National Asian Artists Project and Honorary Chairman David Henry Hwang celebrate Flower Drum Song / November 25, 2018 by David Hwang

National Asian Artists Project's 2018 gala, The Corner of Chinatown and Broadway, will celebrate the 60th anniversary of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Flower Drum Song.

Helmed by Executive Artistic Director Baayork Lee and Richard Jay-Alexander, the evening will be held December 2 at The Golden Unicorn (18 East Broadway).

Performers will include Broadway’s Jose Llana (The King and I, Flower Drum Song) and Yuka Takara (A Chorus Line, Flower Drum Song), the award-winning Theatre Club from P.S. 124, alumni and NAAP kids, the NAAP Broadway Community Chorus, members from the original casts of the Broadway and 2002 revival of Flower Drum Song, as well as honorees Alvin Ing and Yuriko Kikuchi.

Yan Li will serve as the music director, with Viet Vo as the master of ceremonies. Tony-winning playwright David Henry Hwang (M. Butterfly) is the Honorary Chairman.

National Asian Artists Project to Celebrate 60th Anniversary of Flower Drum Song / November 14, 2018 by David Hwang

Baayork Lee, the organization's executive artistic director, will present the gala event, with David Henry Hwang as honorary chairman.

National Asian Artists Project has announced that it will hold its 2018 gala, titled The Corner of Chinatown and Broadway, at the restaurant Golden Unicorn on Sunday, December 2. The event will celebrate the 60th anniversary of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Flower Drum Song and will feature Jose Llana (The King and I) and Yuka Takara (A Chorus Line), and Theatre Club from PS 124, alumni and NAAP kids, the NAAP Broadway Community Chorus, members of the original casts of the Broadway and 2002 revival productions of the musical, as well as honorees Alvin Ing and Yuriko Kikuchi

Flying high with ‘M Butterfly’ / October 17, 2018 by David Hwang

It definitely ended on a high note -- that is most certain. The RS Francisco headlined and reincarnated production of M Butterfly did not only aroused the curiosities of the theater going public, it also created a buzz and a tempest of sorts as the David Henry Hwang play seduced everyone who saw it at the BGC Performing Arts Center.

Winnipesaukee Playhouse to stage ‘Aida’ on Oct. 19-21 / October 17, 2018 by David Hwang

The Winnipesaukee Playhouse Education Department will perform “Aida,” with music by Elton John, lyrics by Tim Rice, and book by Linda Woolverton, Robert Falls, and David Henry Hwang, on Oct. 19-21.

Curtain Up: South Coast Repertory Launches 55th Season / October 17, 2018 by David Hwang

In 1964, Orange County’s population was about to hit one million, Irvine was still a dream waiting to be built, and John Wayne had settled on Newport Beach as his new home.

Newport Beach is also where college pals Martin Benson and David Emmes (who attended Newport Harbor High School) headed, although their humble abode was an old marine swap shop on Villa Way. They converted the upstairs into an apartment, while the bottom floor was eventually remodeled into a small 24 by 58 foot, 70-seat theater better known as South Coast Repertory.

The season also includes the award-winning Stephen Sondheim musical “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” the compelling drama “M. Butterfly,” and the return of Southern California satirists Culture Clash in a show guaranteed to make you laugh and think.

‘Butterfly’ spreads its wings, set for tour / October 5, 2018 by David Hwang

To those who weren’t able to watch the Manila re-staging of “M. Butterfly,” here’s good news: The Tony-winning play will go on provincial tour January 2019, as confirmed by producer Jhett Tolentino.

“M. Butterfly” is about Song Liling who tricks a French diplomat into falling in love with him by disguising as a Chinese opera diva.

David Henry Hwang on Asian-American identity and the lasting impact of ‘M. Butterfly’ / October 2, 2018 by David Hwang

Nearly three decades since his Tony Award-winning play "M. Butterfly" was staged in Manila, David Henry Hwang was finally able to see a performance that has come to be known as "legendary."

"I usually don't see productions of 'M. Butterfly' outside New York, but I had to come to this one," Hwang told members of the media during a press lunch on Friday, September 28, at Seda BGC.

Tarzan the Musical swings into Mandurah later this month / October 1, 2018 by David Hwang

BASED on Disney’s epic animated musical adventure and Edgar Rice Burrough’s Tarzan of the Apes, Tarzan the Musical features heart-pumping music by rock legend Phil Collins and a book by Tony Award-winning playwright David Henry Hwang.

Noted playwright Henry Hwang to conduct master class / September 27, 2018 by David Hwang

Presented by Jhett Tolentino and Frontrow Entertainment, the David Henry Hwang Master Class will focus on playwrighting.

Tony and Grammy Award winner Jhett Tolentino will host the one-hour event to be attended by theater/drama students from select schools and universities; and noted personalities in Philippine theater industry.

WATCH: RS Francisco on Ellen Adarna, John Lloyd Cruz / September 27, 2018 by David Hwang

MANILA, Philippines — Before actress Ellen Adarna disappeared from the limelight in 2017 to run away with lover John Lloyd Cruz, among her last public appearances was during her launch as an endorser of a cosmetics brand.

In an interview with Philstar.com, RS Francisco of Front Row Entertainment, which signed up Adarna to become an endorser of Front Row’s makeup, tells in the video what he knows about the actress’ whereabouts after she was last seen in his event.

‘M Butterfly’ to assist a mix of beneficiaries / September 22, 2018 by David Hwang

MUCH has already been written about M Butterfly, the David Henry Hwang masterpiece that hits the Maybank Performing Arts Theater stage throughout the month. On the fantastic sets, to the dazzling performances of the actors, especially its lead RS Francisco, and how powerful and relevant the material is no matter that the play was written more than 30 years ago.

Not to trivialize what’s been gushed about but one thing I would like to highlight about this current Manila staging is that 100 percent of the earnings will go to charity. Each night, a different beneficiary will be helped.

Joe Mantello, Cicely Tyson, David Henry Hwang & More Named Theater Hall of Fame Inductees / September 22, 2018 by David Hwang

Eight longtime contributors to the New York theater scene have been named 2018 inductees into the Theater Hall of Fame for Lifetime Achievement in the American Theater. The talented creatives will be honored at The 48th Annual Theater Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at the Gershwin Theatre on November 12. The event will be hosted by past Theater Hall of Fame inductee and five-time Tony-nominated actress Dana Ivey.

2018 Theater Hall of Fame inductees include playwright David Henry Hwang (M. Butterfly), director/actor Joe Mantello (Wicked), actress Cicely Tyson (The Trip to Bountiful), actress Christine Baranski (Boeing-Boeing), actor Rene Auberjonois (City of Angels), playwright Maria Irene Fornes (And What of the Night?) and playwright Adrienne Kennedy (Ohio State Murders), with a posthumous induction to Signature Theatre founder James Houghton.

Cicely Tyson, Christine Baranski, David Henry Hwang Among 2018 Theater Hall of Fame Inductees / September 21, 2018 by David Hwang

María Irene Fornés and Joe Mantello will also be among those honored at the Gershwin Theatre.

The Theater Hall of Fame Inc. has announced its 2018 inductees: actors Rene Auberjonais, Christine Baranski, and Cicely Tyson; playwrights María Irene Fornés, David Henry Hwang, and Adrienne Kennedy; director Joe Mantello; and, posthumously, producer James Houghton.

The 48th Annual Theater Hall of Fame for Lifetime Achievement in the American Theater Induction Ceremony will be held November 12 at the Gershwin Theatre.

The perfect woman / September 21, 2018 by David Hwang

FEATURING MARVELOUS costume pieces by Eric Pineda, Chrysalis is a convergence of seven prominent names in photography: Jun de Leon, Raymund Isaac, Manny Librodo, Mandy Navasero, BJ Pascual, Wig Tysmans, and Patrick Uy. The exhibition—mounted in conjunction with the restaging of David Henry Hwang’s Tony Award-winning play, M. Butterfly—showcases interpretations of the perfect woman as embodied by Song Liling, the Chinese opera singer central to the love story. Chrysalis is a symbolic title, reflecting how the re-staging of Mr. Hwang’s tale has grown and transitioned since it was first staged in the Philippines in 1990.

Photo Flash: First Look at M. BUTTERFLY, Produced by Jhett Tolentino / September 21, 2018 by David Hwang

Manila, Philippines--Presented by acclaimed Broadway producer Jhett Tolentino and Frontrow Entertainment, M. BUTTERFLY (1988), the Tony Award-winning play written by David Henry Hwang, is all set to open tonight, September 13, at the Maybank Performing Arts Theater, BGC Arts Center, Bonifacio Global City. Multi-award winning stage and film director Kanakan-Balintagos directs this highly anticipated production.

Cairo Int'l Festival for Contemporary and Experimental Theatre kicks off / September 13, 2018 by David Hwang

The Cairo International Festival for Contemporary and Experimental Theatre is officially kicking off its 25th edition on Monday at the main hall of the Cairo Opera House as the opening ceremony starts at eight before showing the Swiss photographic play You and I.

The festival, which ends 21 September, will honor two Egyptian theatre icons, famous actor Ezzat El-Alaily and puppeteer Nagy Shaker, who died last month at the age of 86, in addition to a few other international theatre icons including American playwright David Henry Hwang and German Theatre scholar Hans-Thies Lehmann.

M. Butterfly author talks about his Phl ties / September 13, 2018 by David Hwang

Did you know that David Henry Hwang, author of the play M. Butterfly, has deep Philippine connection?

David actually talked about it in an exclusive interview with The STAR arranged by David’s aunt Doreen Yu (this paper’s Associate Editor and editor of the Sunday magazine Starweek) in 2008 when David came to grace the gala premiere of his other play, Golden Child, at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) as opening of the Tanghalang Pilipino’s 22nd theater season.

The good news is that David is coming to watch M. Butterfly, according to R.S. Francisco who is reprising his role as Song Liling (with French actor Olivier Borten as leading man) 28 years after it was staged here in 1990, and whose Frontrow Entertainment is co-producing the restaging with Tony/Grammy award-winner Jhett Tolentino at the Maybank Performing Arts Theater in Bonifacio Global City from Sept. 12 to 30.

Why You Should Watch the Tony Award-Winning Play M. Butterfly / September 13, 2018 by David Hwang

M. Butterfly makes its much-awaited debut on the Philippine stage on September 13 at the Maybank Performing Arts Theater in Bonifacio Global City. Below, we list down five reasons why you shouldn't miss it!

It's an award-winning play.

M. Butterfly, written by David Henry Hwang, opened on Broadway in 1988. It went on to win the Best Play, Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play (BD Wong), and Best Direction of a Play (John Dexter) titles during the Tony Awards; Outstanding New Play at the Drama Desk Award; and Outstanding New Broadway Play at the Outer Critics Circle Award all in the same year. The piece was also shortlisted for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1989. M. Butterfly officially closed after 777 shows in 1990.

Arts preview: With ‘Hamilton’ gone, other theatrical musicals take their shot: M Butterfly and Poor Yella Rednecks / September 13, 2018 by David Hwang

Last season, “Hamilton” was the 800-pound gorilla in Orange County’s theater line-up. This year, that larger-than-life primate would be “Dear Evan Hansen,” a musical about a high school student with severe social anxiety. Like “Hamilton,” it sounds unpromising on paper, but it took Broadway by storm last year, winning six Tony Awards, including best musical and best score, and it’s hugely popular with – you guessed it – high school students. “Dear Evan Hansen” moves into Segerstrom Center for the Arts on Jan. 1 and stays for 13 days.

Celebrate the Heart of Brooklyn at The Brooklyn Hospital Foundation’s Founders Ball / September 8, 2018 by David Hwang

The celebration kicks off at 6 p.m. at the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge with a VIP cocktail party with the honorees and celebrity guests. Among the guests will be Tony Award-winning playwright, screenwriter and TV writer David Henry Hwang, whose works include “M. Butterfly,” Showtime’s “The Affair,” and the Broadway musical “Aida.” Thanks to the expertise and quick thinking of The Brooklyn Hospital Center’s Emergency Department team, Hwang survived and fully recovered from a random attack outside his Brooklyn home in 2015.