The Contemporary Asian Theater Scene (CATS), in collaboration with the San Jose Stage Company, is set to present the 2nd Annual AAPI Playwright Festival on Saturday, July 26, 2025. This vibrant festival will highlight the storytelling talents of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) playwrights with five newly commissioned 10-minute plays and a selection of monologues curated by Jeffrey Lo, the featured playwright of this year’s festival.
Under the artistic direction of award-winning playwright and director Jeffrey Lo, the festival promises to bring unique and diverse stories to the stage. ‘After our inaugural AAPI Playwright Festival sold out last summer, we knew we had only scratched the surface of what AAPI playwrights can offer. This year, we’re thrilled to bring five new diverse stories to the stage,’ shared Leianne Wong Lamb, President and Board Chair of CATS.
The lineup features a compelling mix of emerging and established AAPI artists, each bringing their distinct voice and perspective to the festival. The playwrights for this year include not only Jeffrey Lo, who also serves as the Artistic Producer but also Marissa May Macaraeg Martinez, Jenny Nguyen Nelson, returning playwright Conrad Panganiban, returning as a playwright Kenna Tanaka, and Lisa Marie Rollins.
The festival will include a staged reading of the five world premiere 10-minute plays, followed by a talkback session providing the audience an opportunity to engage with the playwrights. Staged readings involve actors reading from scripts, emphasizing the playwright’s words and allowing audiences to connect more deeply with the material.
The AAPI Playwright Festival aspires to be a welcoming environment where theatergoers can not only enjoy the performance but also connect, reflect, and celebrate the rich AAPI narratives being showcased.
Scheduled for Saturday, July 26, 2025, the festival will take place from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the San Jose Stage, located at 490 North First Street, San Jose, CA 95112. Tickets are available starting at $17.85 and can be purchased through Eventbrite.
CATS has been an instrumental advocate for Asian American artists in the South Bay and the greater San Francisco Bay Area since its founding in 1995. Established by the late Dr. Jerry Hiura, the late Steve Yamaguma, and Miki Hirabayashi Bellon, the organization has consistently supported, mentored, and showcased the talents of Asian American artists through various events including staged readings, comedy nights, music concerts, and film screenings.
The annual Silicon Valley Asian Pacific FilmFest, previously known as the San Jose J-Town FilmFest, is also produced by CATS, further cementing its legacy as a vital platform for AAPI storytelling and creativity. CATS aims to honor its founders’ dream of enriching the cultural landscape of San Jose and Silicon Valley by continuing to promote AAPI narratives.
About Jeffrey Lo, he is a Filipino American playwright and director based in the Bay Area, recognized for his influential contributions to theater. A recipient of several awards, including the Leigh Weimers Emerging Artist Award, Lo’s work has been showcased in esteemed venues such as Berkeley Repertory Theatre and TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, among others. His play ‘Writing Fragments Home’ premiered at Hillbarn Theatre and has garnered the attention of critics and audiences alike.
In the South Bay community, the San Jose Stage Company (The Stage) is renowned for its bold and imaginative productions that stimulate conversation and foster a deeper understanding of the human experience. The Stage has successfully executed collaborations, not only locally with entities like El Teatro Campesino but also internationally, co-commissioning exciting new works, such as ‘The Memory Stick’ with Dublin, Ireland.
As the 2nd Annual AAPI Playwright Festival approaches, anticipation grows for the powerful stories that will be shared, continuing to strengthen the cultural fabric of the community and celebrating the rich, diverse voices of AAPI artists.
image source from：broadwayworld
