S TOMMY
5/7 - 6/7/2015


The Who's Tommy is a rock musical bursting with energy, based on the iconic 1969 rock opera album of the same name by The Who. ...

Washer/Dryer
2/12 - 3/15/2015


Nandita Shenoy....

A Nice Indian Boy
2/20 - 3/23/2014


David Henry Hwang Theater: Madhuri Shekar; dir: Snehal Desai....


David Henry Hwang Theater: Betty Tokudani; dir: Amy Hill....

Steel Magnolias
9/5 - 10/6/2013


The action is set in Truvy’s beauty salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana, where all the ladies who are “anybody” come to have their hair done. Helped ...

Chess
5/9 - 6/9/2013


East West Players: - Benny Andersson, Bjorn Ulvaeus; lyrics: Tim Rice; dir: Tim Dang....

Christmas in Hanoi
2/7 - 3/10/2013


East West Players: - Eddie Borey; dir: Jeff Liu....

A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC
5/10 - 6/24/2012


One of Broadway?s most neglected masterpieces, the romantic and achingly beautiful ?A Little Night Music? deals with the universal subject of love, in all its ...

A Little Night Music
5/10 - 6/10/2012

Three Year Swim Club
2/9 - 3/11/2012


THREE YEAR SWIM CLUB is inspired by the true life story of Soichi Sakamoto, who trained the youth of Maui to swim in the plantation ...

The Language Archive
11/3 - 12/4/2011

A Widow of No Importance
9/8 - 10/9/2011

Videos


 A Fabulous 50th: Chicago and A Chorus Line! in Los Angeles A Fabulous 50th: Chicago and A Chorus Line!
Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall (4/18 - 4/18) Tracker
RENT in Concert in Los Angeles RENT in Concert
Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Segerstrom Hall (3/15 - 3/15) Tracker
Tchaikovsky & Schubert in Los Angeles Tchaikovsky & Schubert
Walt Disney Concert Hall (3/14 - 3/16) Tracker
RHINESTONE COWBOYS in Los Angeles RHINESTONE COWBOYS
Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles (3/22 - 3/23) Tracker
C A B A R E T in Los Angeles C A B A R E T
Jaxx Theatre (3/13 - 3/29) Tracker
Haïm Leads Handel & Bach in Los Angeles Haïm Leads Handel & Bach
Walt Disney Concert Hall (3/21 - 3/23) Tracker
Porn Rock: The Obscenity Trial of Jello Biafra in Los Angeles Porn Rock: The Obscenity Trial of Jello Biafra
Eastwood PAC (3/1 - 3/23) Tracker
Aristotle/Alexander in Los Angeles Aristotle/Alexander
Company of Angels (3/29 - 5/4)
Theatre West play reading series in Los Angeles Theatre West play reading series
Theatre West (2/18 - 4/27)
Bella Notte in Los Angeles Bella Notte
Bella Cucina Italian Restaurant (11/23 - 3/15)
Frou-Frou: A Menagerie of Sorts in Los Angeles Frou-Frou: A Menagerie of Sorts
Boston Court Pasadena (2/20 - 3/30)
Hello, Dolly! in Los Angeles Hello, Dolly!
The Richard & Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center (10/17 - 11/2)
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