HOWARD

After graduating with a lucrative double major in music history and communications, HOWARD HO immediately achieved his dream career in marketing, administration, and playing piano at friends’ weddings. When he had tired of his triumphs, he decided to risk it all to combine his talents (writing words and music) into a new guaranteed-moneymaking goal: writing a Broadway musical. Well, a Broadway-quality musical. Well, a musical influenced by Broadway-quality musicals…in Los Angeles. With no funding. And no producer. Even so, he’s written two musicals developed at East West Players and USC respectively. When he isn’t doing that, he’s working on sound design for East West Players and Company of Angels, composing scores for short films, and getting his master’s in professional writing at USC. 

I wanted to write about The Nightingale casting controversy and how disgusting it is for Asian American actors to not be cast in a major musical about ancient China. But plenty has been written here and here and here and here and here.

The latest response is a call to action by Tim Dang, producing artistic director of East West Players. He wants Asian actors to audition for parts that are not specifically Asian, and he wants audiences to go see shows that hire Asian actors. You heard the man. Do it!  Read more...