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A new play for Lunar New Year, based on a popular character from Chinese folklore and a little bit Wizard of Oz. A young girl discovers how important it is to think for herself, and that just because someone is big and loud, doesn’t make them right. This all-new production features martial arts, ribbon dancing, and a giant puppet in a classic story with a modern twist, funny and fun for the whole family.

Performances

Saturday, January 25, Old Globe Theatre 4pm call 5pm show
Thursday January 30, Kroc Center at 6:30pm
Tuesday, February 4, Pacific Highlands Ranch Library, 6:30pm (5:30 call)
Sunday February 9, Chinese New Year Food & Cultural Fair, 1:00pm
Saturday February 15, House of China in Balboa Park 12:55pm
Tuesday May 13, Pacific Highlands Ranch Library, time TBD
Tuesday May 20, Malcolm X Library (tentative)

Additional performances will be added. Interested presenters can contact info@asianstorytheater.org

Performers: Christian Clark, Rhys Green, Gingerlily Liwe
Understudy: Victoria
Stage Manager: Kalí Kamaria
Fight Choreography: Rhys Green
Costume Coordinator: Cheryl Lindley-Lopez

Presented with support of the San Diego Chinese Women’s Association.

KNOCK-KNOCK, WHO’S THERE? is a new musical about the census.  It’s playful and funny, and at the same time no joke. The census is about the government connecting with Americans directly, one-to-one, and that’s not an experience everyone looks forward to. Immigrants in particular can be understandably wary. Yet there are real benefits to being counted—and real costs for not participating. More info and RESERVATIONS HERE.

Three all-new shows are being presented this August, steps along the development path toward our multicultural THE LAST CENSUS project. First up is August 3, with IT REALLY IS JAMES BALDWIN, performing 7:30 pm at the New Village Arts Theatre in Carlsbad. Then the following Saturday, August 10, is THAT DON’T MAKE NO CENSUS at the Community Actors’ Theater in San Diego.

Reservations and program information for both shows is HERE. Then August ends with 4 performances of a short new musical, KNOCK KNOCK, WHO’S THERE? at the El Salon theater in San Ysidro. Reservations and info for this program are HERE.

We are proud to announce that we are one of the 38 recipients of the 2024 “Arts and Culture Landscape” grant from the #PrebysFoundation! We are grateful for the investment in San Diego and we can’t wait to share with you how this funding will help support Asian Story Theater’s mission to celebrate Asian heritage, multicultural awareness and understanding by dramatizing Asian and Pacific Island (API) stories, arts, and themes for family audiences.

In 2023, The Conrad Prebys Foundation (@prebysfoundation) introduced a strategic plan focused on creating community well-being through the affirmation of purpose, opportunity, and belonging for every resident. The plan was based on more than a hundred interviews and a listening tour across the county. The foundation funds visual and performing arts, medical research, health care, and youth success and holds a vision in the arts for San Diego County over the next 10 – 20 years.

Asian Story Theater is looking to hire at least one person to assist or lead work on multiple diverse projects. We’re looking for someone who brings adaptability, creativity, and enthusiasm to all their work. Asian Story Theater produces original works as live theater, as well as live and recorded video and music.

Position is half-time or more, with a hybrid of primarily remote and some on-site work. Starting salary based on skills and experience, including pay in lieu of vacation or health insurance. Initial responsibilities will focus on past and current projects. Time management will be essential. Necessary tools will be provided. We have a backlog of work, so expect to be busy fast.

Please respond with a cover letter and resume. If your experience is in digital media, please include up to 5 samples or links to work. To be clear, we are not ONLY looking for video or graphic skills—writing, mailings, publishing, ticketing, social media and more are important parts of our work. We’ll follow up via phone or Zoom, including a survey about specific software tools and hardware if that is not evident in your resume.

Respond to : INFO@ASIANSTORYTHEATER.ORG

See lots of information about the writers and performers in this online PROGRAM, and use the link below to make your FREE RESERVATIONS. Entertaining and insightful and important stories, traveling to three different locations:

June 4, Tuesday – 7pm at Southeast Live Well Center
June 10, Monday – 7pm at Diversionary Theatre
June 11, Tuesday – 6pm at Malcolm X Library

This project is made possible by a grant from the Conrad Prebys Foundation and City of San Diego Arts and Culture’s IMPACT.

Asian Story Theater will perform in this year’s Fringe Festival beginning Thursday, May 16. At 9:00 pm in fact, at a new performance venue in Lincoln Park, 4931 Logan Avenue. Parking is secure and well-lit. We’d love for you to join us. Unless you are afraid…

Asian Story Theater Audition Announcement

Asian Story Theater is looking to cast for a lightly staged-reading of new plays by Asian writers in a program called Census and Censibility.  We are auditioning for 3 women and  3 men–excellent readers who can play different ages, and possibly different genders or species if called for in our scripts.  Must be available for show dates and times:

• June 4th Tuesday at the Live Well Center Community Room  7:00-9:00 pm
• June 10th Monday at Diversionary Mainstage 7:00-9:00 pm
• June 11th Tuesday at Malcolm X Library Community Room 6:00-8:00 pm

Three rehearsals are scheduled for May 13th, 20th, June 3rd at Diversionary Theater from 7:00-9:00 pm. With one additional separate music/dance rehearsal TBA. (Depending on the cast, we may also be able to shift these rehearsals to other dates and venues.) Actors will be paid $300.00.

Auditions are Saturday, May 4th at the Southeastern Live Well Center 5101 Market St, San Diego, CA 92114 .  Please email info@AsianStoryTheater.org and put AUDITION in the subject title for an audition time.  You can specify blocks of time you are available and will be sent a schedule in a 15-minute slot.  Please send a resume and headshot if you have one. Callbacks will be on May 6th at Diversionary Theater 7:00-9:00 pm.

For this production, we are casting multiple different Asian and Pacific Islander characters, and encouraging performers to apply who have or appear to have that background.  We are not excluding any actor who wishes to audition based on ethnicity or anything else for that matter.  Though not required, singing, light dancing, or playing an instrument is a plus.

Saturday May 4 is a ONE-DAY, ALL-DAY open call audition, to cast and record new scripts THE SAME DAY. To recruit and develop local actors, directors, and writers, Asian Story Theater is partnering with multiple local theater companies and directors to host an audition for a VARIETY of BIPOC roles (Black, Indigenous, or Person Of Color). This is a chance for San Diego actors to be considered for roles that tend to be few and far between on general audition calls. Auditions will be scheduled for a 15-minute slot between 9:30am and 5pm on Saturday, May 4, at the new Southeastern Live Well Center, 5101 Market St, San Diego CA 92114 opposite the Valencia Park/Malcolm X Library. 

To be considered, send email with the subject AUDITION to info@asianstorytheater.org. Send photo and resume if you have one, but note that these are NOT required. You will be asked to read from a script. You MAY be cast to return after 6pm to help record a first reading of winning scripts submitted for this event. All performers cast will receive an honorarium. Cast or not, all auditioners are welcome to return later that day for the recordings.