MUSICAL THEATER TODAY VOLUME 2 Launches July 16th! Featuring Rachel Bloom, Michael John LaChiusa, David Henry Hwang and More / June 30, 2018 by David Hwang

After the success of it's inaugural issue last summer, the second volume of Musical Theater Today is set for release on July 16, 2018.

The first of its kind, Musical Theater Today is an annual print publication consisting of interviews, work excerpts, and essays from some of the most prominent and influential musical theater artists of our time. From writers and composers to performers, directors, and even students, Musical Theater Today compiles diverse and varied perspectives of the industry on all scales.

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Searing Comedy YELLOW FACE Opens This August at The Beverly Hills Playhouse / June 30, 2018 by David Hwang

Firescape Theatre and Yolk Productions in association with The Beverly Hills Playhouse present the remounting of "YELLOW FACE" by David Henry Hwang. An award-winning production from San Francisco will open in Los Angeles on August 10th. The searing comedy will be directed by Robert Zimmerman.

Truth and fiction blur in Pulitzer Prize finalist David Henry Hwang's hilarious and moving show Yellow Face, which is based on the author's own life. When Hwang mistakenly makes a disastrous casting decision, he quickly gets in over his head. As the situation spirals further out of control, he finds himself at the center of a government intrigue and investigation.

Read more at Broadway World

N. Riantiarno's TIME BOMB Holds Reading at Inaugural Columbia University School Of The Arts International Play Reading Festival / June 26, 2018 by David Hwang

A reading of Indonesian playwright N. Riantiarno's Time Bomb, was the first of three plays featured in the Inaugural Columbia University School of the Arts International Play Reading Festival, organized by Dean Carol Becker and David Henry Hwang, at the Flexible Performance Space, Lenfest Center for the Arts in New York on June 15, 2018.

Read more at Broadway World

Going to see ‘Soft Power’ at SF’s Curran? Here’s what you need to know / June 26, 2018 by David Hwang

Pondering a trek to see the bold new musical “Soft Power” at The Curran in San Francisco? We don’t blame you, the inventive new “play with a musical” created by the A-List duo of David Henry Hwang (“M. Butterfly”) and composer Jeanine Tesori (“Fun Home”), “Soft Power” blends timely comedy, catchy songs and a heartfelt look at contemporary politics, art and culture. Heck, Hillary Clinton has a show-stopping number in it (well, OK, someone who plays Clinton, that is). But before you head off, here’s what you need to know.

‘Soft Power’ links musical theater and geopolitics in a future China / June 25, 2018 by David Hwang

At the Curran’s season announcement party in January, playwright David Henry Hwang defined soft power in contrast to economic and military power. China, he said, already has the last two, but it doesn’t have the first, which he described as a kind of cultural or intellectual capital.

In his and Jeanine Tesori’s new piece, “Soft Power,” he envisions what the world and what musical theater might look like once China achieves that additional influence over the world.

'SOFT POWER' musical comes to San Francisco's Curran Theater / June 25, 2018 by David Hwang

A new musical called "SOFT POWER" is opening up Wednesday night at the Curran Theater in San Francisco.

Tony Award-winning playwright and Stanford grad David Henry Hwang sat down with ABC7 News with all the details.

Rob Zimmerman To Direct YELLOW FACE At The Beverly Hills Playhouse / June 25, 2018 by David Hwang

San Francisco based Firescape Theatre and Yolk Productions in association with The Beverly HillsPlayhouse has announced Rob Zimmerman as director of a remounting of their award winning Yellow Face by David Henry Hwang.

Read more at Broadway World

Hwang-Tesori dream team brings Sino-futurist musical ‘Soft Power’ to SF / June 18, 2018 by David Hwang

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The first collaboration of the theatrical dream team of great American playwright David Henry Hwang (“M. Butterfly,” “Yellow Face,” “Chinglish”) and versatile composer Jeanine Tesori (“Fun Home,” “Shrek the Musical,” “Caroline, or Change”), “Soft Power” is billed as “a play with a musical” with a predominantly Asian American cast. Coming to the Curran in San Francisco, fresh from its world premiere in Los Angeles, it starts as a contemporary comedy and then shifts into a full-blown musical.

Hwang’s ‘Soft Power’ — part play, part musical — sparked by ‘King and I’ revival / June 18, 2018 by David Hwang

Early in David Henry Hwang’s prolific career, the theater community started referring to him as the most famous Chinese American playwright. Over the decades Hwang has had mixed feelings about his anointment.

“At this point I think it is just true. I think everybody who is fortunate enough to have a career gets labeled in one way or another, and I do write a lot about Asian American stuff, so that is fair. But ‘label’ has evolved into a term more desirable, which is branding, and I am well branded,” he said recently with a laugh.

APEX Express – June 14, 2018- The Story Before / June 18, 2018 by David Hwang

The PowerLeeGirls Miko Lee and Jalena Keane-Lee present “The Story Before” we talk with 3 APA artists at very different places in their careers. We ask them about how they got to present day where they are sharing skills with the next generation, creating innovative theatre, and talking about arts, activism and progressive change. Featuring APA artists: educator/filmmaker Bhwain Suchak, playwright and professor David Henry Hwang and filmmaker Alex Chu.

Stars’ plates full on Broadway / June 18, 2018 by David Hwang

American Theater Wing did a schmooze at Laura Maioglio’s restaurant, Barbetta.

Patti LuPone: “What’s with workers in our Theater District? Having dinner nearby, right before a show, if you ask, ‘Where’s the Barrymore?’ — they don’t know. It’s West 47th. The restaurant’s West 46th. And they don’t know where it is?!”

Playwright David Henry Hwang: “My new musical ‘Soft Power’ is trying out on the coast. It’s political history played through China; about influencing other countries by ideas.”

Tony Awards 2018 Red Carpet Live: All the Celebrity Dresses and Fashion / June 12, 2018 by David Hwang

Tonight, the 72nd Annual Tony Awards honored nominees for their excellence in Broadway theater. Hosted by Josh Groban and Sara Bareilles at Radio City Music Hall, the evening celebrates outstanding works of theater and acknowledges the many players involved in the making of them. But before the award show attendees found their seats in the famous Art Deco theater, they walked the red carpet to a light show of camera flashes that documented every sequined gown, tulle confection, and tailored tux. See what all of your favorite actors, playwrights, directors, and more wore to the biggest night in Broadway. And check back later this evening to see who made it onto the 2018 Tony Awards best-dressed list.

Patti LuPone, Santino Fontana Celebrate New American Theatre Wing Oral History / June 12, 2018 by David Hwang

The American Theatre Wing celebrated its centennial anniversary with the launch of the new book American Theatre Wing, an Oral History: 100 Years, 100 Voices, 100 Million Miracles on June 7 at Barbetta Restaurant.

Celebrating the 100 years of the American Theatre Wing, this book is a cornucopia of untold lore and never-before-seen photos as prismatic and unexpected as the theater itself. Written by Patrick Pacheco, the work features reminiscences by Angela Lansbury, Rosie O'Donnell, Patti LuPone, Audra McDonald, Harold Prince, Kenny Leon, Neil Patrick Harris, David Henry Hwang, Harvey Fierstein, and James Corden, among others.

Pearl Studios Unveils ‘Tiger Empress’ Movie, Promotes Justinian Huang / June 10, 2018 by David Hwang

Pearl Studios is developing the animated movie “Tiger Empress” with playwright David Henry Hwang on board to pen the script.

“Tiger Empress” is the story of a young tigress who grows from the obedient daughter into a transformational leader when a prophecy convinces her that she’s the only one who can save their kingdom. Hwang’s play “M. Butterfly” won the Tony Award for best play in 1988.

David Henry Hwang to Write Animated Film 'Tiger Empress' for Pearl Studio / June 10, 2018 by David Hwang

David Henry Hwang, the Tony Award-winning playwright of M. Butterfly, has been tapped to write the screenplay for the animated film Tiger Empress for Pearl Studio, the Shanghai-based animation studio. The film will tell the story of a young tigress who grows from the obedient daughter of a tiger mom into a leader who must save their kingdom.

Interview with Carol Becker and David Henry Hwang: International Play Reading Festival / June 10, 2018 by David Hwang

The Columbia University School of the Arts International Play Reading Festival is a new Festival organized by Dean Carol Becker and Playwriting Concentration Director David Henry Hwang. The Festival will be held at Lenfest Center for the Arts June 15th, 16th, and 17th and will present public readings of three plays by living international playwrights: Time Bomb by N. Riantiarno (Indonesia), Shaitan Lake by Rinat Tashimov (Russia) and Where Can I Find Someone Like You, Ali? By Raeda Taha (Palestine).

They Call Us David / June 6, 2018 by David Hwang

Jeff and Phil welcome celebrated playwright David Henry Hwang to talk about his form-busting new "play with a musical" SOFT POWER. They discuss political fantasies and realities, Hillary Clinton as a romantic lead, and that time DHH got stabbed.

See more at They Call Us Bruce

The Great Work Continues: The 25 Best American Plays Since ‘Angels in America,’ includes Yellow Face by David Henry Hwang / June 5, 2018 by David Hwang

“The Great Work begins.” When we first heard the Angel of America bellow that bulletin as the curtain came down on Part 1 of the play named for her and her band of anxious immortals, many of us who look to the theater for inspiration were, in fact, inspired. Tony Kushner’s “gay fantasia,” fusing the ambition, morality and underdog sympathies of earlier 20th century masters, felt not only like a great American play but like a culmination and reimagining of great American playness. It slammed a door open.

That was 1993. Exactly 25 years later, the first Broadway revival of “Angels in America” started us thinking about what has happened to American plays in the meantime. Have they been as great? Is their greatness different from what it was? Is “greatness” even a meaningful category anymore?

Conrad Ricamora Lights Up New Musical ‘Soft Power’ / June 5, 2018 by David Hwang

Conrad Ricamora didn’t set out to be an actor. Growing up, the “How to Get Away With Murder” star lived all over the world, from Iceland to Florida, due to his father’s job in the Air Force. Though he enjoyed singing and dancing when he was little, by the time he hit middle school, “I realized guys would be ridiculed if you did that, so I quickly stopped and started playing sports.”

Opera 'An American Soldier' asks big questions about American identity / June 5, 2018 by David Hwang

U.S. Army Private Danny Chen died at his guard post in Afghanistan in 2011 — not in combat, but from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after enduring racially motivated hazing by his fellow soldiers.

A new opera opening at Opera Theatre of St. Louis on Sunday looks at Chen’s life and death. The creators of “An American Soldier” say it asks basic questions about the nature of identity and belonging in this country.