The JANM Democracy Center and entertwine present The Grand Event, featuring plays from the 2025 APIDA 24-Hour Playwriting Contest, on Sunday, July 27, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Tateuchi Democracy Forum, 100 N. Central Ave. in Little Tokyo.
Enjoy performances of the top ten short plays from the contest, which amplifies the voices of diverse and underrepresented Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Desi American writers. RSVP at janm.org/events.
Kyiana Williams, founder of entertwine — a career counselor for creatives in film, TV and theatre — will give opening and closing remarks.
The judges for the contest: Profesor Kyung Hyun Kim, UC Irvine; Professor Weiko Lin, Loyola Marymount University; playwright Mashuq Mastaq Deen; playwright Sam Chanse.
The plays are as follows:
“An Actor Prepares.” A college professor and his former student get into character before auditioning for the same role.
Playwright: Thomas Winter. Director: Andy Lowe. Cast: CJ Cruz, Robert Paterno, Shaun Shimoda
“Pearls Don’t Grow Perfect.” When Natasha comes back from the dead, she is confronted with what her new future looks like and what to do with her new-found time.
Playwright: Madeleine Yu-Phelps. Director: Kyianna Williams. Cast: Natalie Dominguez, Anne Akhila, Ashwini Ganpule, JJ Joo.
“Poly Girls: An American Awakening.” A comedy-drama set in 1987 Anaheim, following two Samoan American sisters and their fa’afafine cousin as a spontaneous night out to a Madonna concert sparks deeper questions about identity, tradition, and the quiet struggle to claim independence within a culturally strict household.
Playwright: Lika Roberts. Director: Mara Palma. Cast: Anne Akhila, Chayanika Baishya, CJ Cruz, Natalie Dominguez.
“Invasive Species.” Bird watchers gather as a flashy new bird visits Central Park — but this time the birds watch them back.
Playwright: Jyotsna Hariharan. Director: Mara Palma. Cast: Ashwini Ganpule, Jo Yuan, Robert Paterno, CJ Cruz, Shaun Shimoda
“Shojo and Kit.” A play that explores the cycles present in the lives of artists. Change is necessary to keep even the most unbending traditions alive in hard times. Through a series of vignettes at different points in a family-run Japanese dance company, we see the journey a tradition takes to continue to find purchase in their homes and lives.
Playwright: Josh Bennett. Director: Peter Matsumoto. Cast: Ashwini Ganpule, Victor Chi.
“Icicle Creek Campground.” Three college best friends reunite at Icicle Creek Campground.
Playwright: Nancy Ma. Director: Andy Lowe. Cast: Jo Yuan, Robert Paterno, Victor Chi, JJ Joo.
“She Loves the Sun, Loves Everyone.” A play about loved ones who must navigate a bride’s increasingly apparent mental health crisis just minutes before her wedding. It is a candid but sensitive portrait of mania and the challenges of care, such as distinguishing what’s real from what’s imagined, negotiating consent when autonomy is undermined, and choosing love over fear.
Playwright: Christine Del Castillo. Director: Kyiana Williams. Cast: Anne Akhila, Jo Yuan, Chayanika Baishya, CJ Cruz.
“Whistles.” Justine just can’t seem to shake the hold no-good Connor has on her, and her friends have had enough of it. In hopes she’s finally hit rock bottom, they stage an intervention to help Justine once and for all break Connor’s spell.
Playwright: Desiree Leialoha. Director: Kyiana Williams. Cast: Ashwini Ganpule, Chayanika Baishya, Natalie Dominguez, CJ Cruz, Anne Akhila.
“The Date.” With retirement just around the corner, Tony — a widowed Filipino grandfather with kind eyes and a stubborn streak — is coaxed into trying online dating by his tech-savvy granddaughter. What starts as a light-hearted tale of second chances and intergenerational love takes a sharp, sobering turn when Tony meets Lina, a warm-hearted immigrant who shares his culture, his longing, and perhaps even a future. As their connection deepens over food, family, and memories of the homeland, a devastating truth is revealed, challenging the notions of identity, loyalty, and who gets to belong in America.
Playwright: Frances Rubio. Director: Kyiana Williams. Cast: Shaun Shimoda, Natalie Rodriguez, Jo Yuan, CJ Cruz, JJ Joo.
“One More Wave.” An L.A. surfer dealing with the loss of a friend reflects on their decades-long relationship. An unexpected event provides the means for a re-evaluation of his long-held beliefs. This play examines themes of friendship, loss and spirituality.
Playwright: Kurt Yamamoto. Director: Karen Huie. Cast: JJ Joo, Robert Paterno, Victor Chi, Shaun Shimoda.