Theatre Esprit Asia Presents "Journeys"

Maria Cheng

I had the honor of shooting production shots of Theatre Esprit Asia's (TEA) "Journeys," two one-act plays highlighting authentic Asian American stories. Led by artistic director and founder Maria Cheng, TEA is celebrating its fifth season.
TEA presents "Journeys" at Aurora Cultural Arts District (ACAD) Gallery Theatre every Saturday (7:30pm) and Sunday (2pm) until May 20. ACAD is located at 1400 Dallas St. in Aurora.

Written by Rick Foster, "Dust Storm" is a poignant and redemptive tale of a rebellious Japanese-American youth interned at a camp during World War II and redeemed by a wise old painter.

"We are so proud of Dust Storm that we are submitting this work to the annual Colorado Theatre Festival competition, taking place in Salida Colorado from July 11-14," says Maria, who directed actor Michael Chen, a newcomer to the TEA stage.

"Spirit & Sworded Treks" has been invited to WorldFest, an international quadrennial theatre festival, this year featuring works from 18 nations, taking place in Venice, Florida from June 18-23, 2018. TEA’s SST is one of two U.S. productions so honored.

Written, directed and performed by TEA artistic director Maria Cheng, the New York Times describes it as “wickedly funny…exquisitely crafted.”

Watch "Spirit & Sworded Treks" and experience a delightful sojourn of an immigrant woman’s attempt to maintain a spiritual path, while wryly critiquing the American dream, norms of beauty and issues of creativity, using music, storytelling, poetry, tai chi and weapon forms, bad singing and live stir-fry!

Medicine Wheel for the Planet

Jennifer Grenz, PhD Working toward ecological healing requires awareness of how Indigenous ancestral knowledge and living ways can complement Western scientific approaches to environmental restoration and protection practices. Dr. Jennifer Grenz (Nlaxa’pamux mixed ancestry) worked for more than two decades as a field researcher and practitioner for environmental nonprofit organizations, where she worked with different levels of government, including First Nations in Canada. "Medicine Wheel for the Planet" compiles Grenz’s most potent realizations about the lack of forward movement in addressing an impending ecological catastrophe. A warming climate impacts not only human lives but also the natural balance that relies on reciprocal relationships rooted in deep connections to the land. She uses the metaphor of the four directions of the Indigenous “medicine wheel” to invite openness to Indigenous teachings, letting go of colonial narratives, merging lessons f...

Memento - Embracing the Darkness

Dennis "Dizzy" Doan Stories about overcoming and persevering through family dysfunction, poverty, and mental health challenges offer hope and the promise of better days. Dennis “Dizzy” Doan’s memoir Memento: Embracing the Darkness is one such story, with the added complexity of being raised in an immigrant Vietnamese family. Doan’s parents dealt with the mental and emotional aftermath of war, which forcibly uprooted them from their homeland. In the United States, they struggled to create a safe and stable life for their two sons. Doan shares his journey of finding himself, his craft, and eventually a successful tattoo business in Southern California despite personal strife and run-ins with the law. Doan is best known for developing the aesthetic language to combat anti-Asian hate that erupted during the COVID-19 pandemic. His art series titled “Model Minority” went viral, sparking conversation about Asian American identities and harmful stereotypes. In Memento, Doan showcase...

Enlighten Me

Editor's Note: This review was originally published in Los Angeles Book Review . Author Minh Lê Standing up for oneself seems like doing the right thing. Binh did just that in the face of a racist school bully who was poking fun at his Asian heritage. But physically assaulting another student goes against school policy, and it was Binh who got in trouble. Binh shares a silent retreat with his family and younger siblings. Along with other children, he learns about stories from the previous lives of the Buddha. The stories are interesting, but for Binh, it is difficult to sit still and clear his mind when he misses his Gameboy. While he struggles with silence, he learns important lessons about friendship, community, and being present. In the graphic novel "Enlighten Me," award-winning author Minh Lê and bestselling illustrator Chan Chau tell the story of a boy who gains a better understanding of himself as he works on quieting the mind and reflecting on dharma. Lê and Ch...

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