We want to let you know about community events connected with Vietgone by Qui Nguyen, done at and in association with the Theatre Off Jackson. Running through August 24, this co-production between Pork Filled Productions and SIS Productions performs at the Theatre Off Jackson (409 7^th Ave. S. in Seattle’s International District.

Vietgone is a hilarious romantic comedy set against the Vietnam War, starring two Vietnamese survivors who romp through time and Viet and American culture, contending with burritos, bikers, pots and hippies to find love (and just maybe give birth to playwright Qui Nguyen, who also wrote Raya and the Last Dragon).

Event Highlights:

• Relaxed Sensory Performance

  Thursday, August 22, 7:30pm
  Tickets

  Relaxed Sensory Performance, Thursday, August 22, 7:30 pm.
  A sensory-friendly, relaxed performance enables children and people with sensory sensitivities to experience theatre with relaxed rules, such as the house lights staying on, theater doors remaining open, and a designated “quiet zone”. A guide to scenes will be available. Tickets for this show are available at https://pork-filled.ticketleap.com/vietgone-relaxed/

• Closed Captioning Performances

  Saturday,  August 10, 7:30pm
  Friday, August 16, 7:30pm
  Saturday, August 17, 2pm
  Saturday, August 17, 7:30pm
  Tickets

  Closed captioning for Vietgone for Deaf and hard of hearing audience members on Saturday, August 10 (7:30pm), Friday, August 16 (7:30pm), Saturday, August 17 (2pm) and Saturday, August 17, (7:30pm). Follow along on a tablet or handheld mobile device! Printed scripts will be available for other performances.

• MEET Susan Lieu on August 15, 2024. Performer of the hit solo show 140lbs and author of The Manicurist’s Daughter (one of Elle Magazine’s Best Nonfiction Books of 2024) will do a post-show talk dealing with her artistic process to understand her immigrant parents.
• MEET community partner PeaceTrees Vietnam, Monday, August 19, 2024, at 7:30 pm. PeaceTrees Vietnam is a Seattle-based community group devoted to addressing the legacy of war by removing dangerous explosives, returning land to safe use, promoting peace and cultivating a brighter future for the children and families of Vietnam. For more information, visit them to https://www.peacetreesvietnam.org.
• SEE Kathy Hsieh in the role of Huong and others on August 22 at 7:30 pm! Part of PFP’s and SIS’ mission is to provide opportunities for local Asian American talent! This is a one-time opportunity to see Kathy in Vietgone. She is one of the lead producers for SIS and is one of the most noted performers in the Pacific Northwest, having performed at Portland’s PassinArt, 14/48, Seattle Shakespeare and many others.
• SEE Adele Lim in the role of Tong on August 18 at 2 PM! Part of PFP’s and SIS’ mission is to provide opportunities for local Asian American talent! This is a one-time opportunity to see Adele.  iAdele is a Chinese Singaporean actor/singer/mover based in Seattle who detoured to the veterinary, technology and climbing industries after studying Musical Theatre at the University of Washington (2017).
• SEE James lee in the role of Quang on August 17 at 2pm. Part of PFP’s and SIS’s mission is to provide opportunities for local Asian American talent.  James’s credits include Ivan Homeless in Dacha Theatre’s The Master and Margarita and Toby Liggett in Pony World Theatre’s Hotdish. He aspires to participate in works that strengthen communities and inject playfulness into our lives. Outside of acting, James loves freestyle choreography, classical violin, and short fiction writing.

The show is rated PG-14 for sexual situations, swearing, redneck racism, nightmares of war, pervasive loud music and badass kung fu fighting.

Please contact us for interviews, previews, press tickets or more at oink@porkfilled.com

PR Photos may be downloaded at https://porkfilled.com/wp/vietgone-press-page22/

Thank you!

The SIS Gals and the PFP Boys

Industry Night

Monday, August 19, 7:30pm
Tickets

Matinees

Sunday, August 11, 2pm
Saturday, August 17, 2pm
Sunday, August 18, 2pm
Tickets

Featured Guest Night

Susan Lieu, Thursday, August 15, 7:30 pm
Friends of Little Saigon, Friday, August 16, 7:30 pm
PeaceTrees Vietnam, Monday, August 19, 7:30 pm
Tickets

Arkansas, 1974, after the fall of Saigon. Two young survivors (who may or may not be the play-wright’s parents) meet in America. Will this strange new land of burritos, bikers and pot allow them to fall in love? Flipping stereotypes and remixing history, Vietgone cooks up a sexy, funny romp that’s a secret origin story for playwright Qui Nguyen (author of Raya and the Last Dragon)!

Tickets: pork-filled.ticketleap.com/vietgone/
(For the Relaxed Sensory Performance go to
https://pork-filled.ticketleap.com/vietgone-relaxed/ )

Rated PG-14 for sexual situations, swearing, redneck racism, nightmares of war, and badass kung fu fighting!

Press page here!

The Playwright

Get ready for PFP’s Vietgone  (coming in August!)

It’s been 10 years since Agent G has last been in Vietnam where his family and friends were all viciously slain. He’s now come back looking for answers and a good bit of revenge, however forces are at hand trying to stop him as well as the playwright from finishing this brutal task…

AND….It’s also about playwright Qui Nguyen writing about a playwright named Qui Nguyen, struggling to tell his family’s story. He may have found it, too (check out Vietgone in August). But first…he’s going to have to survive a rap battle with David Henry Hwang, the planet’s greatest Asian American playwright….

Featuring Justin Tran, Karis Ho, Seranine Elliot, Kaughlin Caver and Jonna Nguyen. Directed by David Le, assistant director Weiyu Guo, sound design by Saleh Matt.

Tickets at https://pork-filled.ticketleap.com/agent-g/

“Qui Nguyen’s play is an ambitious entertainment about modern identity wrapped inside an exploitation drama about what used to be called the `inscrutable Orient’. It gleefully mocks countless movies. In an impressive feat, the Vampire Cowboys become serious without giving up any of their silliness. A Critic’s Pick!”Jason Zinoman, The New York Times

$10 million awarded to 811 Washington state arts and culture organizations through the Community Accelerator Grant program 

Following a successful $10M pilot in 2023, the second year of the program sees 93% of pilot grantees reapplying and nearly 30% increase in total grantees. 

SEATTLE – May 21, 2024 – Today, ArtsFund and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation announce $10M in funding to 811 grantees through the second year of the Community Accelerator Grant program. This builds on the program’s 2023 pilot investment in Washington’s arts and culture sector that provided $10M in funding to 671 organizations.  

Pork Filled Productions was one of those organizations, receiving funds from ArtsFund and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation. The new round of grants range from $2,500 to $25,000 in response to ongoing needs of arts and culture organizations. The unrestricted $10M in funding will boost organizations’ abilities to invest in their missions and essential roles serving communities across the state. 

“ArtsFund is grateful for the second year of partnership with the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation on the Community Accelerator Grant,” said Michael Greer, president and CEO of ArtsFund. “Our ability to distribute $10M of unrestricted funding to such a wide and representative group of nonprofit arts and cultural organizations throughout 37 counties in Washington will add resources to groups whose work creates a better quality of life for communities across the state.” 

Grants were awarded to every eligible nonprofit organization that applied. Approximately 70 percent of grantees reported annual budgets of less than $500,000 and average awards were $12,330. This year’s distribution includes organizations in 37 counties throughout Washington, representing 99.8% of the state’s population. The top five disciplines represented in the grantee pool include music, cultural heritage, multidisciplinary, theatre, and visual arts. 

“From the Olympics to the Palouse, every corner of our state is brimming with diverse and rich cultural activity, and we are incredibly heartened by the extensive reach and continued impact of this program,” said Lara Littlefield, executive director of partnerships and programs for the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation. “We are proud to partner again with ArtsFund and the Community Advisory Panel, who have continued to administer this novel, community-driven model that distributes capital quickly, equitably, and efficiently to these organizations that are so essential for building our vibrant and healthy communities.” 

The Community Accelerator Grant prioritizes resources to communities who are underrepresented in other funding programs – specifically, those in rural communities, and for BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and people with disabilities. The application was designed to be low-barrier, with the goal that no organization would find it too complicated, or the information requested too cumbersome. We believe that the ease and efficiency during application and distribution of this community-driven model is one of the major reasons that 93% of grantees from the pilot reapplied for this second year of funding.  

Applicants were asked to what degree they felt this grant might positively impact their ability to build capacity and increase their sustainability: Organizations anticipate raising an additional $3.60 for every $1 of their grant, resulting in a potential program impact of $36 million. This year, the program saw an increase in priority communities on staff and boards as representation continues to be an important consideration. Half of the total grantee pool has more than 25% of staff identifying as BIPOC. The program also distributed funds to 10 out of 29 (34%) of Washington’s federally recognized tribes. 

Thank you to our incredible GiveBIG supporters! You’ve raised $3471 to tell Asian stories on Puget Sound stages. While this falls a bit short of our goal, this generosity still matters. We could not do even a fraction of what we do without you, featuring actors and characters other theatres have been overlooking.

If you were unable to give during GiveBIG (or want to help fill in our deficit), it’s not too late! You can give at

https://www.wagives.org/organization/Porkfilledproductions or https://www.poweredbyshunpike.org/c/PBS/a/porkfilled

RISING TOGETHER!!

GiveBIG returns May 7 and 8, 2024! Co-ordinated by Washington Gives , a program of 501Commons, GiveBIG gives the push for non-profits, large and small, with expertise, back office support, and resources to boost funding for groups like Pork Filled Productions. Let me tell you what we are looking for!

RISING

As the oldest Asian American theatre group in the Pacific Northwest, we are surging to new heights! New members, new goals, new plays, and making never-before-seen magic for Seattle stages!! Help us reach parts of the sky we could never have had before!

TOGETHER

We make sure that the community’s voice is heard. We produce shows for a desperately underrepresented group that aches to see their story on stage (20% of the population, 5% of the roles!). And we will bring Seattle’s Asian American stories to national stages! When we rise, we bring our communities with us!

Make us a POWERHOUSE of Asian American theatre locally and nationally by donating to our cause!!

 Our goal for 2024 is $5500 to produce and develop fantastical theatre (like last year’s Bloodletting ). You can give as little as $5, or as much as you want! Any amount is appreciated. The first $1200 gets matched, doubling your contribution’s wallop! (And there are stretch goals!).

What a GREAT feeling, knowing we can come together to support Asian American communities, create art, and improve ALL of our lives.

YOU can get that great feeling too. Save the date for GiveBIG for May 7 AND 8. Or avoid the rush and schedule your donation when early giving begins on April 23 . Keep an eye on our Facebook or Instagram accounts to stay current.

Get ready for GiveBig and get that Great Feeling of making a difference in your community

Pork Filled Productions and SIS Productions, in association with Theatre Off Jackson, is excited to announce our cast and crew for Vietgone!

It’s 1975 and two young survivors (who may or may not be the playwright’s parents) meet in a Vietnamese refuge camp in Arkansas shortly after the fall of Saigon. Will this strange new land of burritos, hippies, pot and bikers allow them to fall in love? Qui Nguyen (Raya and the Last Dragon, She Kills Monsters) irreverently flips stereotypes on their head, remixes history and pop culture and cooks up a sexy, funny, and energetic romp that’s a secret origin story of Vietnamese in America. 

Starring:
Josh Erme as Quang
Megan Huynh as Tong
Hank Tian as Nham and others
Wedny Chinn as Huong and others
Van Lang Pham as Playwright and others
Adele Lim as Understudy
Simon Tran as Understudy
Kathy Hsieh as Understudy

Featuring:
Mimi Katano – Director
Omar Faust – Stage Manager
Michael Latham – Assistant Stage Manager
Alegra Batara – Directorial Assistant
Grecia Leal Pardo – Production Manager
Robin Macartney – Set Design
Nick O’Leary – Projection Designer
Tianxing Yan – Costume Designer
Yuelan – Music Director
Jessamyn Bateman-lino – Prop Designer
Kassey Castro – Sound Designer
Annie Liu – Lighting Designer
Jasmine Lomax – Intimacy and Fight Director
Prof. Diep Le – Vietnamese Accent/Name Coach
P. Alyda Sorm – Community Outreach

Journey of the Wind is a groundbreaking new improvised theatrical experience, merging the whimsy and depth of iconic Japanese animated tales with its own unique narrative supported by audience suggestions.

It paints a fantastical world where humanity, nature, and the mystical intertwine in a stunning tapestry of storytelling. At its core is a young hero’s magical quest, evoking a timeless journey through enchanting realms filled with beauty and magic and themes of courage and self-discovery.

This is not just any play or improv show; it’s an invitation to embark on an extraordinary voyage through a land of wonder, where every performance is as unique and fleeting as the wind itself.

Directed by Belinda Fu
Assistant Director Kendall Uyeji

Produced in association with Theatre Off Jackson

Meet the cast!
Aaron Lussier
Amalia Larson
Erika Lowe
Hank Tian
Ilana Degann
Joshua Lewis
Kristina Roy
Kyle Henick
Liz Brammer
Preston McNeil

Auditions Open for Vietgone

Pork Filled Productions and SIS Productions present VIETGONE, by Qui Nguyen (RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON, SHE KILLS MONSTERS and others). Directed by Mimi Katano. It’s 1975 and two young survivors (who may or may not be the playwright’s parents) meet in a Vietnamese refugee camp in Arkansas shortly after the fall of Saigon. Will this strange new land of burritos, hippies and bikers allow them to fall in love? VIETGONE irreverently flips stereotypes on their head, remixes history and culture and cooks up a sexy, funny and energetic romp that’s an origin story that can stand with cultural icons like Spider-Man, the X-Men and Batman. 

Pork Filled Productions is the theater offshoot of the long-running sketch comedy group, The Pork Filled Players. PFProductions grew from a desire to break stereotypes and challenge the expectations of what can be seen in theater. . SIS Productions centers the stories of Asian American women while providing opportunities for women in decision-making roles in theatre.  For more information please visit us at porkfilled.com and facebook.com/porkfilledproductions and https://www.facebook.com/sisproductions. To schedule an audition, please fill out this audition form: https://forms.gle/Y4BoFeFTaSHec5uK7 

Please review the character descriptions for appropriateness. Pork Filled Productions and SIS Productions are dedicated to casting appropriately and committed to representing our characters and stories truthfully. Actors of Asian descent are strongly encouraged to audition.

 This play will include movement and some action sequences and actors should be comfortable with dance, movement, and stage fighting, etc. Stage combat and movement experience is a plus. This play will also involve rapping; experience in rapping helpful but not required.

AUDITION INFORMATION

Audition/Interview Dates:
Sunday, February 18 @ 11am-6pm
Monday, February 19 @ 11am-6 pm 

Callbacks or second audition/interview?
Thursday, February 22 @ 5:30-9:30

Audition Requirements:
Please prepare a one minute contemporary monologue.

Rehearsals begin early to mid June
Load in July 29, 2024
Tech: Beginning August 2, 2024
Invited dress: August 6, 2024
Opening: August 8, 2024
Closing August 24, 2024

Actors will be paid a stipend of $600.

Character Breakdown / Project Needs:

Actors of Asian descent are strongly encouraged to audition.

QUANG – (M) A helicopter pilot in the South Vietnamese military during the Vietnam War. Adventurous, charming, rugged.
TONG – (F) A Vietnamese refugee. Strong-willed and fiercely independent.
HUONG – (F) Tong’s mother. Outspoken, surprisingly flirtatious, unpredictable.
NHAN – (M) Quang’s best friend. Also in the South Vietnamese military. Boisterous, loyal sidekick.
BOBBY – (M) American soldier. Naïve, earnest, sweet.

All characters are Asian.

Submit using the audition form at https://forms.gle/Y4BoFeFTaSHec5uK7

We offer the option to submit video auditions; email link to your audition video (along with headshot and resume) using audition form.

Audition Location:
562 1st Avenue S.
Seattle WA

Specific submission instructions: 

Submit a headshot and a resume (Please name your file RESUME_lastname_firstname.pdf or HEADSHOT_lastname_firstname.jpg)
You have the option to submit a video audition. Email the link to your audition along with your headshot and resume to oink@porkfilled.com.

Other details you need to know about these auditions: 

The entrance is to a secured building; please be on time, as you will need to be let in.