Our Perspective: Asian American Plays
- We are the only Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) theater series in Chicago history
- Since 2018, we’ve read plays by over a dozen local APA playwrights
- We’ve employed over 50 Chicago-based actors and directors, most of them APIDA
- We’ve shared the Asian Pacific Islander Desi American experience on stage with over 800 audience members
- We’re the only APIDA theater project to receive a DCASE grant in Chicago’s Year of Theatre program
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These are just a few of the talented playwrights, directors, actors, and volunteers we've worked with.
More About Our Perspective: Asian American Plays
Who We Are
Asian Pacific Islander Desi American playwrights, directors, and actors from the Midwest creating and performing in Chicago’s top theaters.
Our Perspective is produced by a passionate team of dedicated APIDA volunteers, led by Chicago actress Mia Park. Completing the OP production team are Karissa Murrell Myers, Stephen George, and Sydney Mercado. OP producers represent a wide diaspora of the AAPI experience as a team of bi-racial, immigrant, millennial, Gen Z, middle aged, male, and female theatre artists.
Asian Pacific Islander Desi American playwrights, directors, and actors from the Midwest creating and performing in Chicago’s top theaters.
Our Perspective is produced by a passionate team of dedicated APIDA volunteers, led by Chicago actress Mia Park. Completing the OP production team are Karissa Murrell Myers, Stephen George, and Sydney Mercado. OP producers represent a wide diaspora of the AAPI experience as a team of bi-racial, immigrant, millennial, Gen Z, middle aged, male, and female theatre artists.
What
Our Perspective: Asian American Plays is a highly successful play development program supporting local APIDA theatre artists. Beginning as a play reading series, in 2020 Our Perspective began granting Chicago AAPI playwrights Playwright Residencies. Each residency is four months long with free rehearsal space; stipends for the playwright, actors, and directors; and marketing and support for one workshop performance or reading of their play. Produced by the non-profit AAPI Chicago arts group Asian Improv Arts Midwest, Our Perspective is the first theater series of its kind in the Midwest.
Our Perspective: Asian American Plays is a highly successful play development program supporting local APIDA theatre artists. Beginning as a play reading series, in 2020 Our Perspective began granting Chicago AAPI playwrights Playwright Residencies. Each residency is four months long with free rehearsal space; stipends for the playwright, actors, and directors; and marketing and support for one workshop performance or reading of their play. Produced by the non-profit AAPI Chicago arts group Asian Improv Arts Midwest, Our Perspective is the first theater series of its kind in the Midwest.
Where
Chicago’s top theaters: Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf 1700 Theatre, Victory Gardens Theater
Chicago’s top theaters: Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf 1700 Theatre, Victory Gardens Theater
When
In 2020, programming includes two virtual panels with Chicago AAPI theatre artists, a playwriting class, and one production of FRAGMENTED by Karissa Murrell Myers. Karissa is the 2020 Playwright in Residence.
In 2020, programming includes two virtual panels with Chicago AAPI theatre artists, a playwriting class, and one production of FRAGMENTED by Karissa Murrell Myers. Karissa is the 2020 Playwright in Residence.
Why
The APIDA population is seriously under represented on stage. “Our Perspective: Asian American Plays” is a play development program intended to provide inspiration, space, and audiences for AAPI playwrights, directors, and actors in Chicago. Our universal voice will be best developed and strengthened by focusing on local talent. The only way to be heard and seen is to speak and have presence, and “Our Perspective: Asian American Plays” aims to support AAPI artists to share their stories, theatrically.
The APIDA population is seriously under represented on stage. “Our Perspective: Asian American Plays” is a play development program intended to provide inspiration, space, and audiences for AAPI playwrights, directors, and actors in Chicago. Our universal voice will be best developed and strengthened by focusing on local talent. The only way to be heard and seen is to speak and have presence, and “Our Perspective: Asian American Plays” aims to support AAPI artists to share their stories, theatrically.