Tokens?: the NYC Asian American experience on stage

by Alvin Eng

A companion piece to the Asian American Writers' Workshop's The NuyorAsian Anthology: Asian American Writings on New York City, Tokens? The NYC Asian American Experience on Stage presents a vibrant portrait of a burgeoning theater scene. Alvin Eng, Tokens?'s editor and contributor, describes the ten plays and performance pieces included in the collection as offering "a great visceral snapshot of what Asian American theater was like in New York City in the 1990s". Other playwrights whose work is found here include David Henry Hwang, Jessica Hagedorn, and Han Ong. The book concludes with "The Verbal Mural", a discussion of the history, current directions, and future prospects for Asian American theater in New York City, gathered from interviews with founders, leading members, and rising stars of the Asian American theater. Through their powerful words and passionate voices, Tokens? chronicles the struggles of Asian American artists to find a place in the off-Broadway and off-off-Broadway theater world.

Tokens? includes plays and/or interviews from: Tisa Chang, Daryl Chin, Frank Chin, Ping Chong, Jessica Hagedorn, Wynn Wandman, David Henry Hwang, Aasif Mandvi, Chiori Miyagawa, Han Ong, Peeling The Banana, Ralph B. Pena, Gary San Angel, SLANT, Diana Son, Ellen Stewart, Muna Tseng.

455 pages, Hardcover

First published January 4, 2000