History
AATC was founded in 1973 during the Civil Rights Movement as a playwrights' workshop by writer Frank Chin, and was sponsored by the American Conservatory Theater. In 1975, the workshop was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and became a professional theater company dedicated to producing plays by Asian American dramatists and supporting Asian American actors, designers and technicians. AATC has served as a home for numerous artists who went on to careers of national prominence, including: - Playwrights Frank Chin, Philip Kan Gotanda, David Henry Hwang, Momoko Iko, R.A. Shiomi, and Wakako Yamauchi - Actors Dennis Dun, Amy Hill, and the sketch comedy group The 18 Mighty Mountain Warriors - Designer Lydia Tanji - Dramaturg and Director Judi Nihei. Today, AATC is a vibrant and growing theater company that continues to be dedicated to Asian American artists. More info at www.asianamericantheater.org!
Specialties
The mission of the Asian American Theater Company (AATC) is to connect people to Asian American cultures through theater. Our programs include: Main Stage Productions * New plays and revivals of classics by Asian American playwrights, directed, performed and designed by local artists. Many scripts are developed at AATC as world premiere productions. NewWorks Incubator * A program to develop, workshop, and perform the new works of emerging Asian American playwrights by connecting writers to a collaborative community of actors, directors, and other theater professionals. Staged Readings * Scripts under development and works-in-progress are directed, rehearsed and, presented to live audiences, followed by discussion and critique by theater professionals.