Bringing together creatives, cultural workers, activists and artists in one venue, IdeaLab 2017 sparked transformative concepts and collaborations toward social change.
Organized by Confluence-Denver and Creative Exchange, the event was funded by the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation. The event also was supported by the Denver Arts & Venues Cultural Partner Program at the McNichols Civic Center Building.
In this gathering of creative and social change agents, I met Maria Cheng, founder and artistic director of Theatre Esprit Asia, Colorado’s only Asian American theater company. Cheng was part of the panel of national and local artist-activist leaders that discussed how artists are creatively shaping community. They expanded on how creative networks and collaborations are building equity and access to resources.
In her talk, Cheng introduced Theatre Esprit Asia’s creation story, on the heels of Vintage Theatre’s production of “The Joy Luck Club.” The production brought together 19 professional actors of Asian American descent – the largest ever assembled at a Colorado stage.
“We wondered: how come there isn’t an Asian American theatre company in Denver, in Colorado, in the Rocky Mountain region, in the great American Southwest?” says Cheng, who has spent her life’s work in theater as a playwright, actor, and choreographer.
Five years since that fateful conversation, Theatre Esprit Asia has brought onstage 11 productions that addressed issues relevant to the Asian American diasporic experience. Productions highlight the stories of diverse Asian Pacific Islander communities and the experience of immigration.
Telling Asian-centric narratives in an honest and compelling way was important to sustaining the theatre’s mission, which focuses on “creating social change for a more just and empathetic world through powerful and dramatic exploration of issues of the contemporary human condition.”
“How do you mediate the tension between the person who experiences the story versus the middle-of-the-road audience?” Cheng says. “Most of us need no convincing about the importance, resonance and poignancy of immigration issues. In telling these stories, [we address] the power differential between the East and the West; the haves- and have-nots.”
Cheng believes that theater has the power to tell simple stories honestly, with powerful acting, brilliant production aspects, and more importantly, the courage to discuss contentious issues.
“How can you talk about immigration without addressing issues of detainment, of separation of families, loss of civil liberties, loss of cultural identity, cultural misappropriation?” says Cheng.
Cheng also speaks about the important role that Theatre Esprit Asia plays in uniting and building solidarity with the Asian Pacific Islander American community in hearing each other’s stories. In the early days of the production company, she talks about the “unspoken arrogance” that their plays will communicate primarily with the white community.
The theater’s first production centering the Japanese American internment experience during World War II revealed the need to connect with Asian Pacific Islander ethnic communities, in order to further solidify identification with shared experiences and struggles.
“What we found out when we presented this powerful work was that we Asians in America did not know about this experience,” Cheng says. “Most of our Japanese American community did, but we had Koreans, Chinese, southeast Asians, Cambodians, Hmongs, Thais who did not know about this horrific event.”
“It wasn’t just about us Asians speaking to the culture at large. It was about speaking to ourselves, this immigrant community. That was a huge lesson for us about our own unconscious arrogance, and also about our ignorance of the need to tell each other our stories. To tell all peoples of color, as well as the culture at large, these powerful stories.”
Along with other Asian Pacific Islander Americans who are making important contributions in Colorado, Cheng will be honored on May 20 as part of the 9th annual “Asian American Heroes of Colorado” awards ceremony. The event honors “the rising stars and leaders deserve to be recognized for their tireless efforts and selfless hearts.” The event is co-hosted by the Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network (CACEN); the Asian Student Alliance at the University of Denver; and Asian Avenue magazine.
Watch Cheng at the IdeaLab panel discussion on “Artists Shaping the World:”
Organized by Confluence-Denver and Creative Exchange, the event was funded by the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation. The event also was supported by the Denver Arts & Venues Cultural Partner Program at the McNichols Civic Center Building.
Photo courtesy of IdeaLab 2017
In this gathering of creative and social change agents, I met Maria Cheng, founder and artistic director of Theatre Esprit Asia, Colorado’s only Asian American theater company. Cheng was part of the panel of national and local artist-activist leaders that discussed how artists are creatively shaping community. They expanded on how creative networks and collaborations are building equity and access to resources.
In her talk, Cheng introduced Theatre Esprit Asia’s creation story, on the heels of Vintage Theatre’s production of “The Joy Luck Club.” The production brought together 19 professional actors of Asian American descent – the largest ever assembled at a Colorado stage.
“We wondered: how come there isn’t an Asian American theatre company in Denver, in Colorado, in the Rocky Mountain region, in the great American Southwest?” says Cheng, who has spent her life’s work in theater as a playwright, actor, and choreographer.
Five years since that fateful conversation, Theatre Esprit Asia has brought onstage 11 productions that addressed issues relevant to the Asian American diasporic experience. Productions highlight the stories of diverse Asian Pacific Islander communities and the experience of immigration.
Telling Asian-centric narratives in an honest and compelling way was important to sustaining the theatre’s mission, which focuses on “creating social change for a more just and empathetic world through powerful and dramatic exploration of issues of the contemporary human condition.”
“How do you mediate the tension between the person who experiences the story versus the middle-of-the-road audience?” Cheng says. “Most of us need no convincing about the importance, resonance and poignancy of immigration issues. In telling these stories, [we address] the power differential between the East and the West; the haves- and have-nots.”
Cheng believes that theater has the power to tell simple stories honestly, with powerful acting, brilliant production aspects, and more importantly, the courage to discuss contentious issues.
“How can you talk about immigration without addressing issues of detainment, of separation of families, loss of civil liberties, loss of cultural identity, cultural misappropriation?” says Cheng.
Cheng also speaks about the important role that Theatre Esprit Asia plays in uniting and building solidarity with the Asian Pacific Islander American community in hearing each other’s stories. In the early days of the production company, she talks about the “unspoken arrogance” that their plays will communicate primarily with the white community.
The theater’s first production centering the Japanese American internment experience during World War II revealed the need to connect with Asian Pacific Islander ethnic communities, in order to further solidify identification with shared experiences and struggles.
“What we found out when we presented this powerful work was that we Asians in America did not know about this experience,” Cheng says. “Most of our Japanese American community did, but we had Koreans, Chinese, southeast Asians, Cambodians, Hmongs, Thais who did not know about this horrific event.”
“It wasn’t just about us Asians speaking to the culture at large. It was about speaking to ourselves, this immigrant community. That was a huge lesson for us about our own unconscious arrogance, and also about our ignorance of the need to tell each other our stories. To tell all peoples of color, as well as the culture at large, these powerful stories.”
Along with other Asian Pacific Islander Americans who are making important contributions in Colorado, Cheng will be honored on May 20 as part of the 9th annual “Asian American Heroes of Colorado” awards ceremony. The event honors “the rising stars and leaders deserve to be recognized for their tireless efforts and selfless hearts.” The event is co-hosted by the Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network (CACEN); the Asian Student Alliance at the University of Denver; and Asian Avenue magazine.
From left to right: Kate Tauer, Mani Dahal, Karen Shimamoto (top), Donna LaVigne (bottom), Maria Cheng (top), Khanh Vu (bottom), and Paul Maruyama. Copyright 2017 Asian Avenue magazine
Watch Cheng at the IdeaLab panel discussion on “Artists Shaping the World:”