Christine Heesun Hwang is an actress, playwright, and lyricist based between NYC and Seattle. Entering the entertainment industry in high school purely by chance, Hwang is currently working on Les Misérables and a new play (confirm me) in development with Leviathan Lab, and was commissioned by YES Theatre to pen the book and lyrics to the new musical, renewal. Between writing and performing, she found that discovering and prioritizing a work/life balance preserved her identity, allowing her to dedicate her best self to all she does. Hwang advises young artists to focus on their “why” and feed their love for their passion. Read on to learn more about Christine Heesun Hwang and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Melissa Li is a musician, writer, and composer based in Montreal. She got her start creating her own scripts as a child before turning to songwriting and short film development in high school! After finding a home with True Colors at The Theatre Offensive in Boston, Li began to craft her very first musical. After a stint as an editor on a (bad) self-help book, wedding videographer, office manager, and director of nutrition, she attended Boston University and got to work onInterstate,MISS STEP, andAgain,and has several TV/Film projects in the making! Li finds in writing that the details – from the way characters stand to how something is placed – can really aid in her storytelling process. Her advice to young artists? “Don't be afraid of your own voice. It's what makes your art special and unique.” Read on to learn more about Melissa Li and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Grace Aki is a writer, performer and illustrator based in NYC. After making her stage debut at 5 as Quackers the Duck in a local production of The Three Little Pigs, she studied at the The Barrow Group School and went on to perform on the Cartoon Network, in her solo show To Free a Mockingbird (which was chosen for the SheATL & NYC New Play festival!) and assorted new works, and to open her own Etsy shop for her art – but offstage held the crown of North Georgia Fair Queen and is an avid hot dog enthusiast. Through her work, Aki hopes to both shed light on important topics like invisible abuse and to provide her community with characters that “look and sound like [them].” She advises young artists to “engage in pop culture” and to “learn from everyone.” Read on to learn more about Grace Aki and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Stephanie Jae Park is an actress and songwriter based in New York City. Born into a musical family in Guam, she started her performance journey at the age of 4 after watching her sisters take fine arts classes. Now, she’s the principal standby for Hamilton on Broadway and a songwriter for her band, Saffron Lips! Park advocates for learning as much as possible about the industry and each role to help with an artist’s creative process, and is a believer in “very radical self love,” insisting that self care and mental health should always take precedence to keep one’s headspace clear. Her advice to young artists? “Stay in your lane and don't look right and left!” Read on to learn more about Stephanie Jae Park and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Amy M. Le is an author based in Oklahoma City. Inspired by her incredible late mother, Le left her job to write her story. Since then, she’s debuted her first novel,Snow in Vietnam, a “historical women’s fiction novel based on my family’s escape from war-torn Vietnam following the fall of Saigon,” and launched Quill Hawk Company, her own publishing company geared towards amplifying diversity in storytelling and promoting the work of indie authors, in addition to beginning a new book series. When she’s not writing, Le serves on the board of the Vietnamese Boat People podcast, “a nonprofit devoted to preserving stories of the Vietnamese diaspora.” Her advice to young artists? “ Explore it. Set time for it. Do it.” Le encourages them to cultivate a strong support circle to learn and gain inspiration from, so they can do the same for others down the road. Read on to learn more about Amy M. Le and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
The Cre8sian Project Scholarships, through Positively Arts (a 501c3 non profit) and in partnership with “In Her Purpose,” are open to female and female identifying high school and middle school students attending public, private, or home school with an interest in the arts, have some asian heritage, and live in Clark County. Students who are involved in any aspect of the arts, not just performance, are encouraged to apply. This can include writers, photographers, filmmakers, technical stage crew (carpentry, props, lighting, automation, audio, set design, stage managers), artists, graphic designers, directors, acrobats, singers, dancers, musicians, composers, arrangers, etc.
Andrea Somera is an actress based in Pasadena. She got her start with local youth theatre during a production ofPirates of Penzance, but surprisingly didn’t care for performing until her next audition forTom Sawyer! Now, her resume holds credits such asTheHunchback of Notre Dame(Esmerelda),Assassins,andPriscilla Queen of the Desert, Letters to Eve,as well as a Halo Top commercial shoot! Somera currently strives to “[live] a life filled with love, support, experiences, and constant learning” as she paves her own path towards Broadway, and fiercely believes that the world is better with the artistry and authenticity of Asian Americans and their stories. Her advice to young artists? “Expect the unexpected!” Read on to learn more about Andrea Somera and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Brooke Ishibashi is an actress based in NYC. Born into a musically entertaining family with an opera and R&B background, she’s now developed and originatedCambodian Rock Band. (which played at South Coast Repertory, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and the La Jolla Playhouse) and is now performing in Broadway’s revival ofInto the Woods! When she’s not onstage, Ishibashi is the cofounder of Be An #ArtsHero, an arts advocacy and lobbying organization aimed towards providing relief to the Arts in America. Passionate about telling resonant stories exploring social justice, anti-racism, and trans-generational trauma, Ishibashi finds herself connected deeply to work that heals marginalized communities. Her advice for young artists? “Know your worth and always ask for more.” Read on to learn more about Brooke Ishibashi and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Regina Ting Chen is an actor based in Georgia. She began entertaining at home with talent shows for her grandmother crafted with only history project costumes and poster boards from science fairs. After getting scouted in Texas, she got her start in modeling, which led to theatrical and commercial auditions. As a result, she took up acting classes, and now has booked shows such as Queen of the South and Netflix’s Stranger Things! Offscreen, Chen works with Hope4Tomorrow, a mentorship program that provides foster children with a role model there to guide and listen. When she’s not performing or mentoring, she coaches kickboxing, plays tennis, and enjoys the world of sci-fi. Her advice to young artists? “Find a mentor, join a community, and start making stuff!” Read on to learn more about Regina Ting Chen and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Juliet Dang is a “scientist, artist, and mother” based in the Greater Seattle area. With 4 degrees from the universities of Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Washington, Dang’s artistic pursuits marry well with her academic background – though she wasn’t always sure she’d take up a career as an artist! Since deciding to do it all, Dang has won a world research award for HPV research, created her own fashion line (house of juju), walked in NYFW, traveled the world, become a mother, published a magazine (Vietology), and is currently in production for her own short film and working on her fertility journey memoir. She advises young artists to “be fearless and reach out to those in your network to help support you.” Read on to learn more about Juliet Dang and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Dorcas Leung is a left-handed actress based in New York City! She got her start singing at church and in choir, but it wasn’t until following a crush led her to audition for her first musical in middle school. Since then, she’s gone on to perform in Broadway’sMiss Saigon(Gigi Van Tranh), Off-Broadway’sMidsummer(Dou Yi in Snow), the first National Tour ofHamilton(Eliza, Angelica, Peggy/Maria), andThe Tale of Despereaux(Despereaux) andLes Misérables(Cosette) regionally. She loves being able to challenge the narrative of what Asian artists “should” be, and hopes to not only continue representing her community in those roles, but to see others do the same. Leung advises young artists to “be curious, have a learning spirit, and truly enjoy [themselves]” – and of course, to have fun!Read on to learn more about Dorcas Leung and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Kendyl Ito is an actress based in Queens! After her first exposure to theatre at the age of five and performing in her first show at 8, Ito decided to pursue entertainment professionally. Inspired by “making weird art,” she’s since appeared in projects such as Soft Power, Wild Goose Dreams, Half the Sky,and the limited-engagement tour of Broadway’s Waitress as Dawn! As an AAPI woman, she navigates working in an industry “not designed for [her] voice to be heard” and uncovering acceptance within her workplace and herself. Her three pieces of advice for young artists? “See everything and anything you can… don’t be afraid to ask questions… [and] trust your gut.” Read on to learn more about Kendyl Ito and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Rebecca Kwan is an actor from Toronto currently on the move from city to city! She got her start writing and performing her own skits at home, but didn’t initially pursue entertainment in school. After her third year studying fashion design at the Toronto Metropolitan University, Kwan took a trip home and realized her true career was in performance. Now in shows likeSkyMed, she’s also begun development for a new film under her own production company, SeeYun Entertainment! Kwan’s advice to young artists? “...Follow the fun. Follow the joy and the process of understanding how much the love for the craft, and what you do needs to be there because of how tough all of this is sometimes.” Read on to learn more about Rebecca Kwan and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Haven Everly is a performer based in Los Angeles. Raised by professional singers, she formed a girl-group at the age of 5 with her sisters, and went on to perform as the lead The Girl Who Left Home, “a Fil-Am musical feature film… [highlighting] singing, family, culture, and acceptance.” and at The Sugar Bar in NYC (with Dr. Maya Angelou in attendance!) Everly finds that having a good understanding of the inner workings of the industry and to find a balance between work and personal life helped her really understand her craft. Her advice to young artists? “Be patient. You’re enough.” Read on to learn more about Haven Everly and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Joy Ngiaw is a composer inspired by human connection based in Los Angeles. She began learning classical piano at 6 and found a love for composing after joining her school’s orchestra. After attending Berklee College of Music, she went on to score shows such as Blush (Apple TV+), Rescued by Ruby (Netflix), and Disney Short Circuit S1EP10: Jing Hua (Disney+), with the first season of an upcoming animated television series as her latest project! Ngiaw’s artistic goal is to work on projects that celebrate diversity and showcase the beauty of different cultures. When offstage, she’s a firm believer in self-care and engages in early morning practices such as journaling, meditation, and walks. Her advice to young artists? “Be kind, be curious, and be 100% authentically yourself.” Read on to learn more about Joy Ngiaw and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
