Contemporary Asian Theater Scene

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Contemporary Asian Theater Scene

The only place to find cool and contemporary Asian American theater, film, and comedy in the Silicon Valley!

Contemporary Asian Theater Scene, otherwise known as CATS, started almost 20 years ago to give voice to the emerging artists that spoke to the vast Asian American experience. We're a non-profit presenting organization that celebrates meaningful and entertaining theater arts, film, comedy, music, etc.

06/10/2026

Tomorrow! Join CATS Board Chair Leianne Wong Lamb for Asian Leaders Alliance’s next Brain Trust on Zoom: Asian Theater with CATS & AAPI Heritage Recap.

Leianne will share how community arts, theater and AAPI storytelling drive and impact the broader national AAPI landscape. She’ll also share about the upcoming AAPI Playwright Festival on July 11th at San Jose Stage.

The conversation will also include a casual AAPI Heritage Month recap with Asian Leaders Alliance’s community of corporate ERGs, nonprofit organizations, and community leaders.

🗓️ Thursday, June 11, 2026
⏰ 5–6 p.m. PDT / 8–9 p.m. EDT
📍 Zoom
🔗 Register: https://ala.fyi/bt-6-26 (link in our IG Story)

All are welcome! 💚

05/10/2026

🎭 We’re taking a look back to last weekend’s first staged reading of “Aftermath Liturgy” by Min Kahng..

Commissioned by us, Contemporary Asian Theater Scene (CATS), as part of our New Works Play Commission Program, “Aftermath Liturgy” explores what happens when the beliefs that shaped your life begin to change.

This intimate, experimental work blended theater, ritual, live music, projections, audience participation, and a meaningful post-show talkback. 🎤

With Min Kahng as playwright, composer, lyricist, and singer, Actor Will Dao in the role of the pastor under the direction of Director Lisa Marie Rollins, the evening invited audiences to reflect on identity, belief, community, and what comes next.

Thank you to everyone who joined us at Wesley United Methodist Church in San Jose Japantown and supported this new work.

Special thanks to Min Kahng, Lisa Marie Rollins, Will Dao, Mark Teagle, CATS Board Chair and President Leianne Wong Lamb, Theater Programs Co-Director Caroline Kondo Moore, Tasi Alabastro, our volunteers, donors, grantors, and community supporters for helping bring this staged reading to life, and supporting New Works.

Because when art transforms us, we transform the world.

Select photos by .anthonyle
Other photos & video clips by

05/02/2026

A quick peek inside rehearsal for “Aftermath Liturgy” 👀🎭

Join CATS this Saturday for a one-hour staged reading of Min Kahng’s newly commissioned play, featuring live music, multimedia projections, and audience participation.

📅 Saturday, May 2, 2026
🕗 8pm show | 9pm talkback | 9:30pm reception
📍 Wesley United Methodist Church
566 N. 5th Street, San Jose Japantown
🎟 Get tickets: tinyurl.com/AftermathLiturgy
🔗 Link in bio

04/30/2026

CATS was featured on 𝗡𝗕𝗖 𝗕𝗮𝘆 𝗔𝗿𝗲𝗮’s 𝘈𝘴𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘗𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤 𝘈𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘙𝘰𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘵 𝘏𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢 to talk about our work uplifting AAPI artists — including this Saturday’s staged reading of “𝗔𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝗟𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗴𝘆” by Min Kahng.

In this video, CATS Board Chair and President 𝗟𝗲𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗮𝗺𝗯 discusses this compelling new work. The one-hour theatrical experience explores the collision of identity, faith, and queerness through a narrative that reflects Kahng’s lived history.

“Aftermath Liturgy” features music, multimedia projections, and audience participation. It’s Min Kahng’s most experimental piece yet, and CATS is proud to commission it as part of our New Works Play Commission Program.

📅 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟮, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
🕗 8pm show | 9pm talkback | 9:30pm reception
📍 Wesley United Methodist Church .sanjose
566 N. 5th Street, San Jose Japantown

🎟 𝗧𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀:
$23.18 General
$17.85 Students & Seniors
$39.19 VIP Reserved Seating

🔗 tinyurl.com/AftermathLiturgy (link in bio)

Watch the full interview on CATS’ YouTube channel https://youtu.be/SQF8pl3GUlM (link in bio).

Special thanks to CATS Theater Programs Co-Director Caroline Kondo Moore and CATS Board Chair and President Leianne Wong Lamb for their leadership and care in bringing this new work to the stage.

04/20/2026

We are deeply saddened by the passing of the incomparable Flo Oy Wong. We were fortunate to work closely with her and were constantly inspired by her vision, her spirit, and her truth.
Flo’s impact on the Asian American arts community is immeasurable, and we were honored to walk alongside her for so many milestones:

2022: CATS honored Flo with the Image Hero Award for her immense contributions to the arts.

2023: We premiered her film, Drawn From Life: The Creative Legacy of Flo Oy Wong (Filmmaker: Andi Wong, co-produced by CATS)

2024: She shared her profound wisdom in our series, "Realities of Being an AA Artist," guiding the next generation of artists and their families.

2025: The Silicon Valley Asian Pacific FilmFest premiered her second film, Tales of the Tofu Goddess: The Artful Life of Flo Oy Wong (Filmmaker: Andi Wong, co-produced by CATS)

2026: Most recently, we came full circle with the Oakland Asian Cultural Center for the Tribute to the Artful World of Flo Oy Wong! Beautiful program starting with screening of Flo's 2 films, Poetry reading by Flo, Discussion with Flo, Andi Wong, and Roy Chan moderated by CATS' Leianne Lamb, and a visit to her "Legacy" mural in Oakland Chinatown.

We are deeply moved that Flo requested donations be directed to CATS instead of flowers. Her generosity lives on through the stories we tell and the community she helped us build.

Rest in power, Flo. Thank you for everything. 🕊️

Flo Oy Wong's obituary can be read on her website (https://flooywong.ddns.net/)

Photo credits: ,

04/16/2026

🎭 Playwright 𝗠𝗶𝗻 𝗞𝗮𝗵𝗻𝗴 talks about his newest commissioned work, 𝘈𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘓𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘨𝘺.

Structured like a worship service, this experimental staged reading explores what happens 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗳𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁—blurring the line between theater and ritual through live music, multimedia, and a little bit of audience participation.

If you’ve ever gone through a perspective shift yourself, this piece may resonate with you.

Join us for an evening of brand-new theater and the first staged reading of Min’s new play, Aftermath Liturgy, directed by 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝗮 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝘀.

📅 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟮, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
🕗 8pm show | 9pm talkback | 9:30pm reception
📍 Wesley United Methodist Church
566 N. 5th Street, San Jose Japantown

🎟 𝗧𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀: $23.18 General | $17.85 Students & Seniors
🔗 https://tinyurl.com/AftermathLiturgy

CATS is excited to commission this original play as part of our 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺.

04/09/2026

📣Announcing a New Staged Reading 🎭

Contemporary Asian Theater Scene (CATS) is proud to present 𝘼𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙝 𝙇𝙞𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙜𝙮, a newly commissioned play by 𝗠𝗶𝗻 𝗞𝗮𝗵𝗻𝗴, directed by 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝗮 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝘀.

Inspired by the playwright’s lived experience, this intimate staged reading explores identity, belief, and what happens when the two no longer align.

Featuring live music, multimedia, and a dash of audience participation. This is a unique, experimental, interactive theatrical experience that you won't want to miss! Get your tickets now!

📅 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟮, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
🕗 8pm show | 9pm talkback | 9:30pm reception
📍 Wesley United Methodist Church, San Jose Japantown

🎟 𝗧𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀: $20 General | $15 Students & Seniors
🔗 https://tinyurl.com/AftermathLiturgy

CATS is excited to commission this original play as part of our 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺.

04/06/2026

We’re still holding onto the joy from Flo’s recent program. It was a packed house at Oakland Asian Cultural Center, filled with friends, artists, and community, all coming together to celebrate the incredible life and work of Flo Oy Wong.

Seeing Flo surrounded by so much love was a reminder of the legacy she has built over 40+ years as an artist, poet, educator, and activist. The two films by Andi Wong beautifully captured her roots in Oakland Chinatown, her family history, and the way those stories shaped her work.

Flo’s impact reaches far and wide, from Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation to the Japanese American Museum of San Jose to the Smithsonian. Her voice, her perspective, and her strength as an artist have touched so many of us.

Things can happen so quickly. Flo is currently facing serious health challenges. You may wish to offer a quiet or thoughtful expression of care as you keep Flo and her family in your thoughts.

Genny Lim

04/01/2026

We’re excited to share that (The) Foundation by Jeffrey Lo—a play commissioned by CATS and first presented through a staged reading with our community—is being featured in San Francisco Playhouse’s Play Reading Series.

If you missed it when we debuted it, here’s another chance to catch a reading of Jeffrey’s new play (The) Foundation.

🗓 Monday, April 6
🕖 7:00 PM (Doors at 6:00 PM)
📍 San Francisco Playhouse Mainstage
450 Post Street, San Francisco

This free potluck-style event invites you to bring a treat, something to pour, and a friend.

🎟 Learn more + RSVP:
https://vist.ly/4wy7m

We’re proud to see this powerful play continue its journey. 💚

03/31/2026

👀 As we look ahead to the 12th Annual Silicon Valley Asian Pacific Film Festival (SVAPFF) this October, we’re looking back at some of the highlights from last year’s festival.

From screenings and live performances to book signings, filmmaker conversations, and shared community moments, SVAPFF 2025 was a vibrant celebration of AAPI storytelling through film.

Thank you to the filmmakers, audiences, volunteers, sponsors, donors, community partners, and media partners who helped make it all possible. We couldn’t do it without you. 🫶

If you’re a filmmaker, we’re still accepting films for 2026. Head to https://svapfilmfest.org/

See you in October 2026!

Address

San Jose, CA
95112

Website

https://www.catsasiantheaterscene.org/, https://www.eventbrite.com/e/american-hwangap-tickets-1366782405969

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