In summer 2022, I worked at the National Asian American Theatre Company (NAATCO) as a Social Media Intern. NAATCO is a non-profit theater company founded in 1991 in New York City. The goal of the company is summarized in its mission statement to “assert the presence and significance of Asian American theatre in the United States, demonstrating its vital contributions to the fabric of American culture.” Through re-imagining classic works with all Asian American casts and uplifting original work by Asian American playwrights, NAATCO is an organization committed to providing a platform for Asian American artists to have their voices heard.
Despite growing up as an avid theater watcher and participant, I did not hear about NAATCO until college. I came into college set on studying dramatic literature, with a specific interest in the classics. My understanding of theater was quite narrow and consumed by famous works of the Western canon. It wasn’t until I joined the Asian Student Arts Project (the Pan-Asian theater arts club on Harvard’s campus) that I discovered there was an entire world of theater that I had missed out on and was passionate about consuming: Asian American theater. Before my sophomore year of college, I don’t think I could have named an Asian American playwright. Now, I regard female Asian American playwrights, such as Young Jean Lee and Lauren Yee, with reverence. They represent a path of inspiration for me: a student who loves theater and wants to write plays that are in conversation with my identity.
My summer with NAATCO represents a step forward for me. My internship there enhanced my understanding of how a professional theater group can work towards the goal of Asian American representation in various communities. Better yet, it was an opportunity to learn from mentors who are pursuing this work professionally. The company’s leadership is incredibly passionate, and I had the opportunity to work right under their Artistic Producer, Peter Kim—who not only welcomed me with open arms, but also offered himself immediately as a mentor in the arts. He emphasized that NAATCO is a home to many artists and students, and he would take time to ask about my professional and artistic interests in addition to my internship work.
I worked remotely on NAATCO’s production of QUEEN, a play by Madhuri Shekar, who is an Indian American female playwright. I helped brainstorm outreach initiatives to not only spread the word about the production, but also to organize ways in which the community could get more involved. There were Zoom interviews with the director and playwright, cast talkbacks, and even a trip to the largest apiary in New York City to raise awareness about colony collapse disorder of honeybees (which is the play’s main theme). NAATCO collaborates with other theaters on many of their productions, so I also got to peek into the process of how the development and negotiation of a new work begins.
This internship allowed me to further my study of Asian American theater. While most of my experience in English courses has involved learning, reading, and studying works of Asian American dramatic literature, my internship gave me the opportunity to understand how new and emerging works are brought into existence and put on by a professional theater company. It gave me the opportunity to connect with Asian American artists who are actively writing and creating works of dramatic literature, and these experiences have served as an incredible inspiration for my creative thesis. My internship also allowed me to confront questions of representation that I have faced in my studies: is there a correct way to define representation in the arts? How are we constantly shifting our definition of Asian American theater? Most importantly, NAATCO offered me the chance to build meaningful relationships with other interns and with the leaders of the company, who offered generous amounts of advice about entering the professional world of theater as an artist and creator. They welcomed me into their community and family, which was an opportunity unmatched by any other professional experience I have had.