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Period: to
Contemporary Asian/Latino Theatre
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Yohji Yamamoto
Yohji Yamamoto is a famous Japanese fashion designer. He did costume designs for popular Operas Madame Butterfly, Opéra De Lyon, and Triton Isolde. Yamamoto has stores based in both Tokyo and Paris. In 2003, he partnered with ADIDAS to release a line of shoes called Y-3, which are still available to buy to this day (Goldstein). His concepts were brought into the spotlight in the 1970s, having done much for avant-garde fashion (Mears 95). He defies convention with his use of irregular materials. -
David Henry Hwang
David Henry Hwang (born Aug. 11, 1957) is an Asian American playwright who has written and conducted numerous plays that have addressed topics such as individual and group identity (like gender roles and ethnicity). His first play, F.O.B; “explores the tensions within and between recent and assimilated Chinese immigrants” (Lyons 1). Hwang’s plays have contributed much to ethnic theatre, providing an intuitive analysis of the politics of race/gender, class, and sexuality (Lyons 1). -
Nilo Cruz
Nilo Cruz is a Cuban American playwright, born Oct. 10th, 1960. Best known for his play, Anna in the Tropics, which “deals with large issues, lost traditions, the importance of art-- and it's a classic love story...” (Goehner Zoglin). Cruz had arrived in American at the age of 9, following a freedom flight (Gener 23). His theatre is considered a form of escape, displacement, and cultural fragmentation (Gener 23). Cruz labored years with little recognition until his hit play (Goehner Zoglin). -
El Teatro Campesino (The Farm Workers' Theatre)
El Teatro Campesino started during the Mexican farmer’s strike in 1965. It had political performances that took place on flatbeds, street corners, and union halls which endured for 12 years until later becoming one of the most seen artistic forums and promoted the Chicano civil rights movement (Heller 766). El Teatro Campesino had an unclean history of misogyny, as was brought to light in the 80s by Yolanda Broyles-González, who claims that Luis Valdez had threatened her publishers (Heller 767). -
Zoot Suit
Written by Luis Valdez, Zoot Suit is a significant theatre production as it was the first Chicano play (and the second Latino play) to have been performed on Broadway, at the Winter Garden Theatre. The play originally debuted in 1978 at The Mark Taper Forum Stages, selling out within 2 days (Almanac). Zoot Suit has further historical origins, as it is based off of events that transpired in the early 1940s, namely the Sleepy Lagoon murder trial and Zoot Suit riots of the early 1940s (Schoff 38). -
Super Kabuki
Kabuki (known for its stylized themes, glamour, and costumes) is a classic form of Japanese-style theatre originating in the early 1700s (Hornby 516). Super Kabuki is an elevated form that began in 1986. It had helped modernize Kabuki by remaking traditional plays while bringing new productions into the mix, even involving popular anime shows/games, such as Naruto and more recently, Final Fantasy X. Kabuki translates to “song,” “dance,” and an indication of an actor’s talent (D’Etcheverry 21). -
M. Butterfly
Having premiered in 1988, M. Butterfly is a Tony award-winning play that was written by David Henry Hwang. The play is based on a true story, following a love affair between French diplomat Renee Gallimard and his 20-year relationship with Chinese Opera singer/spy Song Liling (Orenstein 491). The twist is that Liling is revealed to be a man, leading to tragedy. A revival of M. Butterfly took place in 2017 but was short lived, having not been successful, critically or popularly (Orenstein 494). -
Phillipa Anne Soo
Phillipa Soo is an Asian American actress, singer, and multi-instrumentalist, best known for her role in the play Hamilton -- a national sensation. Soo had been enrolled in dance classes at the youthful age of 3, had watched the Shakespeare play The Tempest at the age of 8, and had self-taught herself to play the Ukelele and Guitar (Hagan 78). In 2015, She had also founded the Eliza Project, a charity that enables underprivileged youth to take dancing, singing, and acting lessons (Hagan 80). -
Kabuki-za Theatre
Having been reconstructed in 2013, Kabuki-za theatre is one of the most famous Kabuki theatres in the world. Located in Tokyo, Japan; Kabuki-za theatre is dramatic in appearance, being adorned with hanging lanterns and painted scenery from the various plays (Long). This theatre stands out because of its tragic past. “Over the years, the Kabuki-za has been consumed by fire, earthquakes, and war...” (Pocock). Despite this, it still serves as a great median to enjoy traditional Kabuki-style plays. -
Hamilton (Musical)
An important modern-day movement in theatre are musicals. Of the many, Hamilton stands out as one of the most significant plays. Written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, the play has been the recipient of the Pulitzer Prize, a Grammy, and 11 Tony awards (Schechtman). Hamilton encompasses a diverse cast, inclusive of Latino, Black, and Asian people. Having a wide array of music (hip-hop, RB, and soul, etc.), Miranda claims that the musical is “a story about America then, told by America now” (Styrt 1).