Theatre Diaspora

Theatre Diaspora Theatre Diaspora is Oregon’s only professional Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI) theatre company When PCS produced David Henry Hwang’s Chinglish.

Theatre Diaspora is committed to fiercely celebrating and creatively advocating for the Asian Pacific American experience through stage work. We believe these stories are an under-represented and misunderstood part of the American historical and cultural narrative. The play reading series is a project of MediaRites Productions, a non-profit production organization that promotes acceptance among di

verse communities through the arts, education and media projects. Dmae Roberts produced a staged reading of Hwang’s "The Dance and the Railroad" with Heath Hyun Houghton and Samson Syharath as a compliment event. We would like to continue readings of AAPI playwrights. We'd like to build more visibility and awareness about the wealth of talent we have here as well as the abundance of AAPI plays that exist but are not performed here. MediaRites http://mediarites.org/

08/25/2026

After 11 years of helping build Theatre Diaspora into a home for Asian American and Pacific Islander artists and audiences in Portland, Samson Syharath is stepping back from his role as Co-Artistic Director.

While we’ll miss having Samson at the helm, we’re grateful that he’ll continue with Theatre Diaspora as a board member and artist. 

Justine Nakase will step into the role of Artistic Director. We can’t wait to see where her leadership takes us next, and we’re grateful that she and Samson will continue to collaborate in this next chapter.

Thank you, Samson, for 11 years of vision, care, and community-building. And welcome, Justine!

Come celebrate with us at our next event, Sharing Stories with the Hungry Ghosts, on Saturday, September 6 from 1:30-3:30 PM at Taborspace, co-hosted by Samson Syharath and Bea Yeh.

Free workshop for AAPI creatives! Through movement, writing, and shared conversation, participants will explore personal...
08/10/2026

Free workshop for AAPI creatives! Through movement, writing, and shared conversation, participants will explore personal and collective histories with Chisao . Food will be provided!

It’s the final weekend! Catch it while you can!
07/03/2026

It’s the final weekend! Catch it while you can!

Featuring Professor Barbie Wu, with work behind the scenes from more Reedies, Carla Ching’s play illuminates a unique and poignant friendship.

🧨 Meet the cast of THE TWO KIDS THAT BLOW S**T UP! Barbie Wu is the feisty firecracker Diana!Wu is a Portland based acto...
06/04/2026

🧨 Meet the cast of THE TWO KIDS THAT BLOW S**T UP!

Barbie Wu is the feisty firecracker Diana!

Wu is a Portland based actor, director, and professor. She holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in acting from Southern Methodist University. Her past productions at ART include Sapience, The Chinese Lady, Today Is My Birthday (Audio Drama), Magellanica (Audio Drama), Everybody, and A Doll’s House, Part 2. Her other Portland productions include The Wolves at Portland Playhouse, A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Anonymous Theatre. Wu is an assistant professor in the theatre department at Reed College. Barbie is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association.

THE TWO KIDS THAT BLOW S**T UP runs June 26 to July 5 at Artists Repertory Theatre. Tickets in link in bio.

Photo Credit: Nina Johnson

Lilly Do (she/her) is a q***r Teochew Chinese facilitator, instructor, and multidisciplinary artist. Cofounder of Limina...
05/06/2026

Lilly Do (she/her) is a q***r Teochew Chinese facilitator, instructor, and multidisciplinary artist. Cofounder of Liminal Bodies and Program Manager at Write Around Portland, Lilly spends her time walking around the neighborhood like an old Asian uncle and drawing as often as she can.
When she isn’t facilitating writing workshops, Lilly spends her time engaging in the BIPOC, AAPI, and q***r and trans communities in Portland as the cofounder of Liminal Bodies, a PNW-based q***r and trans writing project focusing on movement as a process for deepening our writing practices. Lilly is also the Program Manager at Write Around Portland, a free writing program that consists of participants writing, sharing, and giving strength-based feedback. Her piece, “Survival Artists and Their Generational Lessons” can be found in the first issue of Significant Beings.

We love uplifting and featuring local AANHPI friends! Tag someone and let us spread the word about your incredible work!...
05/01/2026

We love uplifting and featuring local AANHPI friends! Tag someone and let us spread the word about your incredible work!

One of our writing cohort members , is organizing a comedy event.. an Asian American Pacific Islander Two Part Stand Up...
05/01/2026

One of our writing cohort members , is organizing a comedy event.. an Asian American Pacific Islander Two Part Stand Up Comedy Showcase!! In May, AAPI Heritage month! You don’t want to miss it!!

📆: May 23rd and May 30th

📍: CORE - Bar & Food Carts
3612 SE 82nd Ave, Portland, OR 97266

⏱️: 7-9 pm

💵: Donation based

Billy Mamata and myself are co-producing these events! In an AAPI owned space.

DJ: Ken Hop

Poster credit:

18+ DISCLAIMER

🎤 Lineups: 🎤

May 23, 2026

1. Renata Tirta
2. Roseminda
3. Yue Zhou
4. Alina Aliyar
5. David Seung .o.g
6. Blake Hoshibata
7. Yu Chin Tsai
8. Men-Roth Nye
9. Katie Nguyen

May 30, 2026
1. Arvind
2. Brian Govender
3. Lindy Tongol
4. Jon Banks
5. Ru
6. Naomi Dixon
7. Armaan Singh
8. Krystal Martos







standupcomedy

Address

128 NW 11th Avenue
Portland, OR
97209

Telephone

+15067655622

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Theatre Diaspora posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Theatre Diaspora:

Shortcuts

Share

Category