American Theatre: Maps & Legends – 4 Playwrights, 4 Asian Enclaves in LA
- A new playwriting initiative commissions works rooted in the history and present-day realities of Asian diasporic communities across Los Angeles County.
- The genesis of Artists at Play's "The Neighborhood Project" traces back to a simple third-grade assignment.
- "The neighborhood Project" commissions four playwrights - Sarah Cho, Carolyn Hyunh, Aditi Pradhan, and Katherine Chou - to create original works inspired by and deeply connected to Asian...
Artists at PlayS “The Neighborhood Project” Amplifies Asian Diasporic Stories in Los Angeles
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A new playwriting initiative commissions works rooted in the history and present-day realities of Asian diasporic communities across Los Angeles County.
Last updated: September 3, 2025, 05:34:17 AM PDT
Mapping Community, One Play at a Time
The genesis of Artists at Play’s “The Neighborhood Project” traces back to a simple third-grade assignment. Stefanie Lau, co-producing artistic leader of Artists at play, recalls mapping Los Angeles’s Chinatown, noting how each student’s outlook resulted in a unique representation of the same space. Artists at play aims to capture that same diversity of experience through this new initiative.
“The neighborhood Project” commissions four playwrights – Sarah Cho, Carolyn Hyunh, Aditi Pradhan, and Katherine Chou – to create original works inspired by and deeply connected to Asian diasporic neighborhoods in L.A. County. Each playwright is paired with a local community partner to ensure authenticity and build meaningful relationships.
A Collaborative Approach to Storytelling
The project emphasizes immersive research and community engagement. Playwrights aren’t simply writng *about* neighborhoods; they are actively participating in them. “Part of our vision is spending time in those neighborhoods, visiting different businesses, or spending time with folks who live and work in the neighborhood,” explained co-producing artistic leader Ma.
This collaborative process aims to move beyond superficial representations and create nuanced portrayals of these communities. The goal is to amplify voices that are often marginalized and to foster a sense of ownership and pride within the neighborhoods themselves.
Featured Playwrights and Neighborhoods
The inaugural group of playwrights is tackling a diverse range of neighborhoods and themes:
| Playwright | Neighborhood Focus | Community Partner |
|---|---|---|
| Sarah Cho | Koreatown | Korean American Coalition of Los Angeles |
| Carolyn hyunh | Little Saigon (Westminster) | Vietnamese American Arts & Letters Association |
| Aditi Pradhan | Little Tokyo | Japanese American National Museum |
| Katherine Chou | Filipinotown | Search to Excel |
The specific themes and narratives each playwright will explore are still developing, shaped by their ongoing community engagement.
The importance of Diasporic Narratives
The “Neighborhood Project” addresses a critical gap in representation within the American theater landscape. Stories of Asian diasporic communities are often overlooked or presented through a limited lens. This initiative seeks to challenge those narratives and provide a platform for authentic,complex,and multifaceted portrayals.
According to a Pew Research Center report (May 25, 2023)