April, 2024
Lortel Nomination
I found out this week that my work as Rafe the stock boy in The Knight of the Burning Pestle was nominated for 2024 The Lucille Lortel Awards in the category of Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play! I couldn't be more thrilled. My work with Fiasco has led to such personal and artistic growth. So much so, that for all intents and purposes, the ensemble of the show are inseparable from my own track. We had to be so in tune to execute the demands of the play. Everyone had proposals for scenes and characters, incredible offerings that enlivened our partners and raised the bar, moment after moment after moment of trust and shared risk. I remain grateful and indebted to the humans who gave their efforts to that show--the mutual support was felt from all sides, backstage, and the booth. Fiasco makes work that prizes ensemble, and the group of people we spent those months with was a beautiful and loving one.
Lortel Nomination
I found out this week that my work as Rafe the stock boy in The Knight of the Burning Pestle was nominated for 2024 The Lucille Lortel Awards in the category of Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play! I couldn't be more thrilled. My work with Fiasco has led to such personal and artistic growth. So much so, that for all intents and purposes, the ensemble of the show are inseparable from my own track. We had to be so in tune to execute the demands of the play. Everyone had proposals for scenes and characters, incredible offerings that enlivened our partners and raised the bar, moment after moment after moment of trust and shared risk. I remain grateful and indebted to the humans who gave their efforts to that show--the mutual support was felt from all sides, backstage, and the booth. Fiasco makes work that prizes ensemble, and the group of people we spent those months with was a beautiful and loving one.
March, 2024
Pericles
After playing to audiences with only 10 days of rehearsal, Fiasco's Without a Net production of Shakespeare's Pericles has found a co-producer in Off-Broadway's Classic Stage Company! The full production will be featured in Jill Rafson's first season as producing Artistic Director. Ben Steinfeld directs and will perform alongside Noah Brody, Paul L. Coffey, Tatiana Wechsler, Emily Young, Jessie Austrian, Devin E. Haqq, Andy Groteleuschen, and Paco Tolson.
Pericles
After playing to audiences with only 10 days of rehearsal, Fiasco's Without a Net production of Shakespeare's Pericles has found a co-producer in Off-Broadway's Classic Stage Company! The full production will be featured in Jill Rafson's first season as producing Artistic Director. Ben Steinfeld directs and will perform alongside Noah Brody, Paul L. Coffey, Tatiana Wechsler, Emily Young, Jessie Austrian, Devin E. Haqq, Andy Groteleuschen, and Paco Tolson.
September, 2023
Poor Yella Rednecks
At long last, Qui Nguyen's sequel to the smash hit Vietgone gets it's New York premiere Off-Broadway at Manhattan Theatre Club! Poor Yella Rednecks finds lovers Quang and Tong five years later, their marriage cracking under the strain of poverty, past mistakes, and the sacrifices they must make for their son. May Adrales directs this hilarious and moving post-modern journey through Americana and memory starring Maureen Sebastian, Samantha Quan, Jon Hoche, Jon Norman Schneider, Ben Levin and Paco Tolson.
Poor Yella Rednecks
At long last, Qui Nguyen's sequel to the smash hit Vietgone gets it's New York premiere Off-Broadway at Manhattan Theatre Club! Poor Yella Rednecks finds lovers Quang and Tong five years later, their marriage cracking under the strain of poverty, past mistakes, and the sacrifices they must make for their son. May Adrales directs this hilarious and moving post-modern journey through Americana and memory starring Maureen Sebastian, Samantha Quan, Jon Hoche, Jon Norman Schneider, Ben Levin and Paco Tolson.
May, 2023
The Knight of the Burning Pestle
Fiasco partners with Off-Broadway's Red Bull Theater to bring the Elizabethan meta-comedy The Knight of the Burning Pestle to the Lortel Theater in the Village. A greengrocer and his wife interrupt a play about star-crossed lovers to demand that their stock boy join the company onstage as the new lead--with the charge that he do honor to their trade through feats of chivalry in his own improvised storyline. Noah Brody and Emily Young direct Ben Steinfeld, Paul L. Coffey, Darius Pierce, Jessie Austrian, Tatiana Wechsler, Tina Chilip, Teresa Avia Lim, Royer Bochus, Devin E. Haqq and Paco Tolson.
The Knight of the Burning Pestle
Fiasco partners with Off-Broadway's Red Bull Theater to bring the Elizabethan meta-comedy The Knight of the Burning Pestle to the Lortel Theater in the Village. A greengrocer and his wife interrupt a play about star-crossed lovers to demand that their stock boy join the company onstage as the new lead--with the charge that he do honor to their trade through feats of chivalry in his own improvised storyline. Noah Brody and Emily Young direct Ben Steinfeld, Paul L. Coffey, Darius Pierce, Jessie Austrian, Tatiana Wechsler, Tina Chilip, Teresa Avia Lim, Royer Bochus, Devin E. Haqq and Paco Tolson.
January, 2022
Fiasco
I'm happy to announce that after many years of fruitful and abundant collaboration I have been invited to become a member of the Fiasco Theater acting company! I have always had so much respect for Fiasco's approach, heart, and intelligence in their work--to say nothing of their efforts to make the theatrical landscape sustainable and inclusive. I'm over the moon to continue my work with them in this way. If you haven't already, please visit their website and read their Values and Commitments statement. It's one of the most transparent, actionable, and progressive I've seen from anyone in the game. And that's really saying something in New York City.
December, 2021
to the yellow house
I met Kimber Lee a long time ago at The Lark and have been a huge fan of her writing for years. Her world-premiere opus to the yellow house was set to open 2 years ago before the pandemic began to push everything off the table, but this tough play soldiered on and made it to the other side, successfully closing right before the Omicron surge. It was the honor of a lifetime to play Vincent van Gogh and lead this show. It was one of the most beautiful things I've ever been a part of and tested me in every way. The difficulty only heightened the joys of executing it night after night, and the entire cast and team shared their souls right along with me. Director Neel Keller and Kimber both elicited some moments of sheer bliss and heartbreak from everyone. I'm looking for it to storm the rest of the country in seasons to come. The amount of resilience and hope inside of this play--in this time of uncertainty and failure--connected with us all in our bones. Everyone should get to experience the places it takes you.
to the yellow house
I met Kimber Lee a long time ago at The Lark and have been a huge fan of her writing for years. Her world-premiere opus to the yellow house was set to open 2 years ago before the pandemic began to push everything off the table, but this tough play soldiered on and made it to the other side, successfully closing right before the Omicron surge. It was the honor of a lifetime to play Vincent van Gogh and lead this show. It was one of the most beautiful things I've ever been a part of and tested me in every way. The difficulty only heightened the joys of executing it night after night, and the entire cast and team shared their souls right along with me. Director Neel Keller and Kimber both elicited some moments of sheer bliss and heartbreak from everyone. I'm looking for it to storm the rest of the country in seasons to come. The amount of resilience and hope inside of this play--in this time of uncertainty and failure--connected with us all in our bones. Everyone should get to experience the places it takes you.
January, 2021
A New Year, Podcasts and the Pandemic
I am so grateful to be in a safe place, sheltered with loved ones, and managing the coronavirus age with optimism for the future. Vaccine distribution is picking up speed which means if we all continue to social distance, wash our hands, and wear masks, the return of performing arts is ensured. I think this year will bring the hope and change that we all desperately need. The positive side of being at home for me has been the ability to continue developing new work and to continue expanding into voiceover. I'm happy to announce that I'm in two episodes of an exciting audiodrama out now called "Out of Sight" (Eps. 3 & 5), a paranormal detective story. I got to make it with many friends who were very generous with me. I'm very happy with how the work turned out, and if you are into thrills and chills in your earbuds, check it out wherever you get your podcast fix.
I've also had the great pleasure of developing two Audio Fiction pieces for writer and actor David Greenspan. One is in connection with Playwrights Horizons and the other with Two River Theater, and I'll have more info when they are recorded, but the chance to work with a legend like David again is unmissable. (We were in Ma-Yi's "Rescue Me" in 2009 and Clubbed Thumb's Winterworks 2020.)
A New Year, Podcasts and the Pandemic
I am so grateful to be in a safe place, sheltered with loved ones, and managing the coronavirus age with optimism for the future. Vaccine distribution is picking up speed which means if we all continue to social distance, wash our hands, and wear masks, the return of performing arts is ensured. I think this year will bring the hope and change that we all desperately need. The positive side of being at home for me has been the ability to continue developing new work and to continue expanding into voiceover. I'm happy to announce that I'm in two episodes of an exciting audiodrama out now called "Out of Sight" (Eps. 3 & 5), a paranormal detective story. I got to make it with many friends who were very generous with me. I'm very happy with how the work turned out, and if you are into thrills and chills in your earbuds, check it out wherever you get your podcast fix.
I've also had the great pleasure of developing two Audio Fiction pieces for writer and actor David Greenspan. One is in connection with Playwrights Horizons and the other with Two River Theater, and I'll have more info when they are recorded, but the chance to work with a legend like David again is unmissable. (We were in Ma-Yi's "Rescue Me" in 2009 and Clubbed Thumb's Winterworks 2020.)
April, 2020
Cancellations
What was to be a hugely productive time creatively has given way to sadness as both off-broadway shows on my plate (Lunch Bunch with PlayCo and Poor Yella Rednecks at MTC) have been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Although this period is going to be hard on everyone in the community I am grateful that producers are taking the health and safety of patrons and staff as seriously as they are to slow the spread of COVID19. My heart is with you all who are suffering now, but I’m confident we can make it through.
Cancellations
What was to be a hugely productive time creatively has given way to sadness as both off-broadway shows on my plate (Lunch Bunch with PlayCo and Poor Yella Rednecks at MTC) have been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Although this period is going to be hard on everyone in the community I am grateful that producers are taking the health and safety of patrons and staff as seriously as they are to slow the spread of COVID19. My heart is with you all who are suffering now, but I’m confident we can make it through.
February, 2020
SEARCH PARTY and More Theatre
About to step back into the ring with a company I love, Fiasco Theater, for a reading with NYC’s classical powerhouse Red Bull Theater on The Knight of the Burning Pestle by Francis Beaumont. It’s a cornerstone of the satire mode, a broad comedy, and a damn funny time.
I also worked on the amazing HBO Max show Search Party and got to spend time with a bunch of the main cast in a truly hilarious scene. It cannot be overstated that with so much content out there, getting to work on shows that thrill you is a real luxury. Everyone was very warm and generous with me as a relative newcomer. I literally met five guys named “John” on set and they were all fantastic. I experienced that actor thing that’s like a golden goose where you close a play, show up to a TV gig, and then self-tape an audition while waiting in the trailer. It was bonkers.
SEARCH PARTY and More Theatre
About to step back into the ring with a company I love, Fiasco Theater, for a reading with NYC’s classical powerhouse Red Bull Theater on The Knight of the Burning Pestle by Francis Beaumont. It’s a cornerstone of the satire mode, a broad comedy, and a damn funny time.
I also worked on the amazing HBO Max show Search Party and got to spend time with a bunch of the main cast in a truly hilarious scene. It cannot be overstated that with so much content out there, getting to work on shows that thrill you is a real luxury. Everyone was very warm and generous with me as a relative newcomer. I literally met five guys named “John” on set and they were all fantastic. I experienced that actor thing that’s like a golden goose where you close a play, show up to a TV gig, and then self-tape an audition while waiting in the trailer. It was bonkers.
January, 2020
WINTERWORKS
Happy New Year!
Clubbed Thumb’s esteemed new play extravaganza WINTERWORKS has just concluded and it was as weird and wonderful as I’ve come to expect. I was in T. Adamson’s exquisitely complex play Usus directed by Emma Miller. Our cast played Franciscan friars in 1318 defending their beliefs from a rogue pope. I even got to have an epic dance solo courtesy of choreographer Sarah Gibbons and the Jonas Brothers.
It was like that.
WINTERWORKS
Happy New Year!
Clubbed Thumb’s esteemed new play extravaganza WINTERWORKS has just concluded and it was as weird and wonderful as I’ve come to expect. I was in T. Adamson’s exquisitely complex play Usus directed by Emma Miller. Our cast played Franciscan friars in 1318 defending their beliefs from a rogue pope. I even got to have an epic dance solo courtesy of choreographer Sarah Gibbons and the Jonas Brothers.
It was like that.
December, 2019
OUT OF SIGHT and THE GOOD FIGHT
Coming hot on the heels of Thanksgiving came an offer from Gideon Productions of (Steal the Stars and The Honeycomb Trilogy fame) to be a part of the upcoming audiodrama project they’re producing called Out of Sight. It’s a detective thriller with paranormal elements and a great cast. I had been dying to get in the room again with Jordana, Sean, and Mac and said yes immediately. Voiceover is still relatively new territory for me, and I learned a ton in their studio. I’ll be in two episodes and will update here when the series launches!
Also on-brand for my television career was an appearance on the CBS AllAccess hit The Good Fight as another law enforcement officer—this time, a Court Sheriff. Cush Jumbo who plays Lucca made a point of making me feel welcome on set, and I tell you it made a world of difference. It was nice to get plugged into a long-running show and to watch the big players do their thing up close. Camera work is another world.
June - October, 2019
VAMPIRE COWBOYS WORKSHOP OF REVENGE SONG and FIASCO’S MEASURE FOR MEASURE
This summer my little family took some time upstate to visit family and to get a chance to workshop a new work by Vampire Cowboys that will be going to the Geffen in February. It’s loosely based on the life of 17th century French lesbian sword-fighter and opera singer Julie D’Aubigny whose tale is one of the most outrageous unheard true stories of all time. Wikipedia the name and it will become clear how well this jam fits into the VC aesthetic... The company was hosted by the Orchard Project in Saratoga, New York and it was a blast to dig into experimental rehearsals with director Robert Ross Parker and of course, playwright Qui Nguyen. We headed straight from there to LA for more traveling and business as my wife worked for three months shadowing HBO directorial mastermind Tim Van Patten (The Sopranos, Boardwalk Empire) on a new miniseries.
Towards the end I popped out to Louisville, Kentucky to rejoin my favorite band of misfits, Fiasco Theater, for their dynamic and exhilarating production of Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure at the famous Actors Theatre. The feedback was incredible, the production could not have been more in conversation with our national moment, and we laughed and cried every night together. I’m writing this from back in New York, but if you ever get the chance to train with Fiasco in one of their conservatories in the city, you will have your world rocked and that’s a promise. The intelligence, the humor, the encouragement, and the approach to verse and prose is unparalleled.
Read the Broadway World rave for M4M here!
June, 2019
PLAY ON! FESTIVAL
We are a week into the festival at Classic Stage Company and it’s been a whirlwind of seeing (and making) friends, assaying some of the great Shakespearean roles, and being part of a rep company (of sorts) again. It’s amazing. There’s a few more weeks to go and each play offers huge growth and adventure. I’d like to say a few things about it here:
Reasons the Play On! Festival is amazing:
It’s hella ambitious
Fair wage contract with benefits
Commitment to inclusion in casting, translation teams, staffing, and leadership
Engagement with classical text as it relates to the modern era
Accessible tickets for friends and company members
Preservation of poetry and rhetoric
Environmentally conscious
Community building
It’s very rare to feel this taken care of in this city and this work. Art is a labor of love but the labor part is real af and the ethos of the producers is boldly artist-centered. Hats off to Taylor, Lue, SallyCade and everyone onboard changing the model.
August, 2018
BANNER HEALTH SERIES
Just got back from LA where I had the opportunity to be in a bilingual 6-episode industrial for Arizona-based company Banner Health. The meat of the series was to demystify the terms and jargon necessary to navigate the healthcare insurance industry. It was a fantastic experience helmed by auteur Kate Marks, and I got a chance to flex my Spanish language skills, too. Six in Spanish, six in English, and all of them set in the world of a precocious nine-year-old’s playhouse. It’s funny, sweet, and very helpful. I’ll post them when they become available soon!
BANNER HEALTH SERIES
Just got back from LA where I had the opportunity to be in a bilingual 6-episode industrial for Arizona-based company Banner Health. The meat of the series was to demystify the terms and jargon necessary to navigate the healthcare insurance industry. It was a fantastic experience helmed by auteur Kate Marks, and I got a chance to flex my Spanish language skills, too. Six in Spanish, six in English, and all of them set in the world of a precocious nine-year-old’s playhouse. It’s funny, sweet, and very helpful. I’ll post them when they become available soon!
April, 2018
PACIFIC PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL
Got to reprise my roles from Vietgone in Qui Nguyen's sequel Poor Yella Rednecks for South Coast Repertory's renowned PPF new play festival. The story follows Quang and Tong's struggles to keep their marriage together despite money trouble, racism, and the reemergence of Quang's first wife. Their five year old son is also having difficulty at school and the solution is a heartbreaking one for Huong, his grandmother. A lot of people have asked me what happened to the characters from Vietgone, and much is answered in this installment of what is projected to be a 5-play history of the Nguyen family's American experience. I also got to rap in this one...and the feelings were off the charts to revisit the west coast, this theater family, and this storytelling family.
December, 2017
FIASCO THEATER'S TWELFTH NIGHT AT CLASSIC STAGE COMPANY OPENS
What a mind-blowing experience this has been. I learned a ton about the mechanics of prose and verse that I'd never been exposed to before, dug deep and crafted some of my best work, and get to revel in the joy that is this group of artists. And the play is some of the finest writing in English.
It’s an honor for me to be in the company of such gifted people every night. The intelligence, good humor, and boldness of their craft is stunning and has left me breathless many times. Their souls are beautiful, their hearts gentle, and their vision for The Theatre writ large inclusive. Admin, Creative, our crew...everyone’s been really great to spend the hours with.
I feel excited to get out there each time and take another crack at it; to try new things and meet the proposal of this amazing company. What a tremendous moment in my career.
August, 2017
AUGUST HARVEST
What an incredible month! Just found out I booked a day on another TV show! More news once the deal is finalized!
PACIFIC PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL
Got to reprise my roles from Vietgone in Qui Nguyen's sequel Poor Yella Rednecks for South Coast Repertory's renowned PPF new play festival. The story follows Quang and Tong's struggles to keep their marriage together despite money trouble, racism, and the reemergence of Quang's first wife. Their five year old son is also having difficulty at school and the solution is a heartbreaking one for Huong, his grandmother. A lot of people have asked me what happened to the characters from Vietgone, and much is answered in this installment of what is projected to be a 5-play history of the Nguyen family's American experience. I also got to rap in this one...and the feelings were off the charts to revisit the west coast, this theater family, and this storytelling family.
December, 2017
FIASCO THEATER'S TWELFTH NIGHT AT CLASSIC STAGE COMPANY OPENS
What a mind-blowing experience this has been. I learned a ton about the mechanics of prose and verse that I'd never been exposed to before, dug deep and crafted some of my best work, and get to revel in the joy that is this group of artists. And the play is some of the finest writing in English.
It’s an honor for me to be in the company of such gifted people every night. The intelligence, good humor, and boldness of their craft is stunning and has left me breathless many times. Their souls are beautiful, their hearts gentle, and their vision for The Theatre writ large inclusive. Admin, Creative, our crew...everyone’s been really great to spend the hours with.
I feel excited to get out there each time and take another crack at it; to try new things and meet the proposal of this amazing company. What a tremendous moment in my career.
August, 2017
AUGUST HARVEST
What an incredible month! Just found out I booked a day on another TV show! More news once the deal is finalized!
August, 2017
VAMPIRE COWBOYS RIDE ON
I'll be at The Atlantic's Stage 2 on Wednesday, August 17th at 7pm for Qui Nguyen's play WAR IS FU**ING AWESOME (w/music by Shane Rettig and directed by Robert Ross Parker). Free with reservations!
https://atlantictheater.org/asianamericanmixfest2017/war-is-fking-awesome/
UPDATE: We had so much buzz for our reading that we sold out Stage 2 and had a 75+ waitlist! The producers asked us if we were cool with ading another show immediately after the first one and we crushed it again for a more raucous "midnight show". Big thank you's to the family, friends old and new, and this amazing team for such a terrifying, exhilarating experience!
VAMPIRE COWBOYS RIDE ON
I'll be at The Atlantic's Stage 2 on Wednesday, August 17th at 7pm for Qui Nguyen's play WAR IS FU**ING AWESOME (w/music by Shane Rettig and directed by Robert Ross Parker). Free with reservations!
https://atlantictheater.org/asianamericanmixfest2017/war-is-fking-awesome/
UPDATE: We had so much buzz for our reading that we sold out Stage 2 and had a 75+ waitlist! The producers asked us if we were cool with ading another show immediately after the first one and we crushed it again for a more raucous "midnight show". Big thank you's to the family, friends old and new, and this amazing team for such a terrifying, exhilarating experience!
August, 2017
HUGE THINGS
THING 1: I had a baby!
My wife Kate and I have been lucky enough to bring an amazing little baby girl into this world. Her name is Ama.
THING 2: I joined SAG-AFTRA!
I have, at long last, reached a major legitimizing career milestone: the Screen Actors Guild. I was able to do some non-union work for a time, but I will be official as of right now!
THING 3: I'll be on TV!
I booked a role on the Chris Meloni show HAPPY! on SyFy and it shoots this week in New York! I couldn't be more excited.
Multiple Month Roundup, 2017
NEW PLAYS
Had the good fortune to work at a few amazing places (multiple times) doing my thing--> developing new work:
Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival
The Atlantic Theatre
The Public Theatre
The Lark Theatre
Clubbed Thumb
The Playwright's Realm
Manhattan Theatre Club
Ma-Yi Theatre Company
Ensemble Studio Theatre
Two River Theater
November, 2016
MOVING FORWARD
Like so many of my friends and family, I am filled with sadness about the election. But now is precisely the time to rededicate yourself to making an impact on the world you live in and to bettering the lives of the people you care about.
To that end, I am proud to announce that I've been signed by talent agency Harden-Curtis Associates in New York. Everyone I've met with in this office has been open and generous, savvy with communication, and aligned with my mission and philosophies. I met Nancy Curtis when she came to see VIETGONE at OSF and I knew right away that this was someone I wanted to work with. Glad to be able to have some excellent reps behind me as I keep pushing forward with this wonderful show's transition to Manhattan Theatre Club!
The substance and power of this play is needed now more than ever. Radical compassion. Empathy and reconciliation. Healing and understanding. Seeing yourself as the other. Our shared humanity. It's all underscored in the play every night. The emotional reactions I continually receive from patrons afterwards in the lobby and on the street give me so much strength.
October, 2016
OPENING IN NEW YORK CITY
After some of the most intense travel, rehearsal/previews, and apartment hunting I've ever experienced, Kate and I are now settled in Sunnyside, Queens and VIETGONE is now open to resounding critical acclaim. We're a critic's pick from TimeOUT and The New York Times, raves in The Guardian and The New Yorker... It's like a dream come true. It's been so amazing to reconnect with Ray Lee, Samantha Quan, and Jon Hoche from the SCR cast and to welcome Jennifer Ikeda to the role of Tong. I love these guys so much.
I already knew May and Qui were geniuses and I always knew I would give my right arm to work at Manhattan Theatre Club, so to be able to come storming back to New York on the strength of this producing team and this cast and creative team is *pinch me I'm dreaming* territory.
MOVING FORWARD
Like so many of my friends and family, I am filled with sadness about the election. But now is precisely the time to rededicate yourself to making an impact on the world you live in and to bettering the lives of the people you care about.
To that end, I am proud to announce that I've been signed by talent agency Harden-Curtis Associates in New York. Everyone I've met with in this office has been open and generous, savvy with communication, and aligned with my mission and philosophies. I met Nancy Curtis when she came to see VIETGONE at OSF and I knew right away that this was someone I wanted to work with. Glad to be able to have some excellent reps behind me as I keep pushing forward with this wonderful show's transition to Manhattan Theatre Club!
The substance and power of this play is needed now more than ever. Radical compassion. Empathy and reconciliation. Healing and understanding. Seeing yourself as the other. Our shared humanity. It's all underscored in the play every night. The emotional reactions I continually receive from patrons afterwards in the lobby and on the street give me so much strength.
October, 2016
OPENING IN NEW YORK CITY
After some of the most intense travel, rehearsal/previews, and apartment hunting I've ever experienced, Kate and I are now settled in Sunnyside, Queens and VIETGONE is now open to resounding critical acclaim. We're a critic's pick from TimeOUT and The New York Times, raves in The Guardian and The New Yorker... It's like a dream come true. It's been so amazing to reconnect with Ray Lee, Samantha Quan, and Jon Hoche from the SCR cast and to welcome Jennifer Ikeda to the role of Tong. I love these guys so much.
I already knew May and Qui were geniuses and I always knew I would give my right arm to work at Manhattan Theatre Club, so to be able to come storming back to New York on the strength of this producing team and this cast and creative team is *pinch me I'm dreaming* territory.
July, 2016
#BlackLivesMatter
The systemic disregard for Black lives in this country has been graphically laid bare. Numerous people have been murdered on camera without consequences, friends of mine have had their lives threatened without consequences, casual verbal attacks and exclusion--and for no other reason than because of race. Pain and suffering on this scale cannot remain the daily reality of my Black, Brown, POC brothers and sisters. Racism and White supremacy are inherent in our society and it is therefore not enough to just be "cool with Black people" and to not be hatefully racist; passive participation in a system that privileges White people by default is de facto collusion with (and endorsement of) that system. It is not enough to be neutral or middle of the road when it comes to achieving justice and equality, for in doing nothing we tacitly condone the steady flow of horrors and brutality we're seeing. We are living in the Civil Rights era right now.
We must use this historical moment to band together and dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline, modern segregation, the militarization of the police, redlining, racial profiling... These are all things you've probably heard of and they have silently become epidemics due to disengagement in community and national politics as if it was someone else's business, and the cumulative effect of them over time is to create the untenable situation we live in now where Black lives are devalued by every institution we say we care about.
This is the perfect time for action. The election is coming up--where if you stand for social justice the choice is at least obvious if not perfect--and we have more and more agency and political literacy given all the media attention to the recent killings. We must demand accountability and reform. We can vote for lawmakers who care about us, withhold our dollars from people and places that don't, support the businesses that are committed to diversity and inclusion; and when people tell you they are suffering, listen to them.
Hopelessness is not an option and neither is being overwhelmed. Optimus Prime said, "Fate rarely calls upon us at a moment of our choosing." This moment is fate. And we must choose to act in the interests of the millions of Americans whose lives are literally at stake.
July, 2016
WINTER'S TALE OPEN
After a very tumultuous few months of performing a show and building a new one from the ground up, Des Chiang's Winter's Tale is alive and kicking! It's the first time in a long time that I've had time backstage to collect myself and not been either in a zillion-character mode or onstage full time as part of the conceit. Getting a chance to watch from the voms of the gigantic Allen Elizabethan Theater has been a wonderful experience in seeing something organic and chaotic wrestled into stunning, beautiful architecture. It's been amazing to perform for so many people and even do both shows on the same day in rep.
It's also a giant, weird play. The first and second halves are distinct worlds that couldn't be more different tonally... there's magic, ghosts, identity swapping, dancing, a chorus of time travelers, and the wrath of the gods...the language is also particularly obtuse in its poetry, but the real magic of it all is the artistry with which Shakespeare unites the worlds---he builds layers upon layers of connection between the multiple meanings of words--and the words of Bohemia can be found in Sicilia, connecting the kingdoms in a metatheatrical coup de grace.
If you watch the play at OSF, pay special attention to the following words and see how many meanings you can gleam from them in each scene. It's astounding.
Advocate
Credit
Daffodil
Bear
Savage
Authority
Tyrant
Pity
Case
Weather
Dram
Cup
Dam
Grace
Flay
Issue
I started the list at the beginning of rehearsal and I add new ones every week because the complexity and variation doesn't quit.
WINTER'S TALE OPEN
After a very tumultuous few months of performing a show and building a new one from the ground up, Des Chiang's Winter's Tale is alive and kicking! It's the first time in a long time that I've had time backstage to collect myself and not been either in a zillion-character mode or onstage full time as part of the conceit. Getting a chance to watch from the voms of the gigantic Allen Elizabethan Theater has been a wonderful experience in seeing something organic and chaotic wrestled into stunning, beautiful architecture. It's been amazing to perform for so many people and even do both shows on the same day in rep.
It's also a giant, weird play. The first and second halves are distinct worlds that couldn't be more different tonally... there's magic, ghosts, identity swapping, dancing, a chorus of time travelers, and the wrath of the gods...the language is also particularly obtuse in its poetry, but the real magic of it all is the artistry with which Shakespeare unites the worlds---he builds layers upon layers of connection between the multiple meanings of words--and the words of Bohemia can be found in Sicilia, connecting the kingdoms in a metatheatrical coup de grace.
If you watch the play at OSF, pay special attention to the following words and see how many meanings you can gleam from them in each scene. It's astounding.
Advocate
Credit
Daffodil
Bear
Savage
Authority
Tyrant
Pity
Case
Weather
Dram
Cup
Dam
Grace
Flay
Issue
I started the list at the beginning of rehearsal and I add new ones every week because the complexity and variation doesn't quit.
April, 2016
OREGON SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL
VIETGONE is open! We are now running in rep with the other incredible shows at the festival, many of which I've had the pleasure of seeing when I wasn't in rehearsal. The caliber of talent involved here is so staggering. OSF also has a social justice mission and their commitment to diversity and inclusion is so beautiful. The involvement at all levels of artists and artisans of color, high level admin staff to front of house--the community is so strong here. It feels good to be working for an organization that is actively challenging the status quo. Too many large institutions are letting "the way it's always been" dictate policy and reinforce the disenfranchisement of such talented folks. It's been my pleasure to work alongside so many for the past two months and get those connections going.
Now that we're open officially, rehearsals have begun for WINTER'S TALE (the dust had barely settled from our opening matinee before we had to run over to the rehearsal hall for something completely different). It's going to be a great show, more to come!
February, 2016
My last L.A. Theatre hurrah: HUMANITAS at the Douglas
I just got an offer to participate in the inaugural Humanitas Play Fest at the Kirk Douglas Theatre! I'll be in Louisa Hill's play THE LORD OF THE UNDERWORLD’S HOME FOR UNWED MOTHERS on Feb. 13th at 3pm. The reading will be directed by Seema Sueko from Pasadena Playhouse. It's a fast-paced whirlwind of a play with charm, wit, and (perhaps obviously depending on how well you know me) many characters. Come check it out and also follow this link for info on the good work the partnership of Humanitas and Center Theatre Group is doing for Southern California writers!
OREGON SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL
VIETGONE is open! We are now running in rep with the other incredible shows at the festival, many of which I've had the pleasure of seeing when I wasn't in rehearsal. The caliber of talent involved here is so staggering. OSF also has a social justice mission and their commitment to diversity and inclusion is so beautiful. The involvement at all levels of artists and artisans of color, high level admin staff to front of house--the community is so strong here. It feels good to be working for an organization that is actively challenging the status quo. Too many large institutions are letting "the way it's always been" dictate policy and reinforce the disenfranchisement of such talented folks. It's been my pleasure to work alongside so many for the past two months and get those connections going.
Now that we're open officially, rehearsals have begun for WINTER'S TALE (the dust had barely settled from our opening matinee before we had to run over to the rehearsal hall for something completely different). It's going to be a great show, more to come!
February, 2016
My last L.A. Theatre hurrah: HUMANITAS at the Douglas
I just got an offer to participate in the inaugural Humanitas Play Fest at the Kirk Douglas Theatre! I'll be in Louisa Hill's play THE LORD OF THE UNDERWORLD’S HOME FOR UNWED MOTHERS on Feb. 13th at 3pm. The reading will be directed by Seema Sueko from Pasadena Playhouse. It's a fast-paced whirlwind of a play with charm, wit, and (perhaps obviously depending on how well you know me) many characters. Come check it out and also follow this link for info on the good work the partnership of Humanitas and Center Theatre Group is doing for Southern California writers!
January, 2016
BIG CHANGES AND VIETGONE LOVE
Great news! I will indeed be joining the OSF acting company this year starting next month! Playwright Qui and Director May will build a new production of VIETGONE with unique sets, costumes, and an OSF-centric cast (including the amazing Amy Villarama from New York). The show opens in April. Following that will be THE WINTER'S TALE. (I've been reading Patsy Rodenburg's highly influential and groundbreaking book Speaking Shakespeare to prep, as well as soaking in every production of the show I can find--including Branagh's filmed version from the Garrick in the UK. Very informative.) Because of the long contract, Kate and I will be pulling up stakes in Los Angeles and we are wishing all of our new friends and colleagues on the West Coast a fond farewell for now.
In September, Manhattan Theater Club's co-production of VIETGONE begins rehearsals which means we'll be making a big splash in New York City with the original SCR cast! I can't wait to be back in the neighborhood and see all of the incredible people who made my time there so special (not to mention my family).
That SCR production was extremely special and it's begun to get some wonderful critical praise: Qui was just announced as a finalist for the $100K Kennedy Award for new play about the American experience, and won the LA Drama Critics Circle's Ted Schmitt special award for new play! The dividends paying out from being a part of such a landmark event just keep coming! It's a credit to Qui, May, the staff at SCR and my dear friends in the cast that we have been honored with multiple national productions and are blazing new trails for American theater. 2016 is going to be the year of dreams for a lot of people.
July, 2015
SHAKESPEARE, SELF TAPES, AND NEW WORK
Shortly after VIETGONE played at the Pacific Playwrights Festival, we found out it was to have another life: at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Casting director Joy Dickson spoke to me after the performance and we hashed out a time for me to audition for the OSF production while she was in Los Angeles.
The trick with Oregon Shakes is that actors for the season generally do two roles and understudy a third, all of which has to be agreed upon by the committee of staff and the season's numerous directors. I auditioned with sides from the play I'd just done (nice), but also with a classical monologue aimed at the two other Shakespeare plays in the eight-month contract.
Joy got in touch with me while I was out of town in New York visiting my family and told me to prepare another side from Desdemona Chiang's upcoming production of The Winter's Tale. They wanted to do this additional audition over Skype so I could meet her and show a different side from the RII piece I did initially, something I'd never done before.
Over the next few days I scouted out where the best place to do it would be. I landed on ART/NY which is in the 520 8th Avenue building that Ripley Grier is in. ART/NY was cheaper and the rooms nicer and I did a couple tests on my iPad to make sure I got reception and the tech specs were good. (I was in Studio C which did not have light from the windows, so it wasn't 100% ideal, but it was workable.)
Despite it all, I ended up having to do the audition over Facetime on my iPhone--but even then, I had a lot of fun and Desdemona was really cool.
The wheels are turning now. I hope to have some good news very soon!
April, 2015
PETER AND THE STARCATCHER at South Coast Rep!
The theatre gods continue to smile upon me. Fantastic regional company SCR had an actor exit their main stage show and, based on my work in the workshops of Qui Nguyen's play Vietgone, casting director Joanne DeNaut sent me an email that morning, and within hours I was on a train to Orange County to begin learning music and choreography as an emergency replacement. All I knew of the show was that it was a hit on Broadway and I would have a few days to learn the part--they were just about to go into tech.
My second rehearsal was the Design Run!
The run is nearly over now and I've had a chance to catch my breath and reflect a bit on what an amazing experience it has been. It was certainly a show of many professional firsts for me, but the joy of performing something this good in a production this good, with a team this good has just been astounding.
Check out this lineup:
Matt McGrath
Kasey Mahaffy
David Nevell
Tony Abatemarco
J. Paul Boehmer
Wyatt Fenner
Miles Fletcher
Gabby McClinton
Allen Gilmore
Christian Barillas
James Mac Ewan
David O.
Joel Davel
Art Manke
These are people it was a dream of mine to work with one day and the day actually came. Everyone on board, top to bottom, has been incredible to work with and incredibly kind to me as I learned where to stand and what hat to put on at what time (if you saw the show, you know what I mean).
January 19th, 2015
JESUS YEAR AVAILABLE
Catch Samara Bay, Patrick Hayle, myself, and many talented friends in JESUS YEAR, available in its entirety on YouTube!
(Full credits on IMDb!)
Glad this little guy is finally out in the world! I couldn't include everything on my reel, but I loved this character so much that I made a supercut of my work (that I may go to hell for). I couldn't resist. You can watch my bits in one video here.
HIDDEN IN THIS PICTURE should have a cut coming soon as well, so the new year is starting off aces.
January 16th, 2015
Jesus Year
At long last, the film I did with director Michelle Gritzer is now out and I was able to update my reel with one of my favorite scenes of all time. It's a tete-a-tete with actress Samara Bay (from my cohort in New York City) and I got to indulge all my bizarro instincts. It was one of the most fun things I did last year and everyone on it is very special. You can see the clip here!
As soon as I get the go ahead, I'll link the whole film. It's got something for everyone...whether you're 33 or not.
January 2nd, 2015
Got Married!
I haven't been on here for a while because of all the wedding preparations but I can announce with great joy that I am now married to the love of my life, filmmaker Kate Marks. It's a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new year!
December, 2015
Flash Fest
Had the pleasure of working with Deborah Craig and Snehal Desai on Carla Ching's short play ONE TIME THING. It was one of five site-specific shows that were in their annual "Flash Fest." This time the fest was held in various rooms of the new luxury hotel Hope + 8th downtown. It was an amazing event and everyone there was very cool.
November 23rd, 2014
The Return of Qui Nguyen's VIETGONE
South Coast Rep finished off playwright Qui Nguyen's CrossRoads commission with a public reading with the same dynamite cast. It was an especially significant event because it was hosted by Vietnamese arts organization of distinction, VALAA--an Orange County cultural institution. We laughed, we cried, we acknowledged some hard truths about ourselves, our families, and our homelands. Because theater is about engagement with life and it's easy to forget that in California. Very proud of everyone involved!
Aug 27th, 2014
Re-up with Avalon Artists
Just signed my contract for another fruitful term with my commercial agent Stephany Burns at Avalon Artists! Very excited to make some more waves in the world of 30-second spots :) Here's to the Spanish markets, the English markets, and weirdo geeky young dads.
Re-up with Avalon Artists
Just signed my contract for another fruitful term with my commercial agent Stephany Burns at Avalon Artists! Very excited to make some more waves in the world of 30-second spots :) Here's to the Spanish markets, the English markets, and weirdo geeky young dads.
August 24th, 2014
South Coast Rep's CrossRoads Commissions
Qui Nguyen (of NYC's Vampire Cowboys) recently had a workshop at South Coast Rep, one of the best regional theaters in the country, and I had the privilege of reading in it! His new play, VIETGONE, an irreverent exploration of Vietnamese immigration, is equal parts historical narrative, deconstruction of Asian theatrical conventions, and unconventional love story. It's thematically connected to his other plays TRIAL BY WATER and AGENT G which deal with his family's incredible efforts to survive the war and life in the United States. His work is rude, hilarious, full of human truth, and wildly different from 99% of what's out there.
CrossRoads is SCR literary director Kelly Miller's grand initiative to bring outside playwrights to the local community and let the two inspire each other; the work was astoundingly good. May Adrales directed Rodney To, Raymond Lee, Jackie Chung, Maureen Sebastian and myself. We all had laugh cramps for days.
South Coast Rep's CrossRoads Commissions
Qui Nguyen (of NYC's Vampire Cowboys) recently had a workshop at South Coast Rep, one of the best regional theaters in the country, and I had the privilege of reading in it! His new play, VIETGONE, an irreverent exploration of Vietnamese immigration, is equal parts historical narrative, deconstruction of Asian theatrical conventions, and unconventional love story. It's thematically connected to his other plays TRIAL BY WATER and AGENT G which deal with his family's incredible efforts to survive the war and life in the United States. His work is rude, hilarious, full of human truth, and wildly different from 99% of what's out there.
CrossRoads is SCR literary director Kelly Miller's grand initiative to bring outside playwrights to the local community and let the two inspire each other; the work was astoundingly good. May Adrales directed Rodney To, Raymond Lee, Jackie Chung, Maureen Sebastian and myself. We all had laugh cramps for days.
June 6th, 2014
Principal photography is finished on HIDDEN IN THIS PICTURE! We shot in an amazing mountain location in Whittier, CA and miraculously made it out with a day to spare on the schedule. Because it's Sorkin we rehearsed for a month and it really paid off. Everyone on board was exceptional to work with and we flew through the shot list.
Filming on Vivian Chen's short film MARS ONE-WAY has also wrapped, which was in late April. The film stars Jennifer Soo as a civilian astronaut in the near future during her last week on Earth before leaving to be a pioneer on Mars. It was my first time filming in a space shuttle set and my first SF role, which has been a dream of mine for a long time. I played one of the other crew members. Worked with a lot of friends old and new from Cal Arts, and I love the work coming out of there right now.
Last month I put an audition on tape for the NBC Diversity showcase at Gita Reddy's Studio Merlot. I am sharing it on my youtube channel because when I looked online at the other submissions I felt really connected to that community and want to return the favor for their bravery.
You can watch my amended/improv-heavy "Monica/Boss" scene here!
Principal photography is finished on HIDDEN IN THIS PICTURE! We shot in an amazing mountain location in Whittier, CA and miraculously made it out with a day to spare on the schedule. Because it's Sorkin we rehearsed for a month and it really paid off. Everyone on board was exceptional to work with and we flew through the shot list.
Filming on Vivian Chen's short film MARS ONE-WAY has also wrapped, which was in late April. The film stars Jennifer Soo as a civilian astronaut in the near future during her last week on Earth before leaving to be a pioneer on Mars. It was my first time filming in a space shuttle set and my first SF role, which has been a dream of mine for a long time. I played one of the other crew members. Worked with a lot of friends old and new from Cal Arts, and I love the work coming out of there right now.
Last month I put an audition on tape for the NBC Diversity showcase at Gita Reddy's Studio Merlot. I am sharing it on my youtube channel because when I looked online at the other submissions I felt really connected to that community and want to return the favor for their bravery.
You can watch my amended/improv-heavy "Monica/Boss" scene here!
March 8th, 2014
Rehearsals have begun for HIDDEN IN THIS PICTURE, a long short film written by Aaron Sorkin and directed by Tim Astor! The film will be the first lensing of Sorkin's early one-act play by the same name, one that set the stage for the deals and acclaim that led to A FEW GOOD MEN and modern screenwriting legend. It's very difficult material that asks a lot of me, but the opportunity to work on something so exciting with a team so good is a dream come true. The film also stars London Kim, Paul Vonasek, and Marco Greco.
The story concerns two best friends, a writer and a director from the theater, on the final day of shooting their first feature film. Under financial and artistic pressure, as the the cameras roll for the final time, the two must face the possibility that everything they've worked for is about to be lost as unexpected chaos arrives on set. Hilarity ensues.
And it's set in the 80's.
I play the writer.
Filming begins in late April!
Stay tuned for more updates about HITP here and on my twitter page.
February 28th, 2014
First news posting on the new website and the news is good: this week I was honored to be offered a role that was written for me in an independent sci-fi short. The film is based on the real Mars One Mission and the civilians who have made the decision to leave Earth to permanently settle Mars in 2024. It's going to be shot, directed, and produced by a team of friends whose work I admire and promises to defy expectations for the genre.
I also auditioned for and won a role at The University of Southern California's graduate film program. I will have the pleasure of originating a part for film that is an adaptation of work by one of my all-time favorite writers. It was an extremely challenging experience to work on the script for the audition and callback, but the satisfaction of "executing with confidence" was its own reward, and now it's playtime.
With both of these projects I haven't exactly been given the green light to social media all the details, so more soon, but I couldn't help but share what a bad-ass week this was.