Artbound “East West Players: A Home On Stage”

Pat Morita, BD Wong, Nancy Kwan. The list goes on of luminary Asian American actors who have passed through East West Players, the first professional Asian American theater organization, established in 1965 by Mako, Beulah Quo, James Hong, and others who played bit roles in Hollywood but wanted a home where they could be the leads and write their own plays. The KCET/PBS SoCal-produced EAST WEST PLAYERS: A HOME ON STAGE is a tribute to this institution, offering a behind-the-scenes look into its resilience, groundbreaking achievements, and the transformative power of visibility in the arts.

Featuring compelling conversations with East West Players veterans like George Takei, James Hong, Tamlyn Tomita, and John Cho, this documentary explores not just the characters they played on stage, but the vital civic space the theater created, the pivotal impact the theater had on their careers, the unique challenges faced by Asian American actors, and the ongoing fight against racial stereotypes like “yellowface.”

In Hollywood’s own backyard, East West Players has for decades shown what has always been possible: how to support Asian American performers and storytellers while nurturing an arts landscape that is unmistakably Asian American.

– Alex Villafuerte

Filmmaker scheduled to attend.
Screening to be followed by Q&A.

Admission includes pre-screening reception from 4:30pm-5:30pm at The Patio next to Edwards Mira Mesa Theater.

Underwritten by Bayha Group.