Phillip+Kan+Gotunda

Philip Kan Gotanda // with his dog.// Biography Over the last three decades Gotanda has composed many plays designed to broaden theater in America. Through his plays and advocacy, he has been instrumental in bringing stories of Asians in the United States to mainstream American theater, as well as to Europe and Asia. The creator of one of the largest bodies of Asian American-themed work, Gotanda's plays and films are studied and performed at universities and schools across the USA. Gotanda wrote the text and directed the production of Maestro Kent Nagano’s MANZANAR: AN AMERICAN STORY, an original symphonic work with narration. His newest work, AFTER THE WAR, premiered at the American Conservatory Theatre in March 2007. AFTER THE WAR chronicles San Francisco’s Japantown in the late 40’s when Japanese Americans returning from the Internment Camps encountered a flourishing African American jazz scene. A Japanese translation of his play, SISTERS MATSUMOTO, opened in Tokyo with the Mingei Geikidan Company. Gotanda is also a respected independent filmmaker; his works are seen in film festivals around the world. His most recent film, LIFE TASTES GOOD, was originally presented at the Sundance Film Festival and can presently be seen on the Independent Film Channel. Along with executive producers, Dale Minami and Diane Takei, he is currently developing his newest film, INSCRUTABLE GRIN. with their production company, Joe Ozu Films Gotanda holds a law degree from Hastings College of Law, studied pottery in Japan with the late Hiroshi Seto and resides in Berkeley with his actress-producer wife, Diane Takei. His play collections include NO MORE CHERRY BLOSSOMS, FISH SOUP AND OTHER PLAYS, published by the University of Washington Press. Other published plays include [|__THE WASH__], THE DREAM OF KITAMURA, DAY STANDING ON ITS HEAD, YOHEN and THE WIND CALLS MARY. Awards Gotanda has received include the Guggenheim, Pew Trust, 3 Rockefeller, Lila Wallace, National Endowment for the Arts, National Edowment for the Arts-Theater Communications Playwriting Award, PEN Center West, LA Music Center Award, 2007 Japan Society of Northern California, Chinese For Affirmative Action, NJHAS, City of Stockton Arts Award, East West Players, Asian American Theater Company Life Time Achievement, 2 California Civil Liberties Public Education Program, 2009 MAP Fund Creative Exploration Grant, 2008 Granada Arts Theater Fellowship, UC Berkeley Arts Center Fellow in Theater, Sundance Theater Fellow, Sundance Film Fellow Program. His website addresses are listed as www.philipkangotanda.com and www.lifetastesgoodmovie.com.

Plays
 * //The Avocado Kid//
 * //Song For a Nisei Fisherman//
 * "Bullet Headed Birds"
 * //American Tattoo//
 * //The Wash//
 * //Yankee Dawg You Die//
 * //The Dream Of Kitamura//
 * //Fish Head Soup//
 * //Day Standing on Its Head//
 * //Yohen//
 * //The Wind Cries Mary//
 * //The Ballad of Yachiyo//
 * //Sisters Matsumoto//
 * //A Fist Of Roses//
 * //floating weeds//
 * //Manzanar: An American Story//
 * //After The War//
 * //Under The Rainbow//
 * "#5 The Angry Red Drum"

links

__[|//www.philipkangotanda.com//]__ www.doollee.com/PlaywrightsG/**gotanda**-**philip**-**kan**.html www.imdb.com/name/nm0331757/