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Asian American Theater Company
Category: Arts & Entertainment Performing Arts Performing Arts [Edit]
1695 18th StSte C-101
(at Carolina St)
San Francisco, CA 94107
Neighborhood: Potrero Hill
(415) 913-7366
- Good for Kids:
- No
Thomas W. said: "We've attended the fabulous guitar Duo Melis in the Herbst Theater in San Francisco. It was our first visit in that theater and we were glad we did attend. Their skills were just awesome, especially since they had to coordinate their…" read more »
17 reviews for Asian American Theater Company
17 reviews in English
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Review from Tatiana D.
San Francisco, CA
7/10/2009
Support AATC! One thing I love about San Francisco is the local theatre community. Saw "Fayette-Nam" last night. Lighting and set design was on point and great energy from the actors.
Thick House is also an awesome venue.
Just go damn it. -
Review from Charles B.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 11/25/2011
This is a co-production with Golden Thread, so I'm repeating that review.
Big big props for this skillful, intense production of the hilarious, serious and creepy Language Rooms by Yussef el Guindi. Set in Guantanamo or some place very much like it in 2005, an Arab-American interrogator for the US has his loyalty called into question by a fellow Muslim co-worker. As he tries to prove himself, things get worse and worse and crazier and crazier.
The playwright avoids preaching to us, letting the situations do the talking. The play has a lot of layers about identity and fitting in, leaving me thinking about it well after I've left the play.
Well worth seeing. Four stars for a slow spot in the middle of act one, but most of the play is killer.2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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3/27/2011
Gosh, I get to post this review twice! AATC did a co-production with Crowded Fire of Young Jean… Read more »
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Review from Wilhelm Y.
San Francisco, CA
7/8/2009
I've always enjoyed the live theater performances of the San Francisco based PlayGround series, but aside from that my knowledge of other performing arts groups based in San Francisco is quite weak. When I received the email from Connie C. at Yelp offering free tickets to the recent weekend performance of "Fayette-Nam" I requested the complimentary tickets simply out of curiosity.
The performance was outstanding. The production written by Aurorae Khoo is based in Fayetteville, North Carolina, home of the 82nd Airborne, and deals with a young African-American soldier (portrayed magnificently by actor Jon Gentry) who goes AWOL just hours prior to being deployed to the battlefront. He takes refuge inside the egg roll and donut shop of an Asian American woman (played by Lisa Kang) with whom he feels an emotional bond with. Adding much emotion and at times comedy into the story are issues being dealt with by the woman's son (played by Kenneth Tan Ronquillo) who obviously has a problem with low self-esteem and the woman's rebellious, pyromaniac daughter (played by Kathleen Mendoza) who has dropped out of college and is also hiding out after burning down her college dormitory.
All of the actors/actresses gave riveting performances full of drama and emotion. In one scene I was not only fascinated by Kenneth Tan Ronquillo's acting ability but by his athleticism and balance as well. Those of you who have seen the play probably know which scene I am referring to. I thought the set was built up very creatively, and I loved the way the lights and music were used to highlight different scenes and stir up different emotions. It was such a fabulous production.
So thanks to Yelp I think the AATC has a new fan in me, and I'm certain I will return to view other productions presented by this company.Listed in: Yelptastic!, The Show Must Go On
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Review from Lenee F.
San Francisco, CA
6/6/2009
So awesome!
I came here because a friend of a coworker was performing. I have to say that I was skeptical. However, my skepticism was soon gone once the show started.
I have never been to a live comedy/acting/dancing/funny videos show before. However, I want to go back to AATC! The ticket price for the show was only $10 for two hours of entertainment. Where else in San Francisco are you going to pay that little? If you do only pay $10 a ticket, there usually is a 2 drink minimum at other places so that the venue can make more money. Well not at AATC. I actually feel like we should have paid more for our tickets because we were really entertained and laughed our booties off.
I will be back!! -
Review from Miriam W.
11/6/2005
A little bit of history on the AATC, from their website:
"The mission of the Asian American Theater Company (AATC) is to inspire, nurture and promote Asian and Pacific American theater. AATC has been in full operation since 1973, when it was born out of an initiative by the American Conservatory Theater (ACT) of San Francisco."
The AATC is a true asset to the San Francisco performing arts community, providing a space for Asian Pacific American theatre where there previously was none.Listed in: Support local San Francisco…
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Review from Petra S.
7/4/2009
I personally think everyone should go out and see "Fayette-Nam" at the Thick House playing now through July 11th. It's a presented by the Asian American Theater Company and directed by Duy Nguyen.
I had the pleasure of meeting the director as well as the entire cast and feel like the storyline is one that anyone can relate to. Everyone involved, put a great deal of effort into making the scenes come to life, filling it with both genuine emotion and comical satire. Besides the clever storyline, the entire play was just HILARIOUS!
I would also like to thank Connie C and Ligaya for helping to coordinate this event and also to the Thick House for having us there.
It really brings back a lot of memories for me about my grade school years, especially high school and my involvement with the performing arts. I was just very glad to have been able to relive the experience through these performers. -
Review from Brent A.
7/5/2009
This review is for Fayette-Nam which I just saw today. To let you know, the tickets were free from Yelp and I do know the director, Duy Nguyen.
To start, let me review the theatre, Thick House. Parking here is extremely easy and is close to some nice restaurants. The seats in the theatre were a little uncomfortable for me, as I much rather would have preferred sitting on the steps as compared to the chairs placed there upon.
As for the company, it's great! The actors were amazing, and I truly felt the play come to life. By the end of the play, I wanted to cry just as if I had been in the situation myself. I would easily recommend this to someone, and will go check out other plays as they come out.
As for the play itself, I thought it was very comical and touching--something to which just about anyone could relate. The first act was upbeat and fast-paced keeping my attention the entire time. The second act started off on a very sad note which seemed to hang in the air until the very end of the play. I was happy with the ending, but wish the play could end on a slightly higher note.
The only true complaint I had about it was that I could die a happy man if I never have to hear Ne-Yo's "Closer" song ever again. -
Review from Megan K.
San Francisco, CA
7/4/2009
Yelp has a way of getting you to try things you probably would not have gotten around to trying otherwise. This was one of them. I did not even know that this theater, nor this theater company even existed, but when I got the chance to see "Fayette-Nam", I decided to give it a shot. I didn't have much expectations for it and wasn't sure what the show would be like. Needless to say, I was very glad I decided to try! The performances by the five person cast were outstanding. The writing was fresh, timely, grimly realistic yet brushed with a sense of humor. While there's a place for snazzy production values, there's something that's so impressive about a well-done staging/lighting/scenery set-up on a small budget in a small theater. In this case, the production really made the most of their set-up in a way that added and enhanced the strong acting and material.
All in all, a highly recommended way to spend the evening is catching one of their shows. Shout out to Connie C. for the opportunity. Definitely will keep my eye out for future shows from this hidden SF gem of a theater company. -
Review from Miel H.
San Francisco, CA
7/5/2009
Just saw "Fayette-Nam" on a freebie ticket from Yelp, just to get all the disclaimers out in the open. Hey, I am unemployed so I jump HARD on those "click here for free anything" announcements. And, that being said, I also really love theater so this was not just a diversion but a chance for me to experience the level of performance that AATC is kicking down.
Interesting venue (Thick House, Potrero Hill) although give yourself some time to find it. It is on the lower level of a bunch of new condos, pretty unassuming and definitely didn't jump out at me from the street. Stadium style seating promotes intimacy and gives excellent views from just about everywhere in the house.
So if I was the pink pages armchair guy, I would be seated, clapping.
The main characters were most definitely working hard. They were pretty impeccable with line delivery and also keeping the scenes moving. Staging was very imaginative and actually gave enormous depth with subtle lighting, background music and use of vertical venetian blinds for background drops. Costuming was simple but gave characters authenticity and bolstered role believability. Topic was very on-point to life in today's world and writing was poignant, comedic and rich.
The acting, oh god, this is so hard because there are actual human beings behind these words. But, here's the thing. Raising your voice or changing your tone is not enough to bring a role to life. It emphasizes delivery and may amp intensity, but not unless I am feeling as though I got "hooked" by the actual drama being played out in front of me.
My favorite was Jon Gentry (Jerome Dupree) as his body language, voice and stage presence all integrated pretty seamlessly not into a character, but him as transformed into someone else.
Kenneth Tan Ronquillo (Connor Lee) also ranks high for his metamorphosis into a high schooler with humor and reality. I wanted to bite harder into his struggle with self esteem though, it almost seems like a teen would do more with the silence in between the explanations. You know, like when you ask, "where were you?" and the answer is long silence punctuated with a final "nowhere".
Kathleen Mendoza (Debbie Lee) and Lisa Kang (Laura-Lai Lee) were solid. However, I did feel like the two of them were the most "studied" in their acting, meaning I felt like the roles were other than themselves versus a garment made right to their measurements.
Lisa Kang's role is the pivot for the whole show and I needed a bit more rockstar to dive into, you know the Mick Jagger that draws all your attention but also highlights the best of the rest of the entire band.
I def recommend putting this show into your calendar. Give your eyeballs some juicy tidbits to enjoy, support an awesome theater company and consider a fresh perspective. -
Review from Valerie F.
Fremont, CA
4/25/2006
Amazing company which is socially active and willing to laugh at itself.
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Review from Michael C.
Daly City, CA
Updated - 1/13/2009
I'm so glad they have their own place now :p
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/17/2005
Yes, I love AATC. They are original, they have awesome events, and everything that Miriam wrote.
If… Read more »
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Review from Solomon C.
San Francisco, CA
2/14/2007
Much love. You could never hate on these guys, they work so hard to bring really quality productions to the community. Support them!
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Review from Michelle C.
Belmont, CA
7/6/2009
Thank you to Connie for posting that this was a free show "Fayette-Nam" for yelpers. I took my good friend to see it with me. We really enjoyed the play a lot. At first I was like what is this going to be about? But once I got there, totally understood. The acting was really good. Only felt like the son "brother" could have been just a tad bit louder. Loved the Thick House theatre because there was street parking. This is a very intimate acting company and I hope that they can stay afloat during these hard economic times. Do put money into the donation bin after the show, they need it.
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Review from heather g.
San Francisco, CA
7/7/2009
I tend to be a little bit wary of theatre. The 'live-ness' makes me nervous, I guess. I fear the commitment required of me, since the situation seems awfully volatile. This is particularly true of small venues like Thick House, where AATC and "Fayette-Nam" is currently housed. The intimacy is terrifying!
In this case it was worth the risk. I loved the story of Fayette-Nam, which felt so old and comfortable that I was almost surprised when I heard mention of Iraq. The single mother has dreams, but has hardened her heart. Her daughter is difficult and emotionally volatile. Her son is a bit feminine, comic, and just beginning to rebel. She's the emotional center of the play, but her loud and rowdy daughter sometimes steals focus. It doesn't really do the play any credit when she does. The love - and there must be a love interest - comes in the form of a soldier on leave. Chekov, Williams, maybe?
In any case, I enjoyed the play very much. It was well acted and produced. My only real complaint regards the compelling nature of Thick House. It is an intimate space. It's possible to convey a much greater range of emotion with an audience that close to you. It isn't necessary to yell every time the character is having a feeling. The character of the daughter became difficult for me to believe. Even crazy people speak softly sometimes. -
Review from Patricia C.
San Francisco, CA
6/25/2009
Just say "Fayette-Nam," a world premiere by Aurorae Khoo performed by the AATC at the Thick House now thru July 11, 2009.
This is a great intimate setting for a great date night out that won't hurt your budget but will surely score points with your partner. You can get 2+ hours of terrific entertainment and laughter in a great locale in Potrero Hill w/ several restaurant choices.
The acting is well performed and the subject matter is relevant to our current events. You'll be glad you supported local community theatre. -
Review from Derek L.
San Mateo, CA
1/1/2007
It's hard to rate a theater group as opposed to the theater performances. Their performances can sometimes be hit or miss depending on the specifics. But as a group, they are definitely a good resource and opportunity to see Asian American theater performances. Check out their website (http://www.asianameric...) to see what's currently playing. They get a 5-star rating because they have such a long history of fostering the development of Asian American playwrites and encouraging new works.
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Review from Irene V.
San Jose, CA
6/22/2009
I was really excited to see Kamikaze Theory and Hobofish perform again, and it was reallpy great. The improv could've been better and some parts of Kamikaze Theory got awkward, but I'm a big fan of awkwardness so it was great! They also really pushed the boundaries by doing songs, sexually explicit and raunchy skits, and working with videos. The actors/actresses were also really committed to the skits. Great show overall! Definitely coming back.
