FemFest Houston: Voices of Asia
Presented in partnership with Mildred's Umbrella
FemFest Houston: Voices of Asia is moving to an online format! Join Mildred's Umbrella and Asia Society Texas Center from the comfort of your own home for a celebration of women's voices as we stage three readings of Houston premiere plays in a virtual setting. Featuring works written by Asian and Asian American women, the series highlights the talents and accomplishments of women playwrights across the globe.
Each play will be available to view for one week. Viewing the plays is free, but audience members must register. An access link and password will be provided to registrants via email once the plays are available for viewing.
FemFest Houston: Voices of Asia at a Glance
Schedule
Peaches | June 4–10, 2020
Mother in Another Language | June 11–17, 2020
The Hatmaker's Wife | June 18–24, 2020
Registration
Registration is free but required. Please register to receive a video link and password once each play is available for online viewing.
Register Now: Mother in Another Language
Register Now: The Hatmaker's Wife
Peaches
Available for online viewing: June 4–10, 2020
Writer: Soo-Jin Lee
Director: Peter Ton
Synopsis: In northern Virginia, two Korean American best friends, Ji Hae and Robert, discover secrets about each other. Their last day of summer begins at a wedding and ends in a peach orchard.
Featuring: Alan Kim, Hannah Lee, and Gabriel Regojo
Mother in Another Language
Available for online viewing: June 11–17, 2020
Writer: Taniya Hossain
In collaboration with: Shunya Theatre
Director: Jennifer Decker
Assistant Director: Jesal Kapasi
Synopsis: When Tarak, a Bengali ex-pat, and Karen, an American, decide to get married, they know they're in for some cultural challenges. But when Tarak buys them a brownstone and asks permission to move his mother Meena into the basement apartment, Karen knows she's getting more than she bargained for. Things go from bad to worse when Karen's mother, Blanch, is suddenly broke and homeless. Blanch moves in with Meena, turning them into the odd couple from hell. But after the mothers stay together, finding a new respect for each other, they have to teach their children the lesson of compromise before the engagement is called off.
Featuring: Karthik Chander, Bonny Langthorne, Leighza Walker, Lubaina Latif, Mayuri Patel, and Sam Stengler
The Hatmaker's Wife
Available for online viewing: June 18–24, 2020
Writer: Lauren Yee
Director: Christine Jugueta
Assistant Director: Cybil Saenz
Synopsis: When a young woman moves in with her boyfriend expecting domestic bliss, their new house reveals the magical tale of its previous inhabitants: an old hatmaker and his long-suffering wife, who runs away with his favorite hat. This sweet and surreal story bends time and space to redefine the ideas of family, home, and true love itself.
Featuring: Noel Bowers, Karina Pal Montaño-Bowers, Calvin Hudson, Mai Le, Sammi Sicinski, and Cybil Saenz
Press Coverage
Catching up With the Arts in Houston With Online and Re-Opening News
About Mildred's Umbrella
Mildred’s Umbrella Theater Company seeks to challenge audiences and theatre artists by creating and performing bold, innovative, and fresh theatrical works grounded in the best traditions of the dramatic arts. With a strong feminine presence in our artistic vision, we strive to feature the work of female playwrights, actors, and directors, which promotes the empowerment of women through the performing arts.
Performing Arts and Culture programs are presented by Wells Fargo. Major support for Performing Arts programs comes from Nancy C. Allen, Chinhui Juhn and Eddie Allen, Ellen Gritz and Milton Rosenau, the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance, Houston Endowment, The Hearst Foundation Inc., The Brown Foundation Inc., Mary Lawrence Porter, and the Anchorage Foundation of Texas. Generous funding also provided by AARP, The Clayton Fund, The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts, Miller Theatre Advisory Board. Additional support provided by the Wortham Foundation, Texas Commission on the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, United Airlines, The Southmore, and through contributions from the Friends of Asia Society, a dedicated group of individuals and organizations committed to bringing exceptional programming and exhibitions to Asia Society Texas Center. This program is presented in collaboration with the Mildred’s Umbrella Theater Company.
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