From the L.A. Times: Authenticity in casting: From 'colorblind' to 'color conscious,' new rules are anything but black and white /
Edel Rodriguez / For The Times
From the article:
"A study by the Asian American Performers Action Coalition found that white actors were cast in 78% of the roles on New York stages between the years of 2006 to 2015, whereas the U.S. Census estimates the white population of the city to be about 44%. Such discrepancies worry activists who note the slowness of change, even after incidents such as the 1989 London opening of “Miss Saigon,” in which a white actor wore prosthetics to change the shape of his eyes. The resulting protests, partly spearheaded by playwright David Henry Hwang, called out the practice and spurred Hwang to write the satirical play “Yellow Face.”
“For a decade or so I was thinking we sort of won the war even if we lost the battle, because we put producers on notice that there was going to be so much trouble if you cast a white person as Asian that you just wouldn’t do it,” Hwang said. Not so anymore, he said, noting the casting of Emma Stone (in the 2015 film “Aloha”) and Scarlett Johansson (in this year’s film “Ghost in the Shell”) as characters originally written as Asian or part Asian. “For some reason white people really seem to like playing Asians.”
Still, the discussion about who should be cast in which roles has evolved, Hwang said. As the theater grows more aware and diverse, the authenticity discussion has evolved with nuance.
“These debates are healthy,” he said. “I think it represents a society that is attempting to come to grips and move forward into uncharted territory.”
Read the whole article at the LA Times website.
2016 Tony Awards Nab Four Emmy Nominations /
The June 2016 broadcast of the 70th Annual Tony Awards, hosted by Tony Award winner James Corden, was honored today with four Prime Time Emmy Award nominations in the categories of Outstanding Special Class Program, Outstanding Writing For A Variety Special, Outstanding Lighting Design/Lighting Direction For A Variety Special, and Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video Control For A Limited Series, Movie Or Special.
The American Theatre Wing's TONY AWARDS are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing. At The Broadway League, Robert E. Wankel is Chairman and Charlotte St. Martin is President. At the American Theater Wing, David Henry Hwang is Chairman and Heather A. Hitchens is President.
Find out more at Broadwayworld.com
Tickets for M. Butterfly are on sale /
Clive Owen Photo: Gerhard Kassner)
Tickets are now on sale for the first Broadway revival of David Henry Hwang's drama M. Butterfly, beginning previews at the Cort Theatre on October 7 and opening on October 26. Julie Taymor directs the production starring Oscar nominee Clive Owen.
Find out more at Broadway.com.
Full creative team for M. Butterfly has been announced /
The full creative team has been announced for the upcoming Broadway revival of David Henry Hwang's Tony Award-winning play M. Butterfly, directed by Tony winner Julie Taymor.
The production will feature original music by Academy Award winner Elliot Goldenthal, choreography by Ma Cong, scenic design by Paul Steinberg, costume design by Constance Hoffman, lighting design by Donald Holder, sound design by Will Pickens, wig and hair design by Dave Bova, and makeup design by Judy Chin.
Find out more at Theatermania.com
M. Butterfly Finds a home on Broadway /
Photograph by Drew Wiedemann
David Henry Hwang's M. Butterfly has found a home on Broadway at the Shubert Organization’s Cort Theatre. The show opens on October 26, after previews beginning October 7. Julie Taymor (The Lion King; Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark) directs, and Clive Owen will star.
Find out more at Deadline.com.
Aida opens Moonlight Stage Productions' season /
Richard Bermudez, Bets Malone and Daebreon Poiema (from left) star in Moonlight Stage Productions' "Aida." (Ken Jacques)
This week, Moonlight Stage Productions in Vista opens its 37th season with “Aida,” the musical based on the 1871 Verdi opera of the same name.
The work started as a 1999 concept album with songs by John and Rice; the subsequent musical, written by Linda Woolverton, Robert Falls and David Henry Hwang, went on to win four Tony Awards, including best original score.
Find out more at the San Diego Tribune.
Wild Boar will premiere at Silk Road Rising /
Wild Boar will run November 9-December 17. The play was written by Hong Kong playwright Candace Chong, translated by Joanna C. Lee and Ken Smith and adapted by David Henry Hwang. Helen Young will direct the thriller about the investigation that follows a controversial professor's disappearance.
Find out more at Chicagotribune.com
M. Butterfly has an opening date for Broadway /
Clive Owen
The upcoming Broadway revival of David Henry Hwang’s Tony-winning drama M. Butterfly will begin previews October 7 at a theatre to be announced.
The production, starring Clie Owen and directed by Julie Taymor, will officially open October 26.
Find out more at Playbill.com.
An American Soldier will have its world premiere at the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis /
As a part of Opera Theatre of St. Louis' “New Works, Bold Voices” series, audiences will get a chance to see “An American Soldier” in its world premiere. The David Henry Hwang opera will feature Andrew Stensen in his OTSL debut, Wayne Tigges, Michael Christie, and Matthew Ozawa.
Read more at Operawire.com.
Audible announces $5 Million in Grants for Emerging Playwrights - David Henry Hwang joins advisory board /
The New York Times has announced that Audiobook company Audible will launch a $5 million fund to commission new works from emerging playwrights. The one or two-person radio plays will be created specially for broadcast via the Audible app, to be listened to on headphones or speakers.
David Henry Hwang will join an advisory board which will also include, Annette Bening (20th Century Women); fellow playwrights Lynn Nottage (Sweat), and Tom Stoppard (Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead); and directors Trip Cullman(Significant Other) and Leigh Silverman (Sweet Charity); and artistic directors Oskar Eustis (The Public Theater) and Mimi O’Donnell (Labyrinth Theater Company).
Find out more on Playbill.com.
M. Butterfly announced as part of Everyman 2017/18 season /
Everyman Theatre has announced its six-play lineup for the 2017-18 season, featuring works by Lynn Nottage, Eugene O’Neill, and David Henry Hwang.
The season will open with David Henry Hwang’s M. Butterfly (Sept. 6-Oct. 8). Inspired by the opera Madame Butterly, the play follows a French diplomat who becomes enchanted with a Peking opera star hiding more than her true identity. Vincent M. Lancisi will direct.
Read more at American Theatre.
Rehearsal images from David Henry Hwang’s Chinglish at Park Theatre /
See rehearsal photos from the upcoming production of Chinglish at the Park Theatre at LondonTheatre1.com.
Bid to Meet David Henry Hwang with American Theatre Wing's Centennial Charity Auction /
The American Theatre Wing's Centennial Auction is in its final week of bidding at www.charitybuzz.com/thewing, featuring five once-in-a-lifetime prize packages.
"As we celebrate our Centennial, the American Theatre Wing reaffirms our unwavering commitment to make the American Theatre more vital and diverse, and to bring theatre into the lives of young people across the country. This is a crucial time to invest in the future of artists, audiences, and diversity in the arts. Together, we can give children the gift of access to theatre education," said Heather Hitchens, President of the American Theatre Wing.
Read more at Broadway.com
World premiere of David Henry Hwang musical to lead Ahmanson's 2017-18 season /
Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times
The Humans,” the Stephen Karam one-act that won four Tony Awards last year including best play, and “Soft Power,” a world premiere David Henry Hwang that work takes the form of a Chinese musical about present-day America, lead the 2017-18 Ahmanson Theatre lineup to be announced Thursday by Centre Theatre Group.
The company commissioned Tony winner Hwang (“Chinglish,” “M. Butterfly”) to create “Soft Power” for the current 50th anniversary season of the Mark Taper Forum. But in the announcement expected from artistic director Michael Ritchie on Thursday, Center Theatre Group will move the production to the larger Ahmanson. Jeanine Tesori, the Tony-winning composer of “Fun Home” (now playing at the Ahmanson) and “Caroline, or Change,” will join the creative team for “Soft Power,” which starts as a contemporary play and time-shifts into a musical 100 years in the future. The production is set to open in May 2018.
Find out more at the L.A. Times.
Find out more at Playbill.com
Casting announced for European premiere of Chinglish /
Windson Liong, Candy Ma and Gyuri Sarossy
Casting has been announced for David Henry Hwang's Chinglish, which receives its European premiere at the Park Theatre in March.
Gyuri Sarossy (The Absence of War, Headlong) and Candy Ma (Project New Earth) will lead the cast alongside Lobo Chan, Duncan Harte, Siu-see Hung, Minhee Yeo and Windson Liong.
Find out more at What's On Stage
Dream of the Red Chamber to be broadcast on the radio, March 5th /
The San Francisco Opera and Bay Area classical radio station KDFC continue their monthly broadcasts of performances captured during SF Opera's Fall 2016 Season, including the world premiere of Bright Sheng and David Henry Hwang 's Dream of the Red Chamber. All performances were recorded live at the War Memorial Opera House and feature the San Francisco Opera Orchestra and Chorus (Ian Robertson, Chorus Director). Each SF Opera performance is broadcast on Classical KDFC at 8 p.m. on the first Sunday of every month and hosted by radio announcer Dianne Nicolini. The broadcasts are also available for streaming on demand at kdfc.com for four weeks after the initial airdate.
Find our more at the the Bay Area Reporter.
Everyman Theatre to open 2017-18 season with 'M. Butterfly' /
"M. Butterfly" playwright David Henry Hwang. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times)
In an unusual move, Everyman Theatre has announced one of the works on its 2017-2018 lineup — David Henry Hwang's Tony Award-winning "M. Butterfly," which will launch the season in September. The remainder of the season will be unveiled in the spring.
It's turning out to be the autumn of "M. Butterfly."
The 1988 play will also get a Broadway revival opening in late October, starring Clive Owen and directed by Julie Taymor. It will mark her return to Broadway after being pushed out as director of "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" in 2011.
Read more at The Baltimore Sun or at Broadway World.
Chinese-American Comedy Makes Its NZ Debut in Wellington /
In March, Red Scare Theatre Company will stage the New Zealand premiere of David Henry Hwang’s Yellow Face. Cassandra Tse will direct the show, having recently returned from an internship at Signature Theatre in New York City where Hwang is a resident playwright.
When Tse first picked up Yellow Face she “couldn’t believe how funny it was, how intelligent and nuanced its politics were.” Her experience with Asian theatre in New Zealand is that it was usually “very serious, focused almost exclusively on tradition, mythology and ancient culture, and completely unrelatable to someone like me, a fourth-generation Chinese-Pākeha New Zealander who has never been to China.” Yellow Face was as a complete counterpoint for her; its ability to be “contemporary, witty, and not above poking fun at itself” meant that it was vital to bring this work to New Zealand.
Read the whole article at Scoop.
Julie Taymor to Direct Clive Owen in ‘M. Butterfly’ /
The actor Clive Owen and the director Julie Taymor.
Credit: From left: Damon Winter/The New York Times; John Carucci/Associated Press
Courtesy The New York Times
“M. Butterfly,” the gender-bending play about a French diplomat who has a lengthy affair with a Chinese opera singer, will be revived on Broadway this fall with Clive Owen starring and Julie Taymor directing.
The drama, inspired by a true story, won the Tony Award for best new play in 1988, when it starred John Lithgow and B. D. Wong (who won a Tony). The playwright David Henry Hwang is making significant revisions to the script for the revival, incorporating recent discoveries about the relationship between Bernard Boursicot, who was an embassy worker, and Shi Pei Pu, a man whom Mr. Boursicot had believed for years to be a woman. The two were convicted of espionage in 1986. They were pardoned a year later.
Read more at The New York Times