The Philadelphia Asian Theater Project

Founded in 2014, the Philadelphia Asian Theater Project (PATP) is a coalition of Philadelphia theaters that are working together to promote the development of Asian American theater in the greater Philadelphia area. 

OUR GOALS ARE:

  • To increase the number of theater productions here with Asian American content, creators and performers.
  • To build demand for Asian American theater.
  • To develop the local Asian American theater talent pool.
  • To increase attendance by the Asian American community at live theater performances in the Philadelphia area.

PROGRAMS IN PROGRESS: 

  • Offer artist development activities for emerging Asian American theater artists
  • Share resources and contacts within Asian American communities
  • Provide cross marketing strategies and support for productions with significant Asian American content, creators or performers.

PATP is open to expanding membership from any professional theater in the greater Philadelphia area.
For Further Information Contact: Rick Shiomi, rashiomi5@gmail.com

2015/16 SEASON

PATP plans to support the following productions in the 2015/16 Season:

Antigone, by Sophocles
translated by Marianne McDonald
directed by Theodorus Terzopoulos
produced by The Wilma Theater, October 7 - November 8, 2015

Lights Rise on Grace, by Chad Beckim
directed by Kevin Glaccum
produced by Azuka Theatre, November 4 - 22, 2015

The Hard Problem, by Tom Stoppard
directed by Blanka Zizka
produced by The Wilma Theater, January 6 – February 6, 2016

#therevolution, by Kristoffer Diaz
directed by Seth Rozin
produced by InterAct Theatre Company, January 22 - February 12, 2016

An Octoroon, by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins
directed by Joanna Settle
produced by The Wilma Theater, March 16 – April 10, 2016

The Nether, by Jennifer Haley
directed by Seth Rozin
produced by InterAct Theatre Company, March 25 - April 17, 2016

A Single Shard, by Robert Schenkkan
Adapted from the book by Linda Sue Park
directed by Seema Sueko
produced by People’s Light,  April 27 - May 29, 2016 

36 Views, by Naomi Iizuka  
directed by Peter DeLaurier
produced by Lantern Theater Company, May 26 - June 26, 2016

Straight White Men, by Young Jean Lee
directed by Matt Pfeiffer
produced by InterAct Theatre Company, May 27 - June 19, 2016

PATP HISTORY

PATP was formed to address the lack of support for and development of Asian American theater in Philadelphia, despite the prominent presence of Asian Americans in our community. The coalition emerged from several 2014 initiatives, including a Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Grant in the Building Demand For The Arts program, given to Rick Shiomi and InterAct Theatre Company; the controversy surrounding the Lantern Theater Company's production of Julius Caesar, and conversations among theater artists about how to develop a theatrical landscape that better reflects our general community.

PAST ACTIVITIES

The first productions supported by PATP in the 2014/15 season were Caught by Christopher Chen, produced by InterAct Theatre Company; Hold These Truths by Jeannie Sakata, produced by Plays and Players; and the production by the Philadelphia Theatre Company of brownsville song (b-side for Tray) by Kimber Lee. To kick off the artistic development component of this initiative, Kevin Glaccum of Azuka Theatre and Seth Rozin of InterAct Theatre Company led an Audition Workshop, and Walter Bilderback of The Wilma Theater led a playwriting workshop.