Taking Action

What should I do about yellowface?

  1. When in doubt, take it out. Just because yellowface has had a long history on the American stage doesn’t mean that performers today have to keep on doing it.
  1. Get creative. Even Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mikado deserves a remake, as playwright and director R.A. Shiomi showed when he successfully removed the “Japanese” references from the opera and reset the story in Edwardian England. His revised Mikado was presented as a 2012 joint production between Skylark Opera and Theater Mu in the Twin Cities. Director/playwright Rick Shiomi on the Mu/Skylark adaptation: http://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/guest-making-lsquothe-mikadorsquo-without-asian-stereotypes/
  1. Stand in solidarity. Learn about the growing number of Asian American and other performing artists of color who are creating exciting new plays. 
    1. Wikipedia page on “Asian American Theatre”: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian-American_theatre
    2. Article, Jane Jung, “History, Ideals, and Asian American Theater” on HowlRound: https://howlround.com/history-ideals-and-asian-american-theater
Picture taken from the 2012 Skylark Opera/Theater Mu Mikado production of "The Mikado."
Picture taken from the 2012 Skylark Opera/Theater Mu Mikado production of “The Mikado.”