The Writer’s Voice I & II

The Writer’s Voice I: Serving the Underserved

Douglas Lyons is an actor, writer, director, composer, and playwright. His play Chicken and Biscuits was his playwrighting debut on Broadway, but Douglas has appeared as an actor on Broadway and across the USA. He’s a multi-faceted artist, drawn to telling Black and queer stories that illuminate joy. Douglas is raising his voice as a storyteller, fueled by this passion for creating work for the underserved and unseen. Douglas will discuss his journey from the church choir to Broadway playwright, how he balances his numerous facets, and the inspiration that drives him to express his artistic vision.

The Writer’s Voice II: Capturing Culture Clash Onstage

David Henry Hwang is a multi-award-winning writer, whose work spans the genres of plays, musicals, opera, and film. Much of his work investigates the conflicts between cultures. He brings to light themes of identity, communication, power dynamics, language, and misinterpretation as reflected in Asian and Asian American experiences. In this session, David Henry Hwang shares his process, vision, and the grand scope of his work from M. Butterfly and Aida to his most recent collaboration, Soft Power.