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 21st 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!