2021 Artists at Play Readings Digital Program

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PLAYWRIGHTS

Noa Gardner (Playwright, NAN) is a Native Hawaiian poet and playwright born and raised in Kaimuki on the island of O’ahu. He recently graduated from an MFA Dramatic Writing program at the University of Southern California (2020). Noa investigates different aspects of Hawaiian culture, people, as well as his own family, through his writing. Much of his work centers on family dramas, specifically Hawaiian families in Hawaiian homes. He was a national finalist for the Gary Garrison Ten Minute play award (2016) and has had his one act and full-length plays read in collaboration with the Adam Mickiewicz Institute, the Son of Semele Ensemble, the Los Angeles Theatre Company, as well as the Pasadena Playhouse.

Kathryn de la Rosa (Playwright, NON SO PIÙ COSA SON) is a Filipino-American dramaturg and playwright from Kentucky. They are part of the first Ashland New Plays Festival New Voices Emerging Playwrights cohort, and was a finalist for the 2021 APAFT & Artists at Play Emerging Playwright Commission. Their plays have been developed and produced by student groups at Northwestern University and Indiana University, and with the 2019–20 Professional Training Company at Actors Theatre of Louisville. As a dramaturg, they primarily collaborate on new stage and audio works, previously at Actors Theatre of Louisville, The New Harmony Project, Working Title Playwrights, and a number of colleges and universities. They’re currently pursuing an MA in Theology and the Arts at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, and graduated from Indiana University.

DIRECTORS

Alison De La Cruz (Director, NAN) [she/he/they/DeLa] is an executive arts leader, facilitator, cultural organizer, producer, multi-disciplinary theatre artist, educator, contemporary ritualist, and yelder. De La Cruz’s directing credits include: Nathan Ramos’ As We Babble On (2018, East West Players), Claudia Rodriguez’s Midnight Steel (2016, Grand Performances / DCA); Post Natyam Collective’s Super Ruwaxi (2014, Fury Factory). De La Cruz served as Executive Producer of the Los Angeles premiere of Allegiance (2018, EWP & JACCC) and Tales of Clamor (2019, JACCC & NCRR) in the Aratani Theatre Black Box. De La Cruz is now a Co-Artistic Director of Outside In Theatre and host and showrunner of the Trek Table.

Sarah Shin (Director, NON SO PIÙ COSA SON) [she/her] is a Brooklyn-based Korean American theatre artist originating from Schwenksville, PA. Recent directing credits include FINAL CONTACT (Central Square Theater), The First Pineapple and Other Folktales by Micah Rosegrant (Central Square Theater.) More endeavors include Endlings (NYTW), Moby Dick (ART), Twelfth Night (Catskill Mountain Shakespeare), and My H8 Letter 2 The Gr8 American Theatre by Diana Oh (Ma-Yi/AYE DEFY). She is a co-founding member of Asian American Theatre Artists of Boston, and API Arts Network Steering Committee Member. BFA: Theatre Arts Boston University.

CAST

Sara Malia Hatfield (Alice, NAN) is making her Artists at Play debut!  Born and raised in Makaha, Hawaii, and a graduate of University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s Theatre Department and NYC’s William Esper Conservatory, Sara is thankful to bring her local roots and love of family/Ohana to this meaningful play reading. Her most recent work includes audiobook narrations for award winning author Toby Neal’s Paradise Crime series and most recent memoir Freckled. You may have also caught her onstage at Manoa Valley Theatre’s Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time. She is delighted to be stepping out of her sound booth and sharing the “stage” with her fellow thespians. Mahalo for your support!

Victoria Hoffman (Emily Kovach, NON SO PIÙ COSA SON) is a multi-hyphenate actor, voiceover artist, casting director, director and producer. Some favorite theatre appearances include: Julius Weezer for The Troubies, The Vortex at Malibu Playhouse and The Matrix, The Sonneteer at LA Gay & Lesbian Center, I Love Lucy Live at Greenway Court and A Christmas Carol at Kodak Theatre with Christopher Lloyd and John Goodman. Casting credits include Rogue Machine Theatre (Resident CD), Boston Court, A Noise Within. Currently the Manager of Casting at AFI Conservatory. Recent TV & VO credits include Genshin Impact and “American Horror Story: 1984.” victoriahoffman.com

Christine Jamlig (Stage Directions, NAN) is a recent MFA graduate in Acting and Asian Performance from The University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. UHM credits include The Good Person of Setzuan, The Country Wife, Integral Bodies, ‘Au‘a ‘Ia: Holding On, The Last King of Bali, Sueño, I’m Lot Lane and Remotely Kyōgen.

Lelea’e “Buffy” Kahalepuna-Wong (Mama/Mrs. Hannity/Dr. Bell, NAN) hails from Kaimuki, O’ahu, and is celebrating her 21st year in theatre. She was recently seen in #HaoleBoyfriend at Kumu Kahua Theatre. Her previous credits include Untitled TMT Project, Lovey Lee, The Conversion of Kaʻahumanu (KKT); ʻAuʻa ʻIa: Holding On (UH); Happily Eva Afta, Lysistrata Jones (MVT); Les Miserables, Once on this Island (PKT); and Kinolau, Ku A Mo’o (HTY). She recently made her TV debut on “Magnum P.I.” and will be seen in “Doogie Kamealoha M.D.”

Kaliko Kauahi (Nan, NAN) grew up speaking Pidgin English on the island of Kaua’i and is excited to be able to use her one special skill in Noa Gardner’s Nan. She previously utilized her love of Pidgin in the East West Players productions Stew Rice and Three Year Swim Club. Kaliko just finished one of her favorite roles: six seasons as oddball Sandra Kaluiokalani on the NBC sitcom “Superstore.” Other credits include “Modern Family,” “Parks and Recreation” and “The Big Bang Theory.”

Intae Kim (Accompanist, NON SO PIÙ COSA SON) is a Boston-born actor who moved west to study at UC Berkeley, where he earned degrees in English and Theater. Since then, he has appeared on both stage and screen, in projects like Luis Valdez’s Valley of the Heart, ABC’s “How To Get Away With Murder” and HBO’s inaugural APA Visionaries Competition winner, Monday. Intae is thrilled to be making his Artists at Play debut! Reps: 3Arts Entertainment and Momentum Talent and Literary Agency.

Lianah Sta. Ana (Maria Ong, NON SO PIÙ COSA SON) is an Asian-American artist of Filipinx descent. She started her professional acting career as the Kim alternate in the 2017 Broadway Revival of Miss Saigon, and has gone on to work in both theatre and TV industries. Currently, Lianah is pursuing a degree in Ethnicity and Race Studies at Columbia University. She is passionate about the political, resistant nature of art and hopes to use all she’s learned throughout her educational and professional careers to empower herself and other BIPOC artists.

Jorin Young (Maddi/Keiki, NAN), born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii is a graduate from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa with a Bachelors Degree in Theatre. She has been in many productions during her time at UHM including ‘Au’a ‘Ia: Holding On. Her production was invited to perform in La MaMa, New York Theatre Workshop, and Theatre For The New City in New York City 2020. Her favorite productions include The Spitfire Grill (Percy Talbott) at UHM, Once On This Island (Ti Moune) at Kaimuki High School Performing Arts Center (KHSPAC), The Moors (Marjory) virtual for the University of East Anglia, The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Columbia) at KHSPAC, Girls Bathroom Confessional (Lexi) virtual for Playbuilders Festival 2020. She is also a hula dancer and has been dancing since the age of four under the direction of Kumu Hula Leimomi Ho. She is so thrilled to be a part of this production and cannot wait for you to hear this beautiful story that hits so close to home.

CREATIVE TEAM

Katherine Chou (Dramaturg/Assistant Director, NON SO PIÙ COSA SON) is a Taiwanese American film and theatre artist. A graduate of L’Institut d’Études Politiques de Paris, her work has been developed and produced through the Armed With a Camera Fellowship and the BIFAN Fantastic Film School in South Korea. Her latest film, A Cure for All Things, was named a finalist of the Telling Our Stories Contest presented by STARZ, The Wrap, and Women in Film. She is a Producing Associate at Artists at Play. 

Stephen Hu (Assistant Director, NAN) is thrilled to be working with Artists at Play again. He last performance was in Alliance Theatre’s streaming production of Data. Select acting credits: F.O.B. (Sheen Center, Off-Broadway), The Great Wave (Berkeley Repertory Theatre), Vietgone (American Conservatory Theatre), Hamlet (Repertory Theater of St. Louis), Macbeth (Theatricum Botanicum), Ching Chong Chinaman (Artists at Play) and Othello, Much Ado About Nothing, and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (The Old Globe). TV: NBC’s “New Amsterdam,” CBS’ “The Good Fight.” MFA Acting, The Old Globe/USD. 

Lelea’e “Buffy” Kahalepuna-Wong
Hawaiian Cultural Consultant, Nan

Sandy Nguyễn
Graphic Designer

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Special Thanks
Paul Adolphsen, Marquese Carter, Paula Cizmar, Velina Hasu Houston, Akea Kahikina, Andrew Knight, Natalie Krupansky, Mapuana Makia, Amrita Ramanan

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ARTISTS AT PLAY

Julia Cho, Stefanie Lau, Marie-Reine Velez
Producing Artistic Leaders
Co-Founders

Nicholas Pilapil
Producer

Katherine Chou
Producing Associate

Sandy Nguyễn
Producing Intern

Artists at Play produces theatrical programming that explores the Asian American experience. In the presentation of these multifaceted stories, we provide resources and a platform for underrepresented theatre artists while serving audiences within Los Angeles and beyond. Through our mainstage productions, new play development and other events, we advocate for and collaborate with diverse communities of artists.

Founded in 2011, our productions have achieved box office success and critical acclaim including Ovation Award and GLAAD Media Award nominations. Artists at Play has developed artistic partnerships with Center Theatre Group, East West Players, The Latino Theater Company, USC Pacific Asia Museum, Chinese American Museum and USC Visions and Voices. We have been featured in the Los Angeles Times, KPCC, Angry Asian Man, Hyphen Magazine and @This Stage Magazine, among others. Artists at Play is a member of the national Consortium of Asian American Theaters and Artists.

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