TGIF FEATURE: East West Players gains new artistic director

Snehal Desai

Reprinted from AsAm News

In a major signal that South Asian Americans are a big part of the Asian American theater scene, East West Players has named Snehal Desai as its new Artistic Director.

Desai replaces Tim Dang who retires after 23 years leading the nation’s longest running professional theatre of color in the United States.

RELATED: Tim Dang to Step Down as Artistic Director of East West Players after 23 Years

“Since I met Snehal in 2011, aside from his artistic gifts and his producing skills, I recognized a charm and diplomacy in his leadership that will advance East West Players and the next generation of artists through the remarkable sea change that is happening in American theatre,” said Dang. “Snehal’s extensive involvement in his career developing over 200 new plays, the vast majority by artists of color, has allowed him to hone an artistic style and voice that is focused on diversity, inclusion, community building and social justice. ”

Desai joined East West Players as its Associate Artistic Director in 2013. He has worked at more than a dozen theatre’s in New York and directed plays at theatre’s ranging from the Old Globe in San Diego to Old Vic in London. His directing work at East West includes A Nice Indian Boy and the U.S. v. Bhagat Singh Thind, as well as last year’s critically acclaimed production of The Who’s Tommy.

“We must keep working to provide artists of color the opportunities and visibility they deserve,” said Desai. “Under Tim’s extraordinary 23 year tenure, EWP has consistently demonstrated this with the rich and diverse range of work it has produced. I am grateful for his guidance and example.”

He was featured in American Theatre magazine’s “20 Theater Workers You Should Know” and Stage Directors and Choreographers (SDC) Journal. As Artistic Director of East West Players, Desai will be charged with providing the artistic vision and strategic, financial and operational direction of one of the most prominent theaters of color in the country. Desai will assume artistic responsibilities immediately and select the 2017-2018 Season.

““We are excited that Snehal will be EWP’s next artistic leader,” said Board Co-Chair Daniel Mayeda. “He has a national reputation in the theatre world as a fierce proponent of diversity, multi-culturalism and new Asian American artistic work.”

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East West Players fete Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and Allegiance.

LAST WEEK the East-West Players celebrated its 50th anniversary by awarding its Vision Awards lauding the achievements of individuals who have raised the visibility of the Asian Pacific American (APA) community through their craft.

The artists honored last April 25 included the creators of the television series Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, the producers of the Broadway musical Allegiance and the founding director of Pan Asian Theater in New York City. 

Emceeing the East West celebration were Filipino/American actors Tia Carrera and Mark Dacoscos.

The 2016 Honorees are:

Jay Kuo and Lorenzo Thione, producers of the groundbreaking musical, Allegiance.

Fresh off its run on Broadway, Allegiance welcomed the stage debut of George Takei and also featured Lea Salonga and Telly Leung. Kuo is also the lyricist, composer and playwright of Allegiance, his fourth musical. Thione co-wrote Allegiance with Kuo and Marc Acito.

Jay Kuo is a composer, author, producer and social media addict. He is the co-creator of the Broadway musical Allegiance, the marketing of which gave him the opportunity to help develop the Facebook and Twitter pages of George Takei and other socialebrities. He currently serves as Chief Creative Officer at the Social Edge, a leading digital publishing and social media company.




Lorenzo Thione is a serial entrepreneur with a passion for the intersection of technology, art, design, communication and social value. He is a Tony-Nominated Broadway producer and is the co-creator and lead producer of Allegiance, the 2015 Broadway musical starring George Takei and Lea Salonga, for which he co-authored the book. In developing Allegiance, he spearheaded social-media viral strategies that led to astounding growth and unprecedented awareness and audience engagement for Allegiance and for its star and inspiration, George Takei, and from there to the founding of The Social Edge, where he currently serves as Chief Executive.

Tisa Chang, Founding Artistic Director of Pan Asian Repertory in New York City.

Tisa Chang is a dancer, actor, director, producer, celebrating 50 years in the American performing arts. Inspired by the independence and civil rights movements, she founded Pan Asian Repertory Theatre in 1977 to champion professional opportunities for Asian American artists to reach the heights of one’s dreams and aspiration with many graduates now in L/A. She is a former Executive Board member of SDC, member of Coalition of Theaters of Color in NY and a founding board member of CAATA the national coalition of AA Theatres and Artists that will produce the 5th CONFEST this October in Ashland.

Rachel Bloom and Aline Brosh McKenna, creators of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.

The hit CW sitcom about a highly successful Manhattan attorney who leaves for California in hopes of finding true love with an old flame. The show follows her adventures, which include embracing her ex-boyfriend’s Filipino/American family. The would-be boyfriend is played by Vincent Rodriguez III, whose role as Josh Chan is one of the few love interests played by an Asian man.

Rachel Bloom is a comedian, actress, writer and singer based in Los Angeles. She currently stars in the TV series Crazy Ex-Girlfriend on the CW Network and earned both a Golden Globe and Critics Choice award for her performance.She has been named a comic to watch by Cosmopolitan, Time Out LA and Backstage Magazine, and has been featured in Variety and the LA Times. Rachel developed and starred in a musical pilot for Showtime called Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, co-written with Aline Brosh McKenna and directed by Marc Webb. The series was eventually picked up by the CW Network. She won a Golden Globe for her portrayal of the mentally-unbalance title role.


Aline Brosh McKenna is one of the most accomplished screenwriters working today, telling modern, character-based stories that have resonated with a wide audience. She is also one of the highest-grossing female writers of all time, with a worldwide gross of more than $850 million dollars. Currently, McKenna is Executive Producer. Showrunner on Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, which has received incredible praise for its innovation, comedy, and musical numbers along with its smart and sharp approach at mental illness, feminism, diversity, friendship and relationships. She co-created the series with the series star, Rachel Bloom.

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