Seismic Change
October 1-9, 2016 | Ashland, Oregon
Over the course of nine days in Ashland, Oregon, the 2016 National Asian American Theater Conference and Festival (ConFest) featured theater productions, panel discussions, plenary sessions, new play readings, workshops, special events, and most importantly, a space for Asian American theatre practitioners and our allies from across the country to connect and build the relationships that help keep the community vibrant and alive.
2016’s ConFest at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival represented a historic partnership with one of America’s largest theater companies. The theme Seismic Shifts: Leading Change in the American Theater engaged people in passionate dialogues about social injustice and inequality in American culture and what we, as theater practitioners, can do about it.
ConFest Events
Muthaland
OCTOBER 1 - OCTOBER 9, 2016
Minita Gandhi, Ashland
The life of a young woman is changed forever on a trip to India when she unearths family secrets, encounters a prophet, and discovers her voice within a culture of silence.
Eleven Reflections on September
OCTOBER 1 - OCTOBER 9, 2016
Art2Action, Inc, Ashland
A spoken word and multimedia performance on the Arab American experience, Wars on/of Terror, and “the constant, quiet rain of death amidst beauty” that each autumn brings in a post-9/11 worldiption
Purple Cloud
OCTOBER 1 - OCTOBER 10, 2016
Mu Performing Arts, Ashland
Three generations of Huangs deal with the many facets of their multiracial identities as they embark on a mythical journey from China to Minneapolis and back again — accompanied by four Jade pieces along the way.
Empire of the Son
OCTOBER 1 - OCTOBER 9, 2016
Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre, Ashland
The story of two generations of broadcasters, and the radio silence between them.
The Wong Street Journal
OCTOBER 1 - OCTOBER 9, 2016
Kristina Wong, Ashland
Part plushy TED lecture, part amateur hip-hop extravaganza, and part travelogue, The Wong Street Journal breaks down the complexities of global poverty, privilege and economic theory using uneasy-to-read charts, live hashtag wars, and riveting slideshows from post-conflict Northern Uganda.
Hot Asian Everything:
A Seismic Extravaganza
OCTOBER 6
Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Ashland
An evening of seismic proportions featuring steampunk cowboys, an exotic oriental murder mystery, an epic Cambodian ballet, and a ride through the lives of taxi drivers across the globe — all hosted by the illustrious Jasmine and Emi Macadangdang!