Exotic Deadly: Or the MSG
Play by Keiko Green

Exotic Deadly: Or The MSG Play by Keiko Green is a comedic play that dives into the complexities of identity and misinformation. Set in 1999, the story follows Ami, a 14-year-old Japanese-American girl, who just wants to fit in despite feeling disconnected from her heritage. When she discovers that her family has a history tied to MSG—a substance blamed for “Chinese Restaurant Syndrome”—Ami confronts the myths, prejudices, and identity crises that shape her world. With humor and a dash of surrealism, Exotic Deadly explores cultural misconceptions and the challenges of navigating multiple identities in America.

Saturday, December 7, 2024 7:30pm

Directed by Kate Duffly. Free and open to the public.

The Book of Mountains and Seas by Yilong Liu

Theatre Diaspora, Oregon’s only professional Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) theatre company, and MediaRites Productions, a nonprofit organization that provides innovative, award-winning documentary, theatre and outreach programs, today announce their co-produced staged reading of The Book of Mountains and Seas by award-winning playwright, Yilong Liu. Winner of the LGBTQ industry’s Lambda Literary Award for Drama, the play will be performed at Fuse Theatre Ensemble (4319 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd., Portland, OR 97215) on July 29, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. for one night only, followed by a short audience talkback with Colleen with Weave and Greave events from @deathdouladoes.

Liu’s play involves a Chinese-born father from California who visits his deceased gay son’s American boyfriend in New York after discovering his son’s Yelp restaurant reviews two years after his son’s death. The father’s mission: to visit all of the restaurants his son reviewed on his Yelp page with the help of the former boyfriend. What results is a joint adventure filled with cultural clashes, friendship, differences, and the son’s spirit from the digital world, checking in on this unlikely pair.

The Book of Mountains and Seas is directed by Terry Kitagawa, a Theater Diaspora company member and seasoned actor, writer, director, and educator who had worked in San Francisco and New York City. The cast is comprised of Samson Syharath, who is also the managing artistic director of Theatre Diaspora, Matt Sepeda, and Larry Toda (also a company member of Theatre Diaspora).

Ten Minute Tapestry: AAPI Writers Showcase

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Inside Out and Back Again

Play by Minh Kahng, based on the book by Thanhha Lai

Inside Out and Back Again is a story of a ten-year-old Hà and her family fleeing from Vietnam to Alabama, where she dreams of her beloved papaya tree and struggles to adjust in a strange new land. Thanhha Lai’s award-winning book of poetry comes to life in this on-stage retelling of a young girl and her family’s journey to find a new home.

Stories of Oceania

Join Native Hawaiian student, Kāpili, as he learns about respecting and honoring people of different cultures through the stories of his classmates. The show explores themes of stereotype and acceptance as Kāpili navigates starting a new school and making friends. The play features stories from our neighbors in the Pacific that celebrate the cultural traditions that connect us. Recommended for ages 8+.

Original Production Credits

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THE BROTHERS PARANORMAL

OCTOBER 25 – NOVEMBER 16, 2019

by Prince Gomolvilas

A coproduction by MediaRites’ Theatre Diaspora & Coho Productions
Directed by Catherine Ming T’ien Duffly

Brothers Max and Visarut launch a ghost-hunting business to capitalize on the nationwide increase in sightings of “Asian-looking ghosts.” When the siblings investigate the home of an African-American couple displaced by Hurricane Katrina and haunted by a terrifying spirit, everyone involved must reevaluate their notions of sanity and superstition to discover the shocking truth. A spooky and heartfelt west coast premiere by self-proclaimed “world’s only Thai-American playwright,” Prince Gomolvilas.

“I’ve always been interested in the tension between what is real and what is not. Not only in terms of the laws of the physical universe but also through the world as we know it: how we perceive things and how other people perceive us. All of my research explores the play’s disparate themes: the trauma of displacement (from one’s country of origin, from post-Katrina New Orleans, from the corporeal world); the high incidence of mental health issues among Asian immigrants; and the different ways in which people cope with incredible loss.” – Prince Gomolvilas

FAMILY BUSINESS. SUPERNATURAL INCIDENTS. RATIONAL EXPLANATIONS.

Prince Gomolvilas is a playwright, performer, and educator. He is best known as the world’s only Thai-American playwright. (He challenges you to find another!) His full-length plays include: Big Hunk o’ Burnin’ Love, Seat Belts and Big Fat Buddhas, The Theory of Everything, Debunking Love, Bee, Boyz of All Nationz: The Rise and Fall of a Multi-Ethnic Boy Band, Mysterious Skin, The Fabulous Adventures of Captain Queer, and The Brothers Paranormal. He frequently writes comedies with a supernatural twist, along with the occasional drama to shake things up. Recurring themes include the contemporary Asian-American (and, specifically, Thai-American) experience, the tension between immigrants and their offspring, the intersection of ethnicity and sexual identity, race relations in the United States, the trauma of displacement, the nature of loss and grief, and, in the words of Erasure, “the infinite complexities of love. Prince spent the first part of his thrilling life in Indianapolis, Indiana (where his kindergarten teacher couldn’t pronounce his Thai name “Khamolpat” or his nickname “Bin” and arbitrarily crowned him “Prince”); Bangkok, Thailand (where he learned to eat foods spicy enough to kill most people); and Monrovia, California (where he played with stuffed animals obsessively). After spending 12 years living in San Francisco (where he received his BA in Film and MFA in Playwriting from San Francisco State University), he now lives in the Los Angeles area with his beloved cat, Pork Chop, who has blossomed into somewhat of an Internet sensation. (Seriously.)​ Learn more atprincegomolvilas.com

COHO PRODUCTRION | PORTLAND, OR

GET TICKETS

PRODUCTIONS 2018

ANNOUNCING “THE—ISM PROJECT”

 SEPTEMBER 7, 2018

MediaRites’ Theatre Diaspora  – “The—Ism Project”

“The—Ism Project” is an original hour-long new work by MediaRites’ Theatre Diaspora project composed of 6-7 short monologues exploring the intersections of race, gender, orientation and nationality, including stories with specifically Pacific Northwest perspectives. Monologues will be developed in local workshops also curated from a national submission process. The project will culminate in six performances including one staged reading, and will include post-show community dialogues with audience members in an effort to bridge divides and create much-needed empathy, understanding and compassion. The long-term goal of this project is to tour small towns and rural communities across Oregon. “The—Ism Project” production will be directed by Catherine Ming T’ien Duffly. Actors will be comprised of Theatre Diaspora ensemble members and other actors of color who participate in a six-month series of workshops for development and training.

Why this project now? Three years ago MediaRites created Theatre Diaspora at a time when there was little Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) theatre being done. When it was being produced, often companies would either hire non-AAPI actors to portray Asians, several times in “yellowface” makeup. There was a great need for awareness about AAPI representation and stereotyping, as well as opportunities to create excellent work featuring AAPI artists for AAPI and PoC audiences. Based on data from our studious survey system for the last three years, the Theatre Diaspora audience we’ve been developing in Portland is majority PoC (average 55%) and younger (under 45) than most theatre audiences. Most of our target audiences do not generally attend theatre primarily because of a lack of representation on Portland stages. We soon began to realize that in order to grow and strengthen our theatre projects we needed to partner with community organizations and other PoC companies and artists.

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PRODUCTIONS 2017

BIG NEWS IN OCTOBER AND JANUARY!

 SEPTEMBER 3, 2017

Two Theatre Diaspora members are working on Artists Repertory Theatre’s CAUGHT, a play by Christopher Chen in collaboration with an art installation Oct. 1-29.

Dmae Roberts & Samson Syharath

Dmae Roberts (MediaRites executive producer) returns to acting in a full production with CAUGHT. Samson Syharath is the assistant director. Be sure to “catch” this unusual comedic, genre-bending production of live theatre and installation art. Ripped from the headlines of “fake news” CAUGHT brings to light themes of truth and deception in the worlds of art and journalism. CAUGHT also asks the question: “When does cultural appropriation begin?” Previews begin Oct. 1st and the show runs Wed-Sun till Oct. 29th.

Tickets on sale now at artistsrep.org.    For more about CAUGHT, visit: http://www.artistsrep.org/onstage/201718-season/caught/

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Also in January…The Brothers Paranormal.

Save the Date for
The Brothers Paranormal 
by

Prince Gomolvilas 

A workshop staged reading
Directed by Kate Duffly
January 18-21, 2018
at PSU’s Lincoln Hall, Boiler Room Theatre

Cast includes: Samson Syharath, Elaine Low, Josie Seid, Jasper Howard, Melissa Magana and Savira Kambhu. With original music performed by Joe Kye. 

Synopsis: Two Thai-American brothers launch a ghost-hunting business in order to capitalize on the nationwide increase in sightings of Asian-looking ghosts. When the siblings end up investigating the home of an African American couple who claim to be haunted by one very terrifying spirit, everyone’s notions of reality, fantasy, and sanity clash against the shocking truth.  At its heart this play is an modern allegory about grief, loss and healing for communities of color. Keep posted on our site for updates! www.TheatreDiaspora.org

“WASHER/DRYER” READING WITH THEATRE DIASPORA

 APRIL 27, 2017

Washer/Dryer by Nandita Shenoy

May 14th at 7:00 p.m. & May 20th at 2:00 p.m. in the Ellyn Bye Studio

During May, Asian American/Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

Media Rites’ Theatre Diaspora Project’s new season begins with an enhanced staged reading directed by company member Samson Syharath. Cast includes Anthony Lam, Sarika Mehta, Elaine Low, Dmae Roberts and Mathew Sepeda.In this light-hearted romantic comedy, interethnic newlyweds Sonya and Michael would love nothing more than to live happily ever after in Sonya’s single occupant New York co-op apartment (with built-in washer and dryer). Standing in their way, however, are Michael’s meddling mother, Sonya’s nosy co-op manager, and a litany of other squabbles they must overcome to save their relationship.

To purchase tickets or learn more, visit pcs.org/blog/washer-dryer-reading-with-theatre-diaspora

STAY TUNED!

 JANUARY 12, 2017

Theatre Diaspora is gearing up for the 2017 season of plays, talkbacks and workshop opportunities.

Stay Tuned for our next announcement featuring Nandita Shenoy’s Washer/Dryer in May at Portland Center Stage at the Armory and Prince Gomolvilla’s The Brothers Paranormal in October at Portland State University’s College of Theatre and Film at Lincoln Hall! 

Announcement coming soon!

PRODUCTIONS 2016

A LANGUAGE OF THEIR OWN

 JULY 28, 2016

MediaRites’ Theatre Diaspora presents 

A Language of Their Own 
by Award-Winning
Playwright Chay Yew

at Portland Center Stage , Sept. 10 at 7:30pm
and Portland Actors Conservatory,  Sept. 18 at 2pm

With funding support by a grant from The Equity Foundation, 

Chay Yew’s A Language of Their Own focuses on Oscar and Ming who had been together for four years. They break up after Oscar is diagnosed with AIDS, however, neither is able to let the other go completely. Both begin relationships with new boyfriends and find navigating these relationships just as complicated as when they were together – like learning and creating the nuances of a new language.

NOTE: The play contains strong sexual language and situations so parental discretion for minors is advised.

Theatre Diaspora will perform two staged readings of A Language of Their Own, directed by Andrew Klaus-Vineyard, co-artistic director at defunkt theatre) with associate director n Syharath, at Portland Center Stage  (128 NW 11^th Avenue, Portland) on Saturday, September 10 at 7:30 p.m. and at Portland Actors Conservatory,(1436 SW Montgomery St., Portland) on Sunday, September 18 at 2:00 p.m.Tickets are $10 for general seating and $5 for Oregon Trail cardholders, students and AIDS Walk participants (provide registration).Samso

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AFTER THE WAR BLUES AT PSU LINCOLN HALL STUDIO THEATRE, JUNE 4 & 5, 2016

 MAY 9, 2016

MediaRites‘ Theatre Diaspora presents the Oregon premiere of After the War Blues by award-winning playwright Philip Kan Gotanda, co-directed by notable Portland actors and directors Bobby Bermea and Jamie Rea.

Two staged reading performances will be at 1:30pm on Saturday, June 4, 2016, and at 1:30pm on Sunday, June 5, 2016. Both at Portland State University’s Lincoln Hall Studio Theatre (1620 SW Park Avenue, Portland, OR 97201).

Tickets are $10 each for general seating and $5 each for students and Oregon Trail cardholders. Tickets available for purchase now at Brown Paper Tickets. Seating is limited to 90 per performance.

In addition to visiting Portland to attend both performances and post-show audience talkbacks, playwright Philip Kan Gotanda will teach a playwriting master class funded by The Dramatists Guild Fund on Friday, June 3, 2016, at Portland Center Stage. To register for the class, visit https://www.pcs.org/blog/playwriting-masterclass-with-philip-kan-gotanda. Attendance is limited to 80 people.

After the War Blues takes place in the aftermath of World War II in San Francisco’s Western Addition District where some Japanese Americans returned from internment camps. African Americans, white Southern migrants, and Russian Jews were also arriving to start new lives. All the characters struggle to get along with limited resources while trying to find their place in this mix of cultures.

Chet Monkawa, the play’s central character, is a jazz trumpeter who returned to his family’s rooming house after the internment, but his old neighborhood isn’t the same. The rooming house is filled with new transplants, and Chet and his boarders must find a new harmony in uncertain times.

The cast comprises Wynee Hu and Larry Toda, both core ensemble members of Theatre Diaspora, and local actors: Leo Lin, James Dixon, Ken Yoshikawa, Ashley Williams, Caitlin Fisher Draeger, Colin Kane, Adrian Baxter, Brooke Calcagno, and Isaiah Sims. Natasha Stockem is the stage manager for this production.

This Portland production is co-produced by Dmae Roberts, Samson Syharath, and Alex Haslett of Theatre Diaspora.

Following the performance on June 5th, the post-show talkback will include community members : Kara Carmosino (APANO), Michael Grice (Nothing But Quality education leader,) and Kimberly Moreland (author of African Americans in Portland.)

About the Directors

Bobby Bermea is the producing artistic director of The Beirut Wedding World Theatre Project, artistic director of BaseRoots Theatre, a founding member of Badass Theatre Company, and a long-standing member of Sojourn Theatre. He received a Drammy nomination for Outstanding Director for his work on Wait Until Dark with Northwest Classical and recently directed The Blue Door f0r Profile Theatre Project. 

Jamie M. Rea, award-winning director, designer, and performer, has worked internationally, and is the executive artistic director for The Beirut Wedding World Theatre Project. Some of her local productions include The Devil and Billy Markham, Songs for a New World with Staged! and the Miracle Theatre Group, and The 1940’s Radio Hour with Enlightened Theatrics.

First read-through photos by Alex Haslett

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AFTER THE WAR BLUES AND PHILIP KAN GOTANDA MASTER CLASS

 MAY 3, 2016

MediaRites‘ Theatre Diaspora presents the Oregon premiere of After the War Blues by award-winning playwright Philip Kan Gotanda, directed by Bobby Bermea and Jamie Rea.

Two staged-reading performances will be at 1:30pm on Saturday, June 4, 2016, and at 1:30pm on Sunday, June 5, 2016. Both at Portland State University’s Lincoln Hall Studio Theatre (1620 SW Park Avenue, Portland, OR 97201) with the playwright attending the performances and post-show audience talkbacks.

Tickets are $10 each for general seating and $5 each for students and Oregon Trail cardholders. Tickets will be available for purchase beginning May 1, 2016, at www.theatrediaspora.org and Brown Paper Tickets.

After the War Blues takes place in the aftermath of World War II in San Francisco’s Western Addition District where some Japanese Americans returned from internment camps. African Americans who came to San Francisco were seeking work, white Southern migrants were looking for economic opportunity, and Russian Jews were arriving to start new lives. All the characters struggle to get along with limited resources while trying to find their place in this mix of cultures. Central character Chet Monkawa is a jazz trumpeter who returns to his family’s rooming house after the internment, but his old neighborhood isn’t the same. The rooming house is now filled with new transplants, and Chet and his fellow boarders must find a new harmony amidst uncertain times.

With generous support from Oregon Humanities to bring the playwright to Portland and for the post-show discussions following each performance, featuring the playwright on June 4th and community members on June 5th: Kara Carmosino (APANO), Michael Grice (Nothing But Quality education leader,) and Kimberly Moreland (author of African Americans in Portland.)

Master Class by Philip Kan Gotanda, Renowned Playwright

Philip Kan Gotanda will teach a playwriting master class at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, June 3, 2016, as part of The Dramatists Guild Fund’s Traveling Masters Program. This prestigious national outreach program brings prominent dramatists into communities across the country to lead master classes, workshops, talkbacks, and other public events. The class will be free to the public and will be at Portland Center Stage (128 NW 11^th Avenue, Portland, OR 97209), which donated the space for this event. To register for the class visit https://www.pcs.org/blog/playwriting-masterclass-with-philip-kan-gotanda.

Gotanda’s Portland visit and master class are made possible through The Dramatists Guild Fund’s Traveling Masters Program, the official Presenting Sponsor; Portland playwright and Dramatists Guild Regional Rep, Francesa Piantadosi; and Karin Magaldi, Head of the Theatre Program and Associate Director of the School of Theatre and Film, Portland State University. Theatre Diaspora also received venue support from Portland Center Stage for the master class as well as funding from Oregon Humanities to support travel and the two post-show talkbacks with Gotanda and community leaders. And generous support for our season from the Collins Foundation and the Oregon Community Foundation. 

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THE LANGUAGE ARCHIVE

 FEBRUARY 23, 2016

MediaRites’ Theatre Diaspora presents staged readings of The Language Archive,  a poignant comedy about dying languages and difficulties of love by award-winning playwright and television writer Julia Cho.

Dmae Roberts, executive producer of MediaRites, directs the cast: Tonya Jone Miller (previously in Breaking Glass), Leo Lin, Sofia May-Cuxim, Enrique E. Andrade, Wynee Hu (Theatre Diaspora producing ensemble member), and Alex Haslett is stage manager.

In The Language Archive, a language archivist is consumed by preserving and documenting dying languages from far-flung countries. Closer to home, however, he can’t communicate with his frustrated wife, nor deal with the deep feelings his lab assistant has for him.

The performance will open at 2pm on March 26th at Portland Center Stage (128 NW Eleventh Avenue, Portland, OR 97209) and will close at 2pm on April 2nd at the Milagro Theatre (525 SE Stark Street, Portland, OR 97214).

Tickets are $8 each. They can be purchased at http://securesite.pcs.org/single/SelectSeating.aspx?p=10017 for the 2pm March 26th show at Portland Center Stage, and at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2510978 (service charge added) for the 2pm April 2nd show at the Milagro Theatre. 

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PRODUCTONS 2015

THE SOUND OF A VOICE

 SEPTEMBER 23, 2015

MediaRites’ Theatre Diaspora, presents the last play of the 2015 season: The Sound of a Voice by noted playwright, help David Henry Hwang at Portland Center Stage.  Directed by Samson Syharath and featuring Chisao Hata and Larry Toda, for sale all Theatre Diaspora core ensemble members. Actor Mariko Kajita provides narration and shakuhachi (Japanese flute) music is performed by Larry Tyrrell, of Moonbridge music, a master shakuhachi player who performed with the Okayama Hogaku Ensemble and now performs in the Northwest. For tickets visit: http://www.pcs.org/blog/item/the-sound-of-a-voice/

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THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING

 SEPTEMBER 3, 2015

Prince Gomolvilas

Directed by Rusty Tennant

Featuring
Kimo Camat, Heath Hyun Houghton*, Wynee Hu*, Elaine Low, Toni Tabora Roberts, Kat Templeton, Larry Toda*

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NEVER GIVE UP

 SEPTEMBER 3, 2015

Featuring Citizen Min

by Holly Yasui
(excerpts) 

Directed by Chisao Hata*

Featuring
Bobby Bermea, Billy Boudavong, Bruce Burkhartsmeier, Heath Hyun Houghton*, Wynee Hu*, Leticia Maskell, Nikki Nojima Louis, Colton Ruscheinsky, Samson Syharath*, Simon Tam, Herb Tsuchiya

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BREAKING GLASS

 SEPTEMBER 3, 2015

Dmae Roberts

Directed by Dmae Roberts*

Featuring 
Zoë Anderson,Bruce Burkhartsmeier, Tonya Jone Miller, Elaine Low, Samson Syharath*

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PRODUCTIONS 2014

RED

 SEPTEMBER 3, 2015

Chay Yew

Directed by Samson Syharath*
Choreography by Minh Tran

Featuring
Wynee Hu*, Kat Templeton, Sumi Wu

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BREAKING THE SILENCE

 SEPTEMBER 3, 2015

Nikki Nojima Louis

Directed by Dmae Roberts*
Music by Michelle Fuji, Toru Wantanabe

Featuring
Michelle Fuji, Chisao Hata*, Heath Hyun Houghton*, Wynee Hu*, Samson Syharath*, Larry Toda*, Toru Wantanabe

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YANKEE DAWG YOU DIE

 SEPTEMBER 3, 2015

Philip Kan Gotanda

Directed by Emily Gregory

Featuring
Paul Susi, Joseph Wahl

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THE DANCE AND THE RAILROAD

 SEPTEMBER 2, 2015

David Henry Hwang

Directed by Dmae Roberts*
Choreography by Minh Tran

Featuring
Heath Hyun Houghton*, Samson Syharath*

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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. Theatre Diaspora is a project of MediaRites, an award-winning non-profit organization focused on cultural diversity by providing voices to the unheard.

Theatre Diaspora was a project of MediaRites thanks our donors, sponsors and audiences who help to strengthen our communities by offering stories that represent the AAPI experience in our community.