Theatre Diaspora began as a response to the lack of AAPI visibility on Portland stages and audiences as well as a lack of awareness and education regarding the importance of casting Asian American actors in Asian American roles and plays.

Theatre Diaspora creates a yearly season of staged readings focusing on Asian American identity and cultural issues with talkbacks and invited panel discussions after every performance. Theatre Diaspora has generated awareness of the Asian experience to all communities and helps establish Asian American theatre artists and playwrights dedicated to giving Asian American theatre more visibility, and to engage the public in insightful talkback discussions on cultural diversity.

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Theatre Diaspora is Oregon’s only professional Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI) theatre company, committed to portraying authentic AAPI cultural, historical, and social perspectives to reach broad audiences. By strongly advocating through compelling performances and post-show discussions, we are bridging communities to foster inclusion, social-awareness, and open conversations on race and cultural diversity – celebrating the AAPI experience.

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Theatre Diaspora’s staged reading series was a project of MediaRites, an award-winning nonprofit production organization based in Portland, Oregon, dedicated to telling the stories of diverse cultures and giving voice to the unheard through the arts, education and media projects. Since 1984, MediaRites has produced award-winning radio and film documentaries, interactive websites, theatre, and outreach projects.

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Land Acknowledgement

We would like to acknowledge that Theatre Diaspora resides on the traditional lands of the Multnomah, Wasco, Cowlitz, Kathlamet, Clackamas, Bands of Chinook, Tualatin, Kalapuya, Molalla, and many other tribes who made their homes along the Columbia River. We recognize the enduring presence of these Native peoples and honor their deep connections to this land.

As an organization dedicated to amplifying the voices of marginalized communities, we also acknowledge the profound impact of displacement on refugees. Theatre Diaspora stands in solidarity with all individuals who have been uprooted from their homelands due to conflict, persecution, or other circumstances beyond their control.

We recognize that the colonization and settlement of this land by European immigrants and their descendants has resulted in the dispossession of Indigenous peoples and the forced displacement of countless communities. This history of colonization and its ongoing effects must not be forgotten.

We acknowledge the resilience and strength of the diverse refugee communities who have sought refuge and built new lives in this region. Their contributions to the cultural, social, and economic fabric of Portland have enriched our community immeasurably.

In recognizing these truths, we commit to amplifying the voices of Indigenous peoples and refugees, and to uplifting their stories and experiences. We strive to create a space that acknowledges the ongoing effects of colonization, fosters understanding and healing, and works towards justice, equity, and inclusion.

May we all continue to learn from the wisdom of Indigenous peoples, honor their stewardship of the land, and work towards a future where all individuals, including refugees, can thrive, be valued, and feel a sense of belonging.

Let us stand together in unity, acknowledging the past, present, and future, as we move forward with empathy, respect, and shared responsibility for the land we occupy.

Links to help support websites and organizations:

• Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
• Chinook Tribal Justice – Tribal Recognition
• The Klamath Tribes
• Immigrant Refugee Community Organization
• Portland Refugee Support Group