4 14 Asian American theater The term as well as Asian American theatre did not exist before 1965 Descendants of Asian Americans have been around long before that Style of theatre emerged in 1960 and 1970s It brought a heightened awareness of ethnic minorities Asian American Workshop Pan Asian Repertory Theater Tisa Chang Founded in 1977 Brought about fair theatre opportunities for Asian Americans Brought about the East West Players East West Players Founded in1965 in LA Founded by Mako Iwamatsu He is Japanese It is the oldest first Asian American theatre Frustrated by limited roles in theatre Starting out it did not have any original plays Rashomon in 1965 First production from East West Players Adapted by Michael fay Mani from Akira Kurosawa s film Kyogen Is an interlude between Noh performances It requires special movement Was performed in three pieces Was done in between some of the scenes of Noh Usually humorous and takes a lot of training and acting techniques East West Players also did European classics and modern plays Proved that they could do non Asian rolls Contemporary example of non Asian rolls East West Players held annual playwriting contests There was more development of contemporary Asian American plays Influential writers that came from the East West playwriting contest My fair lady 1970 Edward Sakamoto Wakako Yamauchi Monoko Iko Frank chin Velina Hasu Houston Born in Japan Mother was Japanese and Father was African Native American Author poet playwright 1980 wrote plays that depict interracial relationships Wrote a play that was depicted on her mother s experience from Japan to America Wrote it into a trilogy Asa ga kimashita Means Morning has broken 1984 Was First part of the trilogy by Velina Houston Second piece of trilogy Based on interviews with her mother and war brides Most famous of the trilogy Set in junction city Kansas Depicts war brides struggle in Japan and America David henry Hwang Son of first generation from China to California 1980 Fob produced by east west players Dance on the Railroad 1981 Tea M butterfly Done by David Hwang 1988 Became a huge hit on Broadway Based on a true story Diplomat who fell in love with an opera singer who was a man and a spy Suggested westerners still possess a view of orientals as submissive and feminine Jessica Tarahata Hagedorn Poet playwright and novelist Represents Filipino American playwright Most well know piece Set during Marcos reign in Philippines Multimedia piece Has short cinematic vignette that cover different geographical locations in Philippines in early 1980s Dogeaters Tim Dang Chay Yew Current East West Player s Artistic Director Used to appear in many shows before he became Artistic Director Born in Singapore Wrote first play As If He hears Play was banned in Singapore for portrayal of gay characters A Language of Their Own Done by Chay Yew 1994 Most powerful play Between two gay couples Asian American Companies today East west players Asian American Theatre Company Pan Asian Repertory East West Theaters still around They are one of the longest and most successful companies Other companies have disappeared due to money and financing Native American Theatre Its roots are in rituals ceremonies and traditions that had theatrical elements Audiences is considered just as a part of the production as are the performers No distinction between audience and performers Men s traditional dance Came from earlier 19 century war and dances style Physical story telling Eagle feathers More subdued colors Women s traditional dance More modest Full length dresses Were more restricted in how they were to move Buckskin clothes Fancy dance Started After WWII Everything became more colorful Double layers of feathers More elaborate foot movements Women dance styles became more vigorous American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978 Freedom act lifted the ban first American Indian Theatre Ensemble Founded by Hanay Geiogamah First Native American theatre 1960 1970 Social and political upheaval of 60 70s Dances and ceremonies were oftener banned by church and colonial governments Such as sun dance and spirit walk Established freedom of expression in ceremonies Native Americans could not have anything depicted about them without their permission being given 1976 Founded by Muriel Miguel Woven stories together from women through images poems and music This was considered American theatre and Feminism Fusing problems and aspirations of today s native American heritages Spider woman theatre Native American Theatre today Major playwrights Diane Glancy William Yellow Robe Jr Dianne Yeahquo Reyner Tomson Highway Diane Glancy Wrote Red deer Value of retaining Native American tradition and spiritualism Award winning Poet playwright author German and Cherokee decent