A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘Paranormal Inside’

October 13, 2025October 13, 2025 Edward Hong

Prince Gomolvilas’ Paranormal Inside, now having one of its rolling world premieres at East West Players, achieves the astounding feat in being a play that is so compelling while fully utilizing multiple global majority actors across different spectrums in meaningful ways, completely deliver on its supernatural premises to jaw-dropping effect, and also be a sequel that welcomes those who have knowledge of the previous play while not being entirely necessary for those who are unfamiliar. It is the perfect play arriving just in time for this year’s Halloween season.

Reviews, Theatre

A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘Yankee Dawg You Die’

July 12, 2025July 14, 2025 Edward Hong

If you’ve ever studied Asian American theatre history, Philip Kan Gotanda‘s Yankee Dawg You Die is one of the pinnacle scripts written in the ‘80s that made an indelible mark in its all too real and comedic analysis of what an Asian American actor goes through in Hollywood.

Opinion, Theatre

Los Angeles Theatre, Let’s Talk About Palestine

July 7, 2025July 8, 2025 Edward Hong

To the Los Angeles theatre community, I love you and I adore you. I’ve been part of you for the past 15 years and despite the many challenges I have come across when it comes to meaningful representation and opportunities, I will always cherish the countless memories we have experienced and will continue to experience together as an artist and as a critic. But I think it’s time we desperately need to talk about the one subject that you have been avoiding for so long — Palestine.

Reviews, Theatre

A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘Cambodian Rock Band’

February 22, 2025March 22, 2025 Edward Hong

Ever since the world premiere of Lauren Yee’s Cambodian Rock Band at the South Coast Repertory back in 2018, there have been nothing but hype and rave reviews as it quickly became an immensely successful and popular production that had many others take place around the United States, with its most significant ones being at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and the Signature Theatre in New York.

Theatre

‘Crazy Talented Asians’ Returns to East West Players!

July 26, 2024August 8, 2024 Edward Hong

East West Players, in partnership with AJ Rafael, is thrilled to announce the return of Crazy Talented Asians. This variety benefit show will take place on Saturday, August 17, 2024, at East West Players’ David Henry Hwang Theater, just in time for Nisei Week and the 140th Anniversary of Little Tokyo, as well as the arrival of the theatre’s new artistic director Lily Tung Crystal. There’s going to be a (apologies in advance) craaaazy amount of talented Asians so definitely don’t miss out on this event!

Reviews, Theatre

A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘Unbroken Blossoms’

July 1, 2024July 1, 2024 Edward Hong

There is a sense of tragedy to acknowledge that whenever there is progress made with any given historically underrepresented community in the United States, history always finds a way to repeat itself. Are we doomed to keep repeating that cycle? Such is the question presented in the East West Players production of Unbroken Blossoms, a world premiere play written by Philip W. Chung and directed by Jeff Liu.

Reviews, Theatre

A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘Kairos’

April 9, 2024April 10, 2024 Edward Hong

My biggest and most immediate takeaway after watching the world premiere of Kairos at East West Players is that I wish more stories were told in this particular manner, despite the genre or the size of the cast.

Reviews, Theatre

A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘Tacos LA Brooklyn’

October 5, 2023October 5, 2023 Edward Hong

Having its world premiere at the Latino Theater Company and produced in association with East West Players, Tacos LA Brooklyn is a vibrant love letter to downtown Los Angeles and its people that can be felt from the beginning to the end of this terrific play. Its strength lies in the fantastic world and the characters written by Joel Ulloa and directed with gusto and care by Fidel Gomez and is a piece of modern theatre that cannot be missed.

Theatre

Latino Theater Company Announces 2023 Fall Season

July 6, 2023July 6, 2023 Edward Hong

Latino Theater Company will partner with two Los Angeles-based Asian American companies and San Francisco’s Magic Theatre to close out 2023 with a fall season of exciting premieres at downtown’s Los Angeles Theatre Center.

Interview, Movies3 Comments

‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ Actor James Hong on His Legacy in Hollywood

March 24, 2022March 25, 2022 Laura Sirikul

James Hong needs no introduction.

The legendary 93-year old actor, with over 500 credits to his name, is still in disbelief of any praise he gets from his roles. He is surprised when he hears directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert aka The Daniels have complimented his work ethic and loved working with such a legend on the new film, Everything Everywhere All At Once.

Art, Fantasy, Theatre

A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘Hannah and the Dread Gazebo’

September 3, 2019September 3, 2019 Edward Hong

It’s not often we here at The Nerds of Color review theatre performances but once in a while, there comes a production so wonderful, magical, and full of heart that it must be told for all to know. That production is Hannah and the Dread Gazebo, performing in Los Angeles at the Fountain Theatre (in association with East West Players) from now till September 29.

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