Ashley Chiu is an actress based in New York. Her artistic journey began at the age of 7 while watching a production ofThe Sound of Musicin her community. She took up dance classes, which lead to formal theatre training at NYU Tisch School of the Arts, where she received a BFA in Drama. After performing in Jimmy Kimmel’s 2019 live show, she’s about to make her Broadway debut inOnce Upon a One More Time, a new musical featuring the songs of Britney Spears set to premiere this November! Her goals for future projects? To make representation in mainstream media the norm. Chiu advises young artists to “[be the] bravest, boldest, and best way to make a path for [themselves] as an artist is to be nothing but yourself.” Read on to learn more about Ashley Chiu and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Belinda Allyn is a performer based in the suburbs of New Jersey. It took one theatre camp in high school for her to catch the acting bug, and went on to land her first acting gig in the resident company at Forestburgh Playhouse. Upon her graduation from Oklahoma City University, Allyn booked a job with the Disney Cruise Line, and has expanded her resume since! Her favorite roles include Belle in Beauty and the Beastat Paper Mill Playhouse, Imelda Marcos (understudy) in Here Lies Loveat Seattle Rep, Maria in West Side Storyat Paper Mill Playhouse, and of course, Allegianceand Once Upon a One More Timeon Broadway! Allyn advises young artists to “ground [themselves] in genuine relationships and hobbies/jobs/activities that [they] enjoy that aren’t related to pursuing a career in the arts” (Allyn herself was a band kid before theatre!), and to understand that when things don’t work out, it’s because something else is on the horizon. Read on to learn more about Belinda Allyn and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Riza Takahashi is a performer based in New York City! Her passion for musical theatre emerged at the age of 4 when her mother enrolled her in a studio in Japan. Her resume now includes some of the most iconic shows in history from her time in regional theatre, including Mamma Mia!, How to Succeed in Business Without Even Trying, Spelling Bee, The King and I, Mary Poppins, Spamalot, and more! In addition to this, Takahashi made her Broadway debut as an original cast member for Mean Girlson Broadway! Offstage, she fly fishes (a skill she picked up in quarantine!), teaches private lessons and workshops on a platform called “Broadway to Japan,” and founded Celebrate Asian Joy, “an organization committed to support and celebrate AAPI theater artists, filmmakers, and musicians to tell their stories through arts” that just released a new music video, “I Choose Joy!” Her advice to young artists? “Don’t be afraid to be who you are! You are already enough.”Read on to learn more about Riza Takahashi and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Kelli Youngman is a performer and life coach based in New York City. After getting her start in dance from a mommy-and-me class as a child, she grew up to attend Fordham University and The Ailey School. The many paths in front of her made her consider alternatives -- but within 6 months of deciding to commit to her dream of being on Broadway, Youngman booked her first Broadway show! Her credits include ANASTASIA and THE KING AND I (including the First National Tour) on Broadway, NEWSIES at Arena Stage, and THE FLAMINGO KID, as well as becoming a life coach for her company, Kelli Youngman Wellness! Her advice to young artists? “Trust yourself and what you have to offer to the world. You are valuable and needed just as you are.” Read on to learn more about Kelli and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Erica Wong was almost a civil engineer before dance called her to NYC! Now based in Union City, she got her start with a ballet company before a beauty pageant video submission booked her In Your Arms with renowned choreographer Christopher Gattelli. From that moment on, Wong knew theatre was her home. The King & I marked her Broadway debut, and since then, she’s worked on projects such as Jerome Robbins’ Broadway at The Muny and M. Butterfly, and now performs in Phantom of the Opera on Broadway! She is currently hosting an intermediate ballet barre on Zoom to aid a GoFundMe benefitting the AAPI Community Fund, and hopes to begin exploring film and television opportunities in the near future. Wong advises young artists to “always be open to learning -- not just about [their] craft, but about the world and beyond,” and to practice care of one’s “mind, body, soul, and finances.” Read on to learn more about Erica Wong and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Courtney Liu is a dancer, teacher, and choreographer living between New York City and Durham, NC. She initially began her ballet career performing corps de ballet at age 14 years old with theCincinnati Ballet. However, her college path almost led to her becoming a clinical or research psychologist! She’s performed in Broadway’s Phantom of the Opera (Ensemble, Meg Giry u/s), Kristen Sandler’s Gilded, Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake, Queen of the Night, and the Broadway Dance Lab. In addition to performing, Liu recently completed her MFA at Duke University! This summer Courtney is the Artist-In-Residence at Thistle, a NYC-based company. She is also teaching various summer intensives and on Zoom, performing/choreographing locally, and co-choreographing wedding dances with her fiance through their company, Save the First Dance. She advises young artists to seek out alternative sources of income to the Arts to help better provide for themselves, and states from personal experience that these “odd jobs” can be enjoyable! Courtney will be returning to New York this fall for reopening rehearsals for the Broadway company of Phantom of the Opera! Read on to learn more about Courtney Liu and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Melissa Tong is a musician, yoga/AcroYoga teacher, and co-creator of “B Neutral” based in NYC. After moving to the city, she pushed through temp jobs until an old friend connected her with her first NYC opportunity. She’s played for Broadway (Ain’t Too Proud), String Quartet (Five for Fighting), the Met Gala (with Rhianna!), and for artists like Sara Bareilles, Riley Etheridge Jr., and performed with an artist who opened for Leon Russell! In addition to her artistry, Tong serves as a Broadway Ambassador with Broadway for Arts Education, which is currently working with children from India and Haiti, as well as a Teaching Artist with Buffalo String Works (a program that works with refugee communities). She’s also involved in the Youth Pride Chorus and Urban Assembly Programs in New York City, and supports Hubbard Street Dance Chicago (where her sister is the Associate Artistic Director), which is currently producing a project entitled "Unboxed," which was included in a piece called “Final Bow for Yellow Face” to acknowledge Asian stereotypes within the dance industry. She advises young artists to “stick with it… be someone with whom you want to work… [and] do [art] for the love!” Read on to learn more about Melissa Tong and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Jessica Wu is a writer, director and songwriter based in New York City. She began her professional theatre career over a decade ago, performing on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off Broadway, Television, YouTube and more. Highlights of her work include the Broadway Revivals of Miss Saigon and a Chorus Line; Shakespeare in the Park; The Radio City Spring Spectacular; Goodspeed Musicals; National Tours of Doctor Dolittle; and appearances on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. She also has written several short films and theatrical works, such as “You, Me, I, We,” that won multiple development awards, including The National Asian Artists Project’s Discover: New Musicals Series. Her new musical, “Poupelle of Chimney Town,” based on the original bestselling book and Japanese stage play by Akihiro Nishino, is slated to debut in Tokyo, Japan in Fall 2021 and the 2022 season Off-Broadway in NYC. In addition to her already busy schedule, Jessica also is an adjunct Theatre Professor at American University, a mentor with Harvard-Radcliffe G&S Players and she spent several years in Non-Profit Arts Leadership as an Associate Artistic Director. Read on to learn more about Jessica and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Karla Garcia is an actor based in Oxon Hill, MD! She has performed on Broadway in Hot Feet and Hamilton, performing in the 2016 Tonys with the original cast of Hamilton! She was also in the NBC TV show Smash and is currently choreographing a new musical called Other World. Keep reading to find out more about what makes Karla an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Carol Angeli is an actor/singer/dancer based in Bloomfield, NJ ! She has been in a total of 6 iterations of Miss Saigon (including the latest Broadway revival), Here Lies Love, The Radio City Christmas Spectacular, and various National tours and regional productions! In addition to her performing career, Carol is also studying to become a nurse! Keep reading to find out more about what makes Carol an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Cynthia Meng is a pianist and Music Director based in NYC. This Harvard educated musician has performed on Broadway on the Tony award-winning show Hadestown, the Radio City...
Ashley Matthews is a singer and actress based in New York City! She is currently in the 10th anniversary cast of the Tony-nominated musical Rock of Ages in NYC, as well as the...
Ali Ewoldt is a singer and actress based in New York City! She was the first Asian American and BIPOC actress to star in the role of Christine in “Phantom of the Opera” on Broadway...
Taeko McCarroll is a dancer and musician based in Los Angeles. Taeko is an accomplished dancer, having performed on stage, TV and film, enjoys performing music with her band, and is...
Elena Juatco is a musical theatre and TV actress based in Toronto, Canada! She got her start in the arts world when she made it into the Top 6 in Season 2 of Canadian Idol and since then has...
