OCT 9 - NOV 2, 2025
Paranormal Inside
By Prince Gomolvilas
Directed by Jeff Liu
Paranormal Inside
By Prince Gomolvilas
Directed by Jeff Liu
Presented at the David Henry Hwang Theater
October 9 - November 2, 2025
Opening Night October 12, 2025
Just in time for Halloween 2025, East West Players joins forces with Theater Mu in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota and Perseverance Theater in Juneau, Alaska to present the simultaneous world premiere of Prince Gomolvilas' thrilling new work Paranormal Inside, directed by Jeff Liu.
Max, a Thai American expecting his first child, fears he’s possessed and turns to his estranged friend Delia, a Black businesswoman hiding her psychic powers. Haunted by dark secrets and supernatural threats, the two join forces in a fast-paced, chilling thriller from the playwright and director of 2022’s THE BROTHERS PARANORMAL.
Paranormal Inside was co-commissioned in 2022 by East West Players, Perseverance Theatre, and Theater Mu and is produced by all three theaters as part of a National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere; for more information, please visit nnpn.org.
“When East West Players mounted a stunning production of THE BROTHERS PARANORMAL in 2022, I fully intended it to be my last show—a fitting bookend to a career that began at EWP so long ago. East West Players, Perseverance Theatre, and Theater Mu had the audacity to offer me a new-play commission. I couldn’t refuse, and I found that I had more to say about supernatural phenomena, Thai America, cross-cultural connectivity, and the mysterious world in which we all inhabit.”
“How rarely do we get to do a sequel in the theater? What a joy that three wonderful companies came together so we can go on another adventure with these bruised but funny souls, the Thai American Max and African American Delia. They’re older, possibly wiser, but life’s challenges and those voices from the other side aren’t done with them yet, so we too get to deepen our relationship with these indelible characters that Prince has so lovingly imagined into further life.”
“We are absolutely thrilled to collaborate with longtime EWP playwright Prince Gomolvilas as part of our 60th Anniversary season and to partner with our fellow co-commissioning theaters, Theater Mu and Perseverance Theatre. PARANORMAL INSIDE continues a story that captivated audiences and digs even deeper into the ways culture, grief, and spirituality shape our lives. It also allows our community to claim space in the horror genre–a genre that has historically excluded Asian American artists and narratives. Prince’s work has always pushed the boundaries of what American theater can be, and this play continues breaking barriers with an intercultural and intergenerational, pulse-pounding ghost story. We cannot wait for audiences to experience the next chapter within this dynamic universe.”
EWP has produced multiple plays by Prince Gomolvilas, including Big Hunk o’ Burnin’ Love (1998), The Theory of Everything (2000), Mysterious Skin (2010), and the EWP Theatre for Youth show Scrimmage (2019).
Director Jeff Liu was behind the Pan Asian Repertory Theatre and East West Players productions of The Brothers Paranormal and the East West Players productions of Ixnay (2009), Chinglish (2015), and Unbroken Blossoms (2024).
Principal Cast
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Tamika Simpkins is over the moon to return to EWP. Notable Theatre Credits: THE BROTHER’S PARANORMAL (East West Players); DOUBT (International City Theatre); DIE, MOMMIE, DIE! (Celebration Theatre); NOTHING NOTHING (Hero Theatre); DEATH AND THE KING’S HORSEMAN (Lantern Theatre); NICE FISH (Interact Theatre Company); IN THE BLOOD (Illyrian Players); BLACK WOMEN STATE OF THE UNION (Company of Angels & Skylight Theatre Company). TV & Film Credits Include, THE ROOKIE: FEDS, BINGE 2, NCIS, DISPATCHES FROM ELSEWHERE, GRACE & FRANKIE, KIDDING, BOSCH, national commercials, voiceover projects, video games and others. Much love to the entire Paranormal & EWP Family, the Rockstar & Day One Tribes! To Jack & Bliss…You Know!
More info at tamikars.com
All socials @tamikars
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David Huynh, a Canadian-born actor based in LA, first appeared on the East West Players stage in MYSTERIOUS SKIN (2012) and returned for THE BROTHERS PARANORMAL (2022). He is grateful and excited to reprise his role in PARANORMAL INSIDE, marking his third time performing in a play by Prince Gomolvilas and his third production with East West Players. His theatre work includes productions with Playwrights Arena, Boston Court, Artists at Play, The Colony Theatre, Actors Co-op, and Sacred Fools. On television, David’s appearances include STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS, THE SINNER, MAGNUM P.I., and ER. Selected film credits: BABY (Best Emerging Actor Award, Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival), ICE COLD RICKY (Best Actor Award, IndieX Film Festival), M.F.A., BANG BANG.
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Christine Corpuz received her MFA in Graduate Acting from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. TV credits include: Hacks (HBO Max), Matlock (CBS), St. Denis Medical (NBC), The Big Bang Theory (CBS), How To Get Away With Murder (ABC), Black-ish (ABC), S.W.A.T. (CBS), The Orville (Fox), and Monster (Netflix), among others. Theater credits include: LA- Mysterious Skin (EWP), Year Zero (The Colony Theater), Opus (Ensemble Theater). Off Broadway/NY-Antony and Cleopatra (TFANA) and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (The Public Theater). She received critical-acclaim for her one-person show, "I Am Nothing Like My Mother," and also earned the Best Actress award from the Asians on Film Festival for the short, “Emmy,” which she both wrote and starred in. She’s based in LA, and represented by Entertainment Lab.
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Alberto Isaac has been associated with East West Players since a year after its founding. Some EWP productions he directed include YANKEE DAWG YOU DIE (2001), ART, PERFORMANCE ANXIETY, THE MAIDS. His EWP acting credits include THREE SISTERS, ACCOMPLICE, PACIFIC OVERTURES (1979 revival), MOTHER TONGUE, TWELFTH NIGHT, TWELF NITE O WATEVA. Other regional theatre acting credits include TWELFTH NIGHT, EVERYBODY, THREE DAYS IN THE COUNTRY (Antaeus); THREE, SOUTHERNMOST, BLOODLETTING (Playwrights’ Arena); BLOOD WEDDING (Odyssey Theater); DOGEATERS (La Jolla Playhouse and Kirk Douglas Theater); FISHHEAD SOUP (Berkeley Rep and A Contemporary Theatre, Seattle); MADE IN BANGKOK (Mark Taper Forum); THE WASH (Studio Theatre, D.C.). Film and TV credits include CHAIR COMPANY, LAW AND ORDER SVU, SHOTGUN WEDDING, CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND, ASSASSINATION OF GIANNI VERSACE, WEST WING, BEYOND THE NEXT MOUNTAIN.
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Aja Hinds is delighted to be a part of this amazing company. TV credits include WHAT WOULD YOU DO, TRAPPED IN HER DORM ROOM, CELEBRITY GHOST STORIES. Theatre credits include THE TOURORISTS (Hollywood Fringe), NEXT TO NORMAL (Tisch New Theatre). Aja is a graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Recently she produced and starred in a short film, GOOD SAMARITANS, that will premiere this fall. She would also like to thank her family, friends and Sager Management for their infinite love and support.
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Davide Costa is thrilled to make his EWP debut! Recent credits include Jack in INTO THE WOODS (MTW), Ensemble/Hans Cover in FROZEN (MRE), Matt in THE FANTASTICKS (McKinney), Mr. Elton in EMMA THE MUSICAL (Chance), and Cinderella’s Prince in INTO THE WOODS at UCLA where he graduated in 2024 with a BA in Musical Theatre. Davide also goes by “Mr. Costa” at OCSA where he teaches 4 different conservatory classes! Thank you to James at Bloc, everyone part of the East West Players team, and family and friends - you know who you are!
@davideeccosta & thedavidecosta.com
Understudy Cast
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Dekontee is excited to return to EWP for PARANORMAL INSIDE, she was last seen on this stage in MAMMA MIA. Recent select credits: COME FROM AWAY(2nd National Tour and Saugatuck Center of the Arts), WIZARD OF OZ(MTW), RAGTIME(5 Star),ADDAMS FAMILY (5 Star), and SHE LOVES ME(South Coast Rep). Dekontee is a musical theatre content creator and was featured in Music Notes' blog and BroadwayWorld.com. She was also a writer/actor on the Amazon Prime show, PARALLEL. Thank you to God, Natalie and the team at LA Talent, Ally Taylor, her family, friends, and Joseph for all the support.
Tiktok: Dekontee2Clay
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Ace Christensen is ecstatic to be making his debut on this premiere production here at the world famous East West Players! Favorite credits include THE HEART OF ROBIN HOOD with THE ELECTRIC COMPANY and THE MURDER OF ROGER ACKROYD with LONG BEACH PLAYHOUSE . He also recently worked on AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER. He is certified as an ACTOR COMBATANT with SAFD.
Much love to The Montooths, all my friends, and the best corgi in the world, Morwen!
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Ratana is a Los Angeles-based actor and strategy coach for creative entrepreneurs. She can be heard in STARFIELD (Andromeda Kepler), GENSHIN IMPACT (Yae Miko), FIRE EMBLEM (Leonie, Ishtar), the Netflix animated series TRESE and more. Her EWP debut was in the 2022 production of BROTHER’S PARANORMAL as the ghost, Jai, and she is thrilled to return to the Paranormal world as an understudy for Bincy. She has been featured in Forbes, Backstage, CBC, and All Over Voiceover with Kiff VH.
Follow her on all socials @voiceofratana
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Ryan Beaghler is an actor, theatremaker, and drag performer based in Southern California. Recent acting credits include productions of YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN (Igor), THE CRUCIBLE (Reverend John Hale), and WITCH (Cuddy). In drag, they’ve performed for over 10 years as the indomitable Michelle Chakra. Ryan is a graduate of the Pace University School of Performing Arts, where they specialized in devising new work as part of the International Performance Ensemble. They’d like to thank everyone at East West Players for this wonderful opportunity!
Company
Creative Team
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Prince Gomolvilas (กมลพัฒน์ โกมลวิลาศ) is an internationally produced Thai-American playwright and winner of a PEN Center USA Literary Award for Drama. He wrote BIG HUNK O’ BURNIN’ LOVE, THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING, the stage adaptation of MYSTERIOUS SKIN, and THE BROTHERS PARANORMAL, all of which were produced by East West Players. He is currently working on ARTIFICIAL, a comedy about AI technology, which was commissioned by SPARC Theater’s Science@Play program and further developed by the BIPOC Playwrights Festival at Boise Contemporary Theater and the Vanguard Arts Fund program at Olney Theatre Center. He is a former Assistant Professor of Writing at the University of Southern California. For more information and to watch his TEDx Talk,
visit www.princegomolvilas.com.
Playwright
Director
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Jeff Liu is a writer and director for theater and film, also an Artistic Producer for the Ojai Playwrights Conference. His productions include the LA premiere of CHINGLISH by David Henry Hwang (LA Times Critics Choice), as well as the world premieres of MY MAN KONO, UNBROKEN BLOSSOMS and THE GOLDEN HOUR by Philip W. Chung, WARRIOR SISTERS OF WU by Damon Chua (2 Drama Desk nominations), MEMORIAL by Livian Yeh (NYT Critics Pick), PALETAS DE COCOby Franky D. Gonzalez (Ars Nova ANTFest), THE BROTHERS PARANORMAL by Prince Gomolvilas, TWO MILE HOLLOW by Leah Nanako Winkler, and THE CHINESE MASSACRE (Annotated) by Tom Jacobson. He also adapted DHH’s YELLOW FACE for the YOMYOMF Network on YouTube, where it’s still available to watch for free.
Assistant Director
Josh Bennett
Intimacy Director
Shinshin Yuder Tsai
Fight Choreographer
Cesar Cipriano
Dramaturg
Alayna Jacqueline
Lighting Designer
Brian Gale
Sound Designer
John Zalewski
Costume Designer
“J.J.” Javier
Properties Designer
Rye Mandel
Visual Effects
Dominik Krzanowski
Projections Designer
David Murakami
Assistant Projections Designer
Ariya Selvakumar
Stage Manager
Brandon Hong Cheng*
Assistant Stage Manager
Irene DH Lee
* Member of Actor’s Equity Association
Scenic Designer
Randy Wong-Westbrooke
Cultural/Language Consultant
Siwaraya Rochanahusdin
Performance Schedule
Sponsorship & Support
This National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere of PARANORMAL INSIDE is sponsored in part by the County of Los Angeles Chief Executive Office (CEO) Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion (ARDI) Initiative’s Equity and Diversity Fund; the Venturous Theater Fund, a fund of Tides Foundation; the National New Play Network Venturous Production Pipeline Award; Asian Pacific Community Fund; The Roy Cockrum Foundation; National Endowment for the Arts; Alex Giza & Cathy Noonan; Tom Stempel; and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Department of Arts and Culture.
East West Players is a recipient of the 2025 THRIVE! Grant, funded by the Theater League of Kansas City and administered by Theatre Communications Group, the national organization for theatre leading for a just and thriving theatre ecology.
Opening Night, Closing Night, and Artist Mixer events are sponsored by Far Bar.
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