Those crazy kids have done it again, and just in time for Halloween festivities. For their third production, Lodestone Theatre Company, an Asian American theatre company based in Los Angeles, is conducting an experiment in the exploration of the dark side with AMERICAN MONSTERS . The show combines three one-act plays all centering on closeted deviant behavior and horror-filled urban legends.
The members of Lodestone, whose ages range between early twenties to mid thirties, wanted to do a new kind of Halloween show. The show doesnt deal with traditional monsters and ghosts like vampires or werewolves. It explores the nightmares of reality in American culture.
So what if we took the normalcy of white Americathe white picket fence, the suburban housewife, the door-to-door salesman, the white trash slut, the clown and other icons of Americanaand really exposed it? The blood and the gore and the nightmare that exists in white America? It s perversely, profoundly scary. And what if we made it Asian? explains Lodestone Co-Founder and actress Bokyun Chun.
But what business does an Asian American theatre company have doing a Halloween show? It seems like an unlikely choice. It s a digression from Lodestones first two productions, which were written for a majority Asian American cast. This time, none of the characters are specifically Asian American. Instead, this project focuses on central theme womens struggles against powerful dark forces.
The first play is written by one of the founding members of Lodestone, Philip W. Chung. Dead of Night follows a young woman as she struggles to conquer the evil clown who haunts her dreams and torments her realities.
Beastly Beauties is written by Judy Soo Hoo. Written in heightened language, Hoo s play takes place in a surreal dreamscape where a mysterious man manipulates the sexual vulnerabilities of three women.
Murderobilia is written by Matt Pelfrey, the only non-Asian playwright.
Murderobilia is a dance of death between a murder encyclopedia salesman and a lonely housewife obsessed with serial killers.
As the theatre company is made up mostly of actors, Lodestones mission includes a mandatory policy to cast Asian actors. This however, does not restrict the company from utilizing talents of non-Asian artists who can present new challenges to the actors.
Truly great writing and talent is rare wherever you look. Anyone is welcomed to participate with Lodestone with the prior knowledge that the actors will be primarily Asians, says Jeff Liu, director of Murderobilia.
Director/choreographer Frances Hearn of Beastly Beauties is the other non-Asian artist.
Getting back to the question, why is an Asian American theatre company selecting these plays for their main-stage season? The answer is simple. It s fun. Its new. And why not?
Although Lodestone s mission is to explore new Asian voices and promote emerging Asian artists, this doesnt limit them to any specific themes. No limits should be allowed. We have the freedom to do whatever is challenging, creative, and fun for us, explains Chung.
More importantly, Lodestone is selecting this project because it presents an unparalleled challenge for its members. It s offering the playwrights a chance to write something they wouldnt usually write and it s offering actors a chance to play a character they would never have the opportunity to play on TV, film, or at most other theatre companies.
In fact, many of the actors think American Monsters is just the type of project Lodestone should be doing. We like to do things that are different and have a certain bite to them. As a group, we want to explore and experiment. American Monsters is the perfect vehicle for that, says actor Tim Lounibos who is cast in Murderobilia .
Sun St. Pierre, a Korean American actress cast in Beastly Beauties is excited about this project and its opportunities for Asian actors to play more substantial and dramatic roles. It s got so many different types of characters who have so many layers and are great acting challenges. This will give about a dozen Asian actors the chance to be someone they have little likelihood of playing on camera for a long time. Lets show them Asians can be seen as more than doctors, straight A students, martial artists, or drycleaners or just FOB s.
Instead, you ll find Asian Americans playing evil clowns, an adulterous housewife, sex-obsessed women, and deviant ghosts. What happens when race is subtextual? What kind of dramatic psychology is released when you cast non-traditionally? This is exactly what Lodestone wants to find out. They want to see what happens when an Asian man plays a mass murderer or an Asian woman plays a white trash slut. Like Comedian Margaret Cho says, you dont have to be white to be white trash.
In doing so, Lodestone is breaking down the stereotypes that mainstream American media has selected for Asians. Lodestone Co-Founder and actress Bokyun Chun has seen how Asian roles have progressed in the mainstream medium. Its true we are no longer the strange oriental servant with the funny accent. But we seem to be stuck playing above-average citizens, the super-sexy vixen with a lethal roundhouse kick, the doctor who cures us, or the older wiser Zen man who has all the answers.
If were not the villain, we re superhuman in some way. Subhuman or superhuman. But never human. Were not permitted to have flaws. Art is our tool to chip away at these misconceptions, and to regain our right to be just as fucked up and as human and as glorious. And this is our way, with AMERICAN MONSTERS, says Chun.
Its clear that American Monsters, a digression from the tried and true Asian American theatre, was born for a reason. The creation of this monster challenges the Lodestoners as artists. It s their chance to play with something fun and dangerous. Its their time to grow fangs and taste blood. It s their time to be consumed by darkness and fear. A new monster has risen. Come see their definition of a new American Monster.
American Monsters is set to open on Saturday, October 28 at East LA College located at 1301 Cesar Chavez in Monterey Park, CA 91754. It will run through November 19, 2000 with shows Fridays and Saturdays at 8:30 and Sundays at 7:30 with a special Halloween night performance at 8:30. Call 323-993-7245 for tickets and general information. Contact Lodestone Theatre Ensemble at SHPLodestone@aol.com.
Those crazy kids have done it again, and just in time for Halloween festivities. For their third production, Lodestone Theatre Company, an Asian American theatre company based in Los Angeles, is conducting an experiment in the exploration of the dark side with AMERICAN MONSTERS . The show combines three one-act plays all centering on closeted deviant behavior and horror-filled urban legends.
The members of Lodestone, whose ages range between early twenties to mid thirties, wanted to do a new kind of Halloween show. The show doesnt deal with traditional monsters and ghosts like vampires or werewolves. It explores the nightmares of reality in American culture.
So what if we took the normalcy of white Americathe white picket fence, the suburban housewife, the door-to-door salesman, the white trash slut, the clown and other icons of Americanaand really exposed it? The blood and the gore and the nightmare that exists in white America? It s perversely, profoundly scary. And what if we made it Asian? explains Lodestone Co-Founder and actress Bokyun Chun.
But what business does an Asian American theatre company have doing a Halloween show? It seems like an unlikely choice. It s a digression from Lodestones first two productions, which were written for a majority Asian American cast. This time, none of the characters are specifically Asian American. Instead, this project focuses on central theme womens struggles against powerful dark forces.
The first play is written by one of the founding members of Lodestone, Philip W. Chung. Dead of Night follows a young woman as she struggles to conquer the evil clown who haunts her dreams and torments her realities.
Beastly Beauties is written by Judy Soo Hoo. Written in heightened language, Hoo s play takes place in a surreal dreamscape where a mysterious man manipulates the sexual vulnerabilities of three women.
Murderobilia is written by Matt Pelfrey, the only non-Asian playwright.
Murderobilia is a dance of death between a murder encyclopedia salesman and a lonely housewife obsessed with serial killers.
As the theatre company is made up mostly of actors, Lodestones mission includes a mandatory policy to cast Asian actors. This however, does not restrict the company from utilizing talents of non-Asian artists who can present new challenges to the actors.
Truly great writing and talent is rare wherever you look. Anyone is welcomed to participate with Lodestone with the prior knowledge that the actors will be primarily Asians, says Jeff Liu, director of Murderobilia.
Director/choreographer Frances Hearn of Beastly Beauties is the other non-Asian artist.
Getting back to the question, why is an Asian American theatre company selecting these plays for their main-stage season? The answer is simple. It s fun. Its new. And why not?
Although Lodestone s mission is to explore new Asian voices and promote emerging Asian artists, this doesnt limit them to any specific themes. No limits should be allowed. We have the freedom to do whatever is challenging, creative, and fun for us, explains Chung.
More importantly, Lodestone is selecting this project because it presents an unparalleled challenge for its members. It s offering the playwrights a chance to write something they wouldnt usually write and it s offering actors a chance to play a character they would never have the opportunity to play on TV, film, or at most other theatre companies.
In fact, many of the actors think American Monsters is just the type of project Lodestone should be doing. We like to do things that are different and have a certain bite to them. As a group, we want to explore and experiment. American Monsters is the perfect vehicle for that, says actor Tim Lounibos who is cast in Murderobilia .
Sun St. Pierre, a Korean American actress cast in Beastly Beauties is excited about this project and its opportunities for Asian actors to play more substantial and dramatic roles. It s got so many different types of characters who have so many layers and are great acting challenges. This will give about a dozen Asian actors the chance to be someone they have little likelihood of playing on camera for a long time. Lets show them Asians can be seen as more than doctors, straight A students, martial artists, or drycleaners or just FOB s.
Instead, you ll find Asian Americans playing evil clowns, an adulterous housewife, sex-obsessed women, and deviant ghosts. What happens when race is subtextual? What kind of dramatic psychology is released when you cast non-traditionally? This is exactly what Lodestone wants to find out. They want to see what happens when an Asian man plays a mass murderer or an Asian woman plays a white trash slut. Like Comedian Margaret Cho says, you dont have to be white to be white trash.
In doing so, Lodestone is breaking down the stereotypes that mainstream American media has selected for Asians. Lodestone Co-Founder and actress Bokyun Chun has seen how Asian roles have progressed in the mainstream medium. Its true we are no longer the strange oriental servant with the funny accent. But we seem to be stuck playing above-average citizens, the super-sexy vixen with a lethal roundhouse kick, the doctor who cures us, or the older wiser Zen man who has all the answers.
If were not the villain, we re superhuman in some way. Subhuman or superhuman. But never human. Were not permitted to have flaws. Art is our tool to chip away at these misconceptions, and to regain our right to be just as fucked up and as human and as glorious. And this is our way, with AMERICAN MONSTERS, says Chun.
Its clear that American Monsters, a digression from the tried and true Asian American theatre, was born for a reason. The creation of this monster challenges the Lodestoners as artists. It s their chance to play with something fun and dangerous. Its their time to grow fangs and taste blood. It s their time to be consumed by darkness and fear. A new monster has risen. Come see their definition of a new American Monster.
American Monsters is set to open on Saturday, October 28 at East LA College located at 1301 Cesar Chavez in Monterey Park, CA 91754. It will run through November 19, 2000 with shows Fridays and Saturdays at 8:30 and Sundays at 7:30 with a special Halloween night performance at 8:30. Call 323-993-7245 for tickets and general information. Contact Lodestone Theatre Ensemble at SHPLodestone@aol.com.