August 21 & 22, 2026
CRAZY
TALENTED
ASIANS
Curated and produced by AJ Rafael in partnership with East West Players and Nisei Week Foundation.
As part of the iconic Nisei Week Japanese Festival, this two-night-only event spotlights the best and brightest Asian American talent on stage today.
CRAZY TALENTED ASIANS: NISEI WEEK is a vibrant celebration of community, creativity, and identity in the heart of Little Tokyo. Curated and hosted by music director and YouTube sensation AJ Rafael, the evening features powerhouse performances by Broadway stars, acclaimed poets, rising musicians, and special surprise guests — many of whom trace their roots back to the East West Players stage.
This is more than just a concert. It’s a homecoming for artists who have helped shape AAPI arts and a high-energy showcase of the talent redefining what’s possible for Asian Americans in the performing arts.
HOSTS, HONOREES, & PERFORMERS
AJ Rafael is an accomplished singer/songwriter who has amassed over 1 million subscribers on YouTube and 1 million monthly listeners on Spotify.
His debut album “Red Roses” reached the iTunes and Billboard charts, and he has collaborated with artists like Tori Kelly, Jeremy Passion, Kina Grannis, and Kolohe Kai. Rafael was named a Filipino American Game Changer by the City of Los Angeles in 2018 for his contribution to the music industry as a proud Asian American independent artist.
AJ Rafael is proud to be a founder of CRAZY TALENTED ASIANS, developed in 2018 after and inspired by the success of “Crazy Rich Asians” by Jon M Chu.
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MISS SAIGON, RATCHED
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Stand-up comedian, actor, and writer (HBO Max's The Sex Lives of College Girls, and writing for Netflix's Exploding Kittens)
FEATURED PERFORMERS
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Belle in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST at the Nocturne Theatre
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EWP’s ASSASSINS and MAMMA MIA
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Matlock on CBS, The Half Of It, Pixar’s Elemental
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HERE LIES LOVES at the Mark Taper Forum & ON THIS SIDE OF THE WOLRD and CAMBODIAN ROCK BAND at EWP
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Most recently Harvard in EWP’s FLOWER DRUM SONG
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Most recently Ta in EWP’s FLOWER DRUM SONG
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Kay - most recently Katherine Howard in SIX on Broadway
Leianna- Currently Lydia Deetz in the BEETLEJUICE National tour (literally here on an off week)
Justine- HERE LIES LOVES at the Mark Taper Forum & SPRING AWAKENING at EWP
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Actor and Director (Netflix’s FINDING OHANA, WHAT WE CARRY)
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Singer/Songwriter (PRETTY LITTLE LIARS, FINDING OHANA)
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Director, Producer- Chinese Pirate Productions
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American Idol star, Las Vegas headliner & international platinum-selling recording artist
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Winner of NBC’s The Voice USA Season 26, international recording artist, global performer
CTA 2026 Highlights
Photos by Mike Palma
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