Asian American Playwrights

In the late nineteenth century Asian American drama made its debut with the spotlight firmly on the lives and struggles of Asians in North America rather than on the cultures and traditions of the Asian homeland. Today Asian American playwrights continue to challenge the limitations of established theatrical conventions and direct popular attention toward issues and experiences that might otherwise be ignored or marginalized. While Asian American literature came into full bloom in the last 25 years Asian American drama has yet to receive the kind of critical attention it warrants. This reference book serves as a versatile vehicle for exploring the field of Asian American drama from its recorded conception to its present stagecluded are alphabetically arranged entries for 52 Asian American dramatists of origins from India Pakistan Vietnam the Philippines Japan Korea and China. Each entry includes relevant biographical information that contextualizes the works of a playwright an interpretive description of selected plays that spotlights recurring themes and plots a summary of the playwright''s critical reception and a bibliography of primary and secondary works. The entries are written by expert contributors and reflect the ethnic diversity of the Asian American community. The volume closes with a selected general bibliography which includes anthologies scholarly studies and periodicals.