Artists at Play Podcast

Meet the Artists at Play interns from 2023 in a series of chats with AAP co-founder and co-producing artistic leader Marie-Reine Velez. Marie "sits down" with Billie Chang, Asher Hammer, and Jocelyn Shek to discuss they journeys as young artists and where they see themselves going. Fun fact: Jocelyn and Asher were just about to leave for their freshman years at their respective universities when we recorded with them! Episode credits:Produced by Marie-Reine VelezEdited by Katherine ChouTheme song by Eloise Wong Artists at Play, Inc. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit arts organization based in Los Angeles, California. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook, or visit our website to sign up for our newsletter.

Content warning: This episode contains mentions of murder and butchery.Conversations with Peter J. Kuo, Annette Lee, and Jihye Kim about experiences in theatre that have brought them up close and personal with the strange, beautiful, and taboo.Jihye mentions Egalia's Daughters by Gerd Brantenberg and "I am More" directed by Ilha Lee.Hosted, produced, and edited by Katherine ChouPodcast theme by Eloise WongGraphic by Chris Komuro Artists at Play, Inc. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit arts organization based in Los Angeles, California. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook, or visit our website to sign up for our newsletter.

This year, Artists at Play welcomed new interns/mentees who sought an opportunity to learn about the work we do as a producing collective. In this episode, we learn about them! AAP co-founder and co-producing artistic leader Marie-Reine Velez facilitates a discussion with AAP interns and young theatre artists Sandy Nguyen, Jocelyn Shek, Victoria Vourkoutiotis, and Emi Yoshino about their experiences, interests, and vision for the future. CONTENT NOTE: This episode contains minimal use of expletive language and words. Episode credits:Produced and edited by Marie-Reine VelezAdditional editing by Nicholas PilapilTheme song by Eloise Wong

Join Artists at Play on a trip up to Grant Avenue, San Francisco, California, U.S.A.! Learn more about FLOWER DRUM SONG, the 1961 film adaptation of the 1958 Broadway musical featuring an [almost] all-Asian American cast, in this discussion that spans issues concerning agency, representation, and the show's legacy.CONTENT NOTE: This episode contains the use of expletive language and words.Episode CreditsProduced by Julia ChoEdited by Nicholas PilapilTheme song by Eloise Wong

Inspired by the work of The Great AAPI Elder Print Off in San Francisco, Artists at Play spotlights three theatre veterans who have contributed much of their professional lives to creating Asian American theatre and nurturing the next generation of artists. We sat down with Tim Dang, Meg Imamoto and Marilyn Tokuda, who all spent many years at East West Players, and are theatre elders who have mentored many.Episode CreditsProduced by Stefanie LauEdited by Nicholas PilapilTheme song by Eloise Wong

This lively panel discussion navigates questions of "Why theatre? Why still theatre? Why still theatre now?" Moderated by Artists at Play Producing Artistic Leader JULIA CHO, thrilled for this mini-reunion with various members of the team from our 2015 mainstage production, Madhuri Shekar's IN LOVE AND WARCRAFT. Participants include ILAW director Alejandra Cisneros, lighting designer Anthony Aguilar, cast member Cheryl Umana, and stage manager Jonathan Castanien.Episode CreditsProduced by Julia ChoEdited by Nicholas PilapilEpisode graphic by Chris KomuroPodcast theme by Eloise Wong

Episode CreditsProduced by Nicholas PilapilEdited by Nicholas PilapilTheme song by Eloise Wong

Welcome to Season 2 of the Artists at Play Podcast! ...And the 10th Anniversary of Artists at Play's founding! In our season two opener, the Artists at Play producers rehash and recreate some of our favorite original pieces that we wrote and performed for ARTISTS AT PLAY...AT PLAY, an annual tradition with our group since 2015. Each piece is preceded by a short conversation between the AAP producers.CONTENT NOTE: some of the pieces include swearing and talk of bodily functions.Order of PiecesThe Story of Han by Julia ChoNot Drinking by Nicholas PilapilWith Love, Your Biggest Fan by Katherine ChouSwimming in Circles by Stefanie LauMy Shitty Year by Marie-Reine VelezEpisode CreditsProduced by Marie-Reine VelezEdited by Nicholas PilapilTheme song by Eloise Wong

(Un)RivaledWritten by Rosie NarasakiDirected by Jully LeeEdited and mixed by Marvin YuehRadio Play Cast:Jessica Jade AndresEddie LiuJacqueline MisayeKrista Marie YuJulia Cho (stage directions)This episode's broadcast of a play-in-development by Rosie Narasaki is one of the ways we have continued our investment in playwrights during COVID-19.Many thanks to all the artists who lent their talents to this project, and especially  to playwright Rosie Narasaki who agreed to record this version of (Un)Rivaled for the Artists at Play Podcast. This play belongs to Ms. Narasaki and she holds the copyright for (Un)Rivaled.Since 2013, Artists at Play has provided resources and support to 13 playwrights as they develop a new works. Seven of those plays have gone on to world premiere productions at theatres across the United States and Canada. Artists at Play is proud to add new, contemporary work to American theatre and the growing canon of Asian American theatre. Our mission is to showcase the diverse experiences of the AAPI community in American theatre, and our growth includes actively creating new narratives that explore our diaspora.Each of these projects address themes and topics we find important to share. We work to present art that gives us opportunities to have conversations about issues that impact our communities. In 2021, we are excited to explore new ways in which we can cultivate the work of artists of color and contribute to the further diversifying of voices in theatre. We hope you can make a tax-deductible contribution to support our ongoing work.

Listen to a conversation about The Chinese Lady by Lloyd Suh, its connection to the history of Chinese in America, and what role the arts play in the interpretation and remembering of that history.Podcast guests include Rena Heinrich (USC Professor of Theatre Practice), Eugene Moy (Chinese American Museum board member), Rebecca Wear (director of AAP's 2019 production of The Chinese Lady), and moderated by AAP Producing Artistic Leader Stefanie Lau. Episode Credits:Edited by Nicholas PilapilPodcast theme by Eloise WongProduced by Stefanie Lau

In this episode of the Artists at Play Podcast we discuss the importance of Filipino novelist Carlos Bulosan and ALLOS, a play about his life and work.Joining us for this lively conversation, facilitated by AAP's Marie-Reine Velez, are Noel Alumit (actor, author, pastor), Lucy M. Burns (Associate Professor at UCLA's Asian American Studies Department), Ginger Leopoldo (Artistic Director, Circa Pintig) and Giovanni Ortega (writer of ALLOS).With topics spanning the farm labor movement and the role of art and activism in Carlos Bulosan's work and the Filipinx American artist community, our amazing panel turned the gathering into a virtual party.Noel Alumithttp://noelalumit.comLucy BurnsRappin’ with Ten Thousand Carabaos in the Dark, poems by Al Robles California Dreaming: Movement and Place in the Asian American Imaginary Ginger LeopoldoCIRCA Pintig Upcoming Events with CIRCA Pintig Talinhaga Laban sa Tirano: Raising Voices Against Tyranny Giovanni Ortegahttps://giovanniortega.comEpisode Credits:Edited by Nicholas PilapilPodcast theme by Eloise WongProduced by Marie-Reine Velez

To celebrate our 10th season and kick off our podcast, we reunited the cast of our inaugural show, Ching Chong Chinaman by Lauren Yee! Joining us for the conversation was director Peter J. Kuo; actors Elizabeth Ho, Stephen Hu, Ken Narasaki, Helen Ota, Scott Keiji Takeda and moderated by Julia Cho. It was a walk down memory lane full of laughs and stories.Episode Credits:Edited by Nicholas PilapilPodcast Theme by Eloise WongProduced by Artists at Play

Artists at Play produces theatrical programming that explores the Asian American experience. Our podcast will feature new play broadcasts, conversations, and a behind-the-scenes look at our organization and programming.