What To Expect Next for PFP

PorkFilled Productions Joins Seattle Public Theater For a Limited Run Production of What to Expect

Pork Filled Productions takes over the Seattle Public Theater stage with a brand new play What to Expect, by Nabra Nelson, directed by Alanah Pascual, playing April 1- 8, 7:30 pm. This special limited run will take place on the off nights of Seattle Public Theater’s production of Hurricane Diane, both shows tackling the effects of climate change.  

About the Play: Seattle 2080. In: Mixed race majorities and artificial pregnancies. Out: Car ownership, red meat, and suburban homes. Ongoing climate disasters…are just there. Candace’s “baby” bump seems to bring her closer to her dream life – a home in Canada and a nuclear family to settle down with. But while her husband Ahmed adopts a child in Egypt, she starts getting mysterious pains, and meets an intriguing new friend named JeeYoung. The clock ticks as the Big One approaches, but she is determined to fly away in time.

“If in 60 years, the world is burning…and flooding… and quaking. How will we react as a society when the end is constantly looming? Says producer and director Alanah Pasqual. “Maybe we will focus on what we can control, we will make a plan and stick to it, even if our own bodies are railing against us. What to Expect reminds me that there is no time to live dishonestly. To be authentically lost, messy, and trying is surviving.”

“This is our first foray into science fiction, akin to Nebula award winner Lois McMasters Bujold’s work”, says Executive Director of PorkFilled Productions,  Roger Tang. “Moreover, it’s our first show to include Middle Eastern/North African folks, so working with that community is very cool, especially as it touches on a common topic of mixed-race identity.”

“This is an experiment in programming,” says Amy Poisson, Producing Artistic Director, “I am interested in giving plays, and directors, a chance to shine without the pressure and commitment of a mainstage subscriber show. I’m so excited that this play is getting a small, yet mighty production. This play was programmed  to run with Hurricane Diane as they share the common topic of climate change, but from two very different perspectives. I recommend seeing Hurricane Diane first, and then imagine it’s 25 years later and see What to Expect!”

What to Expect features actors Stephanie Royer-Artuso, Hisam Goueli and Karissa Chin, Salem Salma Wahab as the understudy. Michael Latham is stage manager, Alex Parr is sound designer, Tianxing Yan is costume designer, and Robin Macartney is props designer. Alex Chester-Iwata is a cultural consultant. 

Press: For tickets and information about reviewing, and interviews with the artists and creative team, contact Director of Communications Nick Bringhurst at nick@seattlepublictheater.org

Tickets: Tickets for What to Expect are available on a sliding scale from $10 to $100, and can be purchased at https://www.seattlepublictheater.org/special-presentations or arranged through the box office at boxoffice@seattlepublictheater.org

 ABOUT PORKFILLED PRODUCTIONS: The oldest Asian American theatre group in the Pacific Northwest, Pork Filled Productions is an award-winner theatre company that centers Asian American artists to imagine fantastical, inclusive and FUN universes. Through genres of science fiction, noir, fantasy, steampunk and more, PFP envisions bright universes informed by diverse experiences and perspectives, with larger-than-life characters. Pork Filled Productions is fiscally sponsored by Shunpike, the 501(c)(3) non-profit agency that provides independent arts groups in Washington with the services, resources and opportunities they need to forge their own paths to sustainable success.

ABOUT SEATTLE PUBLIC THEATER: For over three decades, actors, directors, and audiences passionate about exceptional theater have found a home at Seattle Public Theater. On the shores of Green Lake in the historic Bathhouse Theater, Seattle Public Theater is one of Seattle’s leading mid-sized professional theater companies. Established as a 501(c)(3), Seattle Public Theater strives to create an inclusive community that actively engages with ideas and people.

• Christie Zhao
• Mimi Katano (who directed PFP’s and SIS’s Vietgone and Exotic Deadly)
• Divya Rajan
• Yimeng (Clara)Zheng
• Aktza Delpan-Monley (who directed Miku and the gods)
  
• Agastya Kohli

• Daniel Arreola (A PFP founding member and award winning screenwriter)
• Kendall Uyeji
• Michael Yichao
• Sameer Arshad
• Serin Ngai (veteran SIS playwright and actor)
• Pearl Mei Lam
• Zheng Wang (long time producer for Dare to Dance)

Last year’s event sold out, so get you ticket now!
https://click4tix.net/patrons/ticketDetails.html?_id=137

AUDITION ANNOUNCEMENT: Not Another Isekai 

Or That Time I Got Reincarnated In An Improv Show 

Somehow, it’s happened yet again: a totally normal, everyday person from 2026 has woken up to find themselves reincarnated in a fantastical world ✨. Jet City Improv and Pork Filled Productions are proud to present: Not Another Isekai, directed by Michael Yichao. 

NOTE: while we aspire to assemble a majority BIPOC cast for the show, we are seeking improvisers of all backgrounds to join the cast! 

https://jetcityimprov.org/auditions 

ABOUT THE SHOW 

This show is an improvised play in the Isekai genre, where a character from the normal world finds themselves suddenly transported, summoned, or reincarnated into a new fantastical setting. We are casting improvisers to bring that fantastical world to life, playing the various denizens, antagonists, and notable characters in the world. 

Each show will also feature a different special guest: sometimes an improviser(s), sometimes a notable person in the Seattle community, and for a few special shows, even a volunteer audience member! The guest will serve as the main protagonist and hero of the story, as the cast transports them on a journey of high fantasy adventure (and a surprising amount of personal discovery) along the way. 

WHAT WE’RE SEEKING 

We’ll be looking to cast improvisers with strong skill sets in grounded emotional play and character-driven scene work, as well as experience in crafting a long-form narrative over a two act structure. We will be especially looking for performers who have strong skills in supporting and raising up their scene partners, quickly building trust in a scene, and driving clear storytelling without needing to be the main character in that moment. 

AUDITIONS: 

West of Lenin – Front Studio, Fremont 

Saturday, February 14th (4 time slots available) 

Callbacks: Sunday, Feb 15th 

PROCESS: 

• Rehearsals begin Sunday, March 1, 2026, and will rehearse on Sundays and Wednesdays. 

• Shows run May 7- May 30 on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday (12 performances) 

• Pay: $40/show 

• Strike: Sunday, May 31 (required) 

Questions? Email take5improv@gmail.com and devon@jetcityimprov.org! 

Accessibility Info: 

Auditions, Callbacks, and Rehearsals will take place at West of Lenin in one of the Studios, which is accessed via a flight of stairs. West of Lenin does not have an elevator. All spaces in West of Lenin Theatre utilize an air purifier. Most spaces in West of Lenin utilize overhead fluorescent lighting. We will attempt to make the space as accessible as possible, however, this is a rented space and we do not have the resources to accommodate everything.    

     Back by popular demand!

     Pork Filled Productions and SIS Productions (in association with Theatre Off Jackson) bring back Instant Noodles, the 24-hour play festival, to Theatre Off Jackson (409 7^th Ave. S., in Seattle’s International District) February 21 at 7:30 pm and February 22 at 2 pm!

     Over 50 Asian and Asian American theatre writers, actors, directors, musicians, and designers will unite to make magic! Everyone will meet Friday night and 24 hours later, seven new 10-minute plays will take the spotlight! Hence, “Instant Noodles!” There is no other place in the Northwest to experience this much Asian talent under one roof! The plays will be performed twice! Once on Saturday night and once on Sunday afternoon. Then it’s over!

     “Instant Noodles is so inspiring!” says SIS Co-Executive Producer Kathy Hsieh. “Where else can people experience the artistry of 50 ethnically diverse Asian and Asian American theatre artists under one roof sharing brand new short plays?! Instant Noodles is a joyous celebration of Asian and Asian American talent that played to sold-out crowds last year, so get your tickets early! And what better way to honor the Lunar New Year?”

     “I am so excited to announce the second annual Instant Noodles Festival!” says PFP producer Kendall Uyeji. “After completely sold out shows last year, PFP is returning to partner with SIS to create a show with more Asians that you have ever seen on stage at once! We are excited to have Yun Theatre and Pratidhwani be a part of our invite team to make sure all aspects of the Asian diaspora are represented. It’s going to be so much fun!”

     “Instant Noodles allows PFP and SIS” says PFP Executive Producer Roger Tang, “to work with more Asian and Asian American artists than we can in our mainstage show…AND it allows the artists to work with each other. Some of them have never worked on a show where they WEREN’T the only Asian in the room.”

     Instant Noodles is rated PG-14 for potential profanity, wild and crazy antics and Asians unleashed on stage. Tickets start at $7 (thanks to support from 4Culture) and go to $25 and $50. They can be bought in advance at  https://click4tix.net/patrons/ticketDetails.html?_id=137. For more info, email tix@porkfilled.com, text ‪(206) 486-0375 or go to www.porkfilled.com.

     SIS Productions is an award-winning production company that strives to create, develop and produce quality works that involve Asian American women, their themes, and Asian American issues. SIS Productions encourages opportunities and support for Asian American women to be involved in all aspects of the production of artistic endeavors. SIS Productions is supported by 4Culture and The Allen Family Philanthropies via their Accelerator Grant with ArtsFund and is fiscally sponsored by Living Voices.

     The oldest Asian American theatre group in the Pacific Northwest, Pork Filled Productions is an award-winner theatre company that centers Asian American artists to imagine fantastical, inclusive and FUN universes. Through genres of science fiction, noir, fantasy, steampunk and more, PFP envisions bright universes informed by diverse experiences and perspectives, with larger-than-life characters.  PFP is supported by 4Culture, ArtsWA, ArtsFund, the Allen Family Philanthropies, Seattle People’s Fund and the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture.

     Pork Filled Productions is fiscally sponsored by Shunpike, the 501(c)(3) non-profit agency that provides independent arts groups in Washington with the services, resources and opportunities they need to forge their own paths to sustainable success.

Happy Holidays Pork Filled Friends!

Just two days left in 2025—It’s not too late in the year to try something new!

Which is why I, Alanah Pascual , am writing to you and not our usual Head Hawg, Roger. It’s important to me that you know who makes up Pork Filled Productions. So, take a look at some of our personal producere highlights we had in 2025! To check out everything we’ve done this year, read our latest State of the Pork.

Instant Noodles: I literally cooked spam inside of the theatre (lobby). Probably the most Asian thing I’ve done this year.

“Seeing a kid sit upright as the lights dim reminds me that theater weathers every storm. Really seeing the people in front of you, holding them, caring for them, and giving them the gift of a story that they want to hear will never fade..” -PFP Producer Omar Faust

Exotic Deadly: “A highlight with Pork Filled this year was running a super fun and successful performance with our understudy cast for Exotic Deadly. Their hard work, determination, and dedication really shone brightly that night!” –Alyda Storm, PFP Producer 

NANAY Devising Workshop:

As part of development for our 2026 main stage, I invited some incredibly generous friends to participate in a devising workshop.

“I felt inspired and happy to spend time playing with you all.” -Actor Iveliz Martel 

Outside of Pork FIlled, we producers are also working artists. You’ll have seen us onstage and backstage at ACT/Union Center Arts, Seattle Rep, ArtsWest, Washington Ensemble Theatre and JetCity Improv, and much more. And in 2026, we are not slowing down.

Any donation to Pork Filled makes an impact.

• $10 gets a physical script in an actor’s hand.
• $100 puts a costume on that actor.
• $400 pays for one night of stage time at our venues.

Donate here: https://poweredbyshunpike.org/c/PBS/a/porkfilled

See you soon,

Alanah Pascual

Hello, Pork Filled Phans,

Giving Tuesday is a week away (December 2), But don’t brush this off as another fundraising pitch!

What we do has impact!

At our last show, Exotic Deadly: Or the MSG Play, our ticket manager met folks from the 1.5 Gen Asians MeetUp group. This was the first time that they saw a PFP or SIS show and one said that they were happy they came and they absolutely “felt seen” (especially through the Ami and mom scenes). They were overcome by emotions that we put on shows through the AAPI lens and made their whole group feel seen and heard.

That means a lot for our future. About 20% of King County is Asian American (and growing!), but only 5% of roles in stage go to Asian actors. And Seattle is way behind in producing AAPI plays; there’s a list going around with nearly four dozen major Asian American plays that have yet to be produced in Seattle, despite the fact that the last two Gregory Award winners (Puget Sound’s Tonys) were Asian American productions.

PFP is fighting to change that.

Help us by donating.  Whether it’s $5 or $500 dollars, your gift helps brings Asian American stories to Seattle area stages.

• $10 buys a paper script to put in an actor’s hands;
• $100 is three days rent for rehearsals;
• $400 buys a day on stage to present our stories. 

NO GIFT IS TOO SMALL.

A generous donor has stepped up to match your gift from now until the end of the year (up to a total of $1,250). Your gifts gets doubled to give PFP a running start into 2026.

Go to our donor portal (https://poweredbyshunpike.org/c/PBS/a/porkfilled) and give today! 

State of the Pork (2025) 

As we zip past Halloween, take our bearings on Thanksgiving and gird ourselves for the holiday season, let’s take a breath and reflect on what we’ve done in 2025. And PFP has done a lot!

A New Tradition: Instant Noodles

In March, PFP and SIS Productions  gathered four dozen AAPI writers, actors, directors and designers to create our own 24 hour play festival, Instant Noodles! Patterned along the same lines as the popular 14/48 Festival and Infinity Box’s Centrifuge, Instant Noodles gave its four dozen artists the mandate to create seven new plays about being Asian American…in just 24 hours!

And it was a hit! The two showings on Saturday and Sunday at the Theatre Off Jackson had packed, sold out houses! And we’re no dummies—with that response, we’re bringing Instant Noodles back for Lunar New Year, 2026! Reserve the dates!

The Return of Joy Market

In May (which happens to be Asian American Pacific Islander Native Hawaiian Heritage Month), we once again teamed up with Jet City Improv to present an evening blend of improv, sketch comedy and dramatic short pieces, all exploring the Asian American experience with an all AAPINH cast.

And once again, we had another hit, with sold out houses packing West of Lenin in Fremont to laugh their asses off and to marvel at the breadth of singing, musical and performance talent in the Seattle community.

Folks had so much fun, they want to do it regularly (a revival, if you will, of the old Pork Filled Players)…so stay tuned! We have something that just might fit the bill.

Unleashed 2025

June saw PFP at Theatre Off Jackson to continue our new play festival, Unleashed! Five AAPI writers were drawn from across the country, paired with dramaturgs and directors, and spend six months honing new work centering Asian American stories in genres ranging from horror to psychological thriller to science fiction.

• Hail/Mary Maria,by Chicago playwright RJ Silva;
• BLOOD/SUCKER,  by local Seattle playwright Anamaria Guerzon;
• Eggshell; or Vỏ Trứng by San Francisco Bay Area playwright Anthony Doan;
• C[Y]PHER by local Seattle playwright Harold Taw; and
• The Machine by Magpie Park

Eight scripts from previous festivals have gone on to full productions elsewhere across the country. Which of these five will make the leap? Only time will tell…

Exotic Deadly: Or the MSG Play

In September, the team that won a Gregory in 2024 teamed up again to present Keiko green’s Exotic Deadly: Or the MSG Play. This wacky romp careened from the 1990s to post war II Japan to the 1960s, creating a new Asian American Identity 101 story for the 21^st Century.

Along the way, we teamed up with Washington Ensemble Theatre, who was ALSO producing a Keiko Green play (HELLS CANYON), to produce a mini Keiko fest. We also teamed up with Yun Theatre to present not one, but. Two AAPI Community Affinity Nights, where the three theatres presented performing artists from the AAPI community and served delicious Asian cuisine FOR FREE.

And once again, audiences responded, giving PFP our second highest box office ever and praise from reviewers across the Puget Sound.

LA Celebration

Last, but not least, PFP instigated a mini convention of Asian American theatre makers in Los Angeles this past October. First, PFP arranged to see the world premiere of Prince Gomolvilas’ Paranormal Inside (a sequel to 2019’s The Brothers Paranormal). Next, tickets opened up for Artists at Play’s नेहा  & NEEL by Ankita Raturi, so PFP glommed onto those to make up a full theatre day. Finally, the Consortium of Asian American Theaters and Artists (CAATA) created a CAATA Night and reception in between the two shows, to celebrate the presence of so many Asian American theatres coming togther from Seattle, southern California, Guam, Alaska and New Jersey!

The result was a gathering of over 50 Asian American theatre artists to enjoy new works by established and emerging Asian American theatre artists. (Not to mention gnoshing on losts of yummy foods, both Asian and non-Asian).

Some exciting news emerged from this confab, including the promotion of Kayla Kim Votopak to CAATA Executive Direction and the possibility of health care for CAATA members. MORE news may be forthcoming, SO STAY TUNED!

Exotic Deadly: Or the MSG Play – Sensory Audience Guide Content

Environmental Considerations for Exotic Deadly: Or the MSG Play

• The performance takes place in the Theatre Off Jackson. It is a smaller theater, seating about 140 patrons. The ceiling is low and all seats are close to the stage.
• There are two aisles in the theatre, both of which are used by performers for entrances and exits during the show.
• The show is approximately 1 hour, 50 minutes in duration, without an intermission.
• Part of the sound system is located under the seats in the right section as you are facing the stage. This causes intermittent rumbling sensations under those seats.
• The back of the set includes 6 screens on which various images are displayed throughout the show.

Show Content Considerations for Exotic Deadly: Or the MSG Play

• This show includes comedic violence replicating video game combat.
• This show includes moments of more believable violence like someone being kicked while on the ground
• During the show, a beloved family member is knocked unconscious in a car accident.

In the following guide, the performance is divided by scenes that contain moments of heightened sensory intensity.

Key to Symbols

Auditory Intensity

 Emotional Intensity

Visual Intensity

Entrance through audience

Scenes	Sensory Category	Heightened Sensory Moments
Prologue		–   Entrance through right stairs
Scene 1 Breakfast & Good Morning Suburbia		–   Video game battle between Ami and Mom –   Lights rotate, video game sound effects –   After battle an actor enters through each set of stairs and speaks while on the stairs
Scene 2 Matt Dermon & Ben Anflank		–   At the beginning of the scene an actor enters through each stairway –   After eating the food, Ben falls to the floor, having a comedic heart attack –   A doctor comes to comedically revive him
Scene 3 School Restroom		–   A school bell rings, starting and ending the scene
Scene 4 Apple Slices & A-Ji-No-Mo-To		–   Mom talks about the death of Ojichan, her father –   Sound effect after mom says MSG –   Ami and Mom fight
Scene 5 Introducing Exotic Deadly		–   Ojichan laughs manically –   Entrance through right stairs –   School bell rings at the end of the scene
Scene 8 Family Fight		–   Mom and Ami fight
Scene 9 Kenji Disappeared & Chicken Fingers		–   Ami discovers Exotic Deadly isn’t who she appeared to be
Scene 11 Car Crash & Rock Bottom Choreo		–   Car crash described. Mom disappears to die on stage. –   Red light flashes on screen –   Actors enter on both staircases
Scene 12 At Rock Bottom		–   Water effects –   Scary beings at the bottom of the ocean –   Tokyo 1947 Traffic noises, Woman’s voice in Japanese
Scene 13 Ajinomoto, Karaoke, Kazuko		–   Dinging bell, “We’re gonna be rich!” –   Winding sound –   Actors spin –   Ajinomoto sings Karaoke –   Actor enters left stairs –   Lights flash, screen shakes, Ami spins
Scene 14 Guitar aka Work-Life Balance		–   Japanese announcement, recorded music, Exotic Deadly sings –   Loud electric guitar music –   Recorded rock music –   Loud karaoke
Scene 15 Bad Article, 7-11, Back to Rock Bottom		–   In Rock Bottom we heard cartoon running noises –   Ami is in distress, calling out, what’s happening to me? –   Ojichan says he’s fading
Scene 16 YooHoo, Producer, School Project		–   School bell rings –   Actor enters right stairs School bell after producer exits –
Scene 17 Dr. Steele		–   Asian music –   After Ami leaves there are electrical noises and lights flash on backdrop
Scene 18 FIGHT		–   Mission Impossible music –   Cartoon fight sounds and cartoon fighting –   Woman smacks Ami with paper –   Rat-a-tat sounds as woman exits
Scene 18 Part II		–   Man emerges from the side with a bright red light and stage fog –   Video game music –   Yelp reviews appears to kick Ami –   Ami attacks reviewer with Doritos –   Actor enters from left stairs
Scene 19 The Talent Show		–   Loud music –   Man on microphone –   Exotic Deadly appears to die and go to the Deep Dark –   Actors perform on the left and right stairs –   Loud karaoke –   Audience is encouraged to clap –   Ami sings –   Stage fog when center door is opened –   Mirror ball –   Full cast dances –   Streamers thrown at audience
Scene 20 Ami & Mom Make Breakfast Together		–   Mom and Ami resolve their differences   –   Actor appear in left stairs –   Loud music for finale

• Sensory Relaxed Performance
  September 13, 2 pm show
  https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/pork-filled/sensory-relaxed-msg 
• Japanese Closed Captioning
  Th. Sept 11 (7:30pm), Sun. Sept. 14 (2pm)
• English Closed Captioning
  Tue. Sept 16, Fri. Sept. 19 (both shows 7:30pm)
• Mandatory Masking
  Fri. Sept. 12, 7:30pm