Theatre for Youth
As part of its mission to create educational programs that explore Asian Pacific American experiences, East West Players is committed to sharing multi-ethnic perspectives and stories with youth in the Los Angeles area.
East West Players’ Theatre for Youth touring production offers new ways to see the world through theatre that stimulate students to discover the prominent role Asian Pacific Americans have played in our history. Created in the early 1970s, Theatre for Youth was designed to promote cultural understanding and racial tolerance among youth. Today, the program strives to expand the history and curriculum to include stories about pioneering and groundbreaking Americans. The programs we offer illustrate the incredible wealth of Asian Pacific American cultural experiences in Southern California.
Sponsorship & Support
Theatre for Youth is supported in part by California Arts Council, a state agency (learn more at www.arts.ca.gov); City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, Dwight Stuart Youth Fund, Green Foundation, L.L. Foundation for Youth, 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.
Current Production
Patsy
Kailani is an 18-year-old senior and star athlete at Maui High School. While anxiously waiting to find out if she's been accepted into her dream school, Patsy Mink, the first Asian-American congresswoman and former valedictorian of Maui High school, appears before her. As Patsy walks Kailani through the many trials and tribulations she faced throughout her political career and life, Kailani realizes that no matter how many setbacks she encounters, she can succeed as long as she perseveres.
Want to Get Involved?
For more information, please contact Arts Education and Professional Enrichment Programs Manager Jade Cagalawan at jcagalawan@eastwestplayers.org.
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