Tony Award winner and Pulitzer Prize finalist David Henry Hwang always knew that his latest work, Soft Power, was going to be a play with a musical. Not to be confused with a play or a musical, or a play with music (in which songs simply accompany plot—different from a musical in which songs drive plot). Directed by Leigh Silverman, Soft Power, currently playing San Francisco’s Curran through July 8, is a genre-breaking new form of theatre.
8 New Theatre Books You Need to Read This Summer /
American Theatre Wing, an Oral History: 100 Years, 100 Voices, 100 Million Miracles, by Patrick Pacheco
The American Theatre Wing may be best known to theatre fans as the co-producer of the Tony Awards, but in its more-than-a-century’s existence, the Wing has been an invaluable support to the art of theatre in ways that go well beyond an awards ceremony. Loaded with first person anecdotes and never-before-seen-photos, this book takes you from the Wing’s beginnings as a World War I charitable organization, to the establishment of the famed Stage Door Canteen during World War II, to the Wing of today that works tirelessly to support theatre on Broadway and all across the United States. This oral history is shared by such theatrical luminaries as Angela Lansbury, Rosie O’Donnell, Patti LuPone, Audra McDonald, Harold Prince, Kenny Leon, Neil Patrick Harris, David Henry Hwang, Harvey Fierstein, and James Corden.
BWW Exclusive: Conrad Ricamora Rises to SOFT POWER and Blasts Trump for Getting Away With Racism /
Conrad Ricamora is best-known to millions of TV viewers as Oliver, the cute computer whiz, on ABC's "How to Get Away With Murder." But this 2013 Theatre World Award winner also can slay an audience onstage as he has proven Off-Broadway in "Here Lies Love" and on Broadway in "The King and I." And Ricamora is currently "killing it" as the star of "Soft Power," David Henry Hwang and Jeanine Tesori's bold, new musical. Directed by Leigh Silverman, it is playing through July 8 at the Curran in San Francisco.
Soft Power‘s Alyse Alan Louis on Playing Hillary Clinton (Sorta) /
David Henry Hwang and Jeanine Tesori's "play with a musical" — at the Curran through July 8 — turns tropes about Chinese-American relations on their head.
It’s a truism in international relations that China will overtake the United States as the world’s pre-eminent military and economic power at some point in the middle third of this century (if not sooner). But in the loose division between geopolitcal forms of dominance — in a weirdly gendered schema that equates — it remains to be seen whether China can excel at exporting pop culture the way America has since 1945.
MUSICAL THEATER TODAY VOLUME 2 Launches July 16th! Featuring Rachel Bloom, Michael John LaChiusa, David Henry Hwang and More /
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.
Read more at Broadway World
Searing Comedy YELLOW FACE Opens This August at The Beverly Hills Playhouse /
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.
N. Riantiarno's TIME BOMB Holds Reading at Inaugural Columbia University School Of The Arts International Play Reading Festival /
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.
Going to see ‘Soft Power’ at SF’s Curran? Here’s what you need to know /
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 /
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 /
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 /
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.
Hwang-Tesori dream team brings Sino-futurist musical ‘Soft Power’ to SF /
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 /
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 /
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 /
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 /
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 /
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 /
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 /
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 /
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).