GLEN ECHO, MD – Adventure Theatre MTC presents a celebration of API Heritage with a full lineup of API Heritage Month storytimes, interviews, and digital presentations. These online events honor the creativity, tradition, and innovation of the Asian Pacific Islander population and focus upon the impact they continue to make daily through their art. All presentations are free and available streaming live onFacebook.

May 17, 2020
12pm: Storytime excerpt with Helena Ku Rhee from her book THE PAPER KINGDOM, interview to follow
1pm: Storytime excerpt with Diana Inosantos from her book THE CURIOUS MIND OF SEBASTIAN, interview to follow
2pm: Interview with Tony Award & OBIE Award recipient David Henry Hwang

May 24, 2020: Asian American Girl Power Day!
12pm: Storytime and activity featuring courageous girls in STEAM with children’s book author Vicky Fang
1pm: Storytime and activity with filmmaker and comic book author Greg Pak from his book THE PRINCESS WHO SAVES HERSELF
2pm: Digital Presentation of the world premiere musical, Fantastagirl and Math Monster, a preview of the 2021-2022 season from Adventure Theatre MTC directed by API director Jennifer Knight

May 31, 2020
1pm: Storytime with children’s book author Ginger Park
2pm: Digital Presentation of the play, The Dance and the Railroad, by Tony Award & OBIE Award recipient David Henry Hwang

Executive Director Leon Seemann, Education Director Margo Brenner Collins, and Artistic Director Chil Kong are excited about this lineup brings out the rich cultural history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders as well as bringing to light the contemporary artists who are adding to our history as a society.

Says Artistic Director, Chil Kong, of the series, “The contribution of these authors and playwrights is immense for the next generation of artists, and it’s my honor and privilege to spend time learning and sharing their wisdom.”

To tune in throughout May or follow the production online, visit our Facebook Event Page. For additional information or questions, please e-mail info@adventuretheatre-mtc.org.

ABOUT THE SERIES:

On May 17 at 12pm EST, Artistic Director Chil Kong will interview the writer of one of his favorite books of 2020 PAPER KINGDOM written by Helena Ku Rhee. The book focuses on an office at night that becomes a fantastical kingdom of paper complete with friendly dragons in this own voices picture book. PAPER KINGDOM is on the Spring 2020 Inspired Recommendations list by the American Booksellers Association and listed on the Most Anticipated Children’s Books of 2020 by BookPage.

On May 17th at 1pm EST, Artistic Director Chil Kong interviews long time friend and teacher Diana Inosantos and her journey to understand her son’s Autism. Diana Lee Inosanto is the daughter of martial artist Dan Inosanto and the god-daughter of the late Bruce Lee.  As an American actress, producer, director, writer and former stuntwoman, she has paved a way in the Hollywood system that is unique to other performers in the entertainment industry and most recently a writer for TYA audiences with her newly released book THE CURIOUS MIND OF SEBASTIAN.

On May 17th at 2pm EST, celebrated Tony Award & OBIE award winning playwright, David Henry Hwang will discuss how his began his playwriting career, his writing process, and his inspirations with local API playwrights, all moderated by Adventure Theatre Artistic Director Chil Kong. Hwang is probably best known for his Tony Award-winning play M. Butterfly (1988), based on the true story of a French diplomat who had a long affair with a singer in the Beijing opera.

On May 24 at 12pm EST, Adventure will conduct a discussion with Vicky Fang. Vicky Fang is a product designer who spent 5 years designing kids’ technology experiences for both Google and Intel, often to inspire and empower kids in coding and technology. Through that work, she came to recognize the gap in education and inspiration, particularly for girls and minorities. She began writing books to provide kids with accessible STEAM-inspired stories that they can read again and again, learning from characters they love.

On May 24 at 1pm EST, Greg Pak, a Korean American filmmaker and comic book writer best known for his award-winning feature film Robot Stories, will read his book THE PRINCESS WHO SAVES HERSELF. Pak is known for his blockbuster comic book series like Planet Hulk and World War Hulk, and his current work on comic book series like Star Wars: Darth Vader, Firefly, Ronin Island, and Agents of Atlas. Pak’s current comics projects include Ronin Island and Mech Cadet Yu, creator-owned series from BOOM! Studios; Firefly for BOOM! Studios; Agents of Atlas and Star Wars: Darth Vader for Marvel; and Stranger Things: Zombie Boys for Dark Horse.

On May 24 at 2pm EST, Adventure Theatre MTC offers a sneak peek of its 2021-2022 world premiere musical, Fantastagirl and Math Monster. Written by Tori Boutin and Madeline Belknap and directed by Jennifer Knight, this production stars Valeria Morales, Tyasia Velines, Ayesis Clay, Desiree Velez, Linda Bard, Bekah Umansky,  and Rebecca Kiser. Fantastagirl is her own everyday superhero who is forced to face her ultimate weakness, math. Could a sidekick be her super solution to her math problem? With a little help from her moms and an overeager Math Monster, she just might defeat the her mortal enemy, her own anxiety.

On May 31 at 1pm EST, local chocolatier and children’s book author Ginger Park reads from one of her beloved books she co-authored with her sister, Frances Park. Together, they have written five children’s books including The Have A Good Day Cafe , Where On Earth is My Bagel?, My Freedom Trip, The Royal Bee, and Good-bye, 382 Shin Dang Dong.

On May 31 at 2pm EST, Adventure will offer a sneak peek at a potential show for the 2020/2021 season,The Dance and the Railroad, which was originally commissioned as a Theatre for Young Audiences play in 1982. The play by by David Henry Hwang rejects the stereotype of submissive immigrant laborers, and depicts assertive men who demanded their rights despite great personal risk.