HOME / End of Calendar Year 2023
MAKING MU’S VISION A REALITY
Help us use theater to create an equitable, intersectional world that celebrates the Asian American experience.
In the few years since Lily Tung Crystal and Anh Thu T. Pham became Mu’s leaders, they have galvanized a period of growth, introspection, and community building that has put Theater Mu in the middle of national conversations around both American and Asian American theater.
As one example, Lily’s passion for Asian American representation, desire to connect with the community, and focus on building Mu’s impact within the Asian American theater canon led us to last season’s focus on Southeast Asian stories, made more accessible with our Pay As You Are ticketing. As another example, Anh Thu has led the charge to increase artist and staff pay to create a more equitable workplace, while also expanding funding avenues to increase our annual budget to support higher quality art. This means that when we employed almost 200 artists in the 2022/23 season, we paid them equitably with the help of increased foundational and individual support.
However, the reality is that Mu can’t engage with our communities without the support of our communities.
With much of the industry reverting to safe, traditional narratives, how can Mu continue to help artists take risks and tell their own stories? With the rising costs of theater, how can we keep paying them equitably? And with some foundations changing their funding priorities, how can Mu create exemplary art that engages the hearts, minds, and souls of audiences? The answer is YOU. Our community members are the biggest cheerleaders and advocates of Mu’s mission. Your passion is significant. Your support is significant. You are significant to Mu.
Donate now to help us reach our $30,000 goal by Dec 31, and support the expanse and growth of Theater Mu. Together we are building a better arts community and a more equitable world.
WHY THEATER MU?
GREGORY YANG, Mu artist
“[Through Asian American theater,] we get to tell stories that are rooted within our culture and experiences, and share our stories with people outside of our community. But, if not more important, we can [also] share our stories with people within our own community and to those who thought our stories would never be told.”
RUTHIE JOHNSON, board chair
“One of the ways Theater Mu showcases its creativity is in its drive to produce theater that represents the nuanced depth and variety of the Asian American diaspora across generations and communities.”
MICHELLE DE JOYA, Mu artist
“Being able to work directly with students and youth who identify as Asian American is probably one of the most fulfilling things. … It’s important to teach our youth to be able to be confident and speak up and ground themselves, and have a strong voice and a presence in their community.”
MAGS SCANLON, Mu artist
“I appreciate that I’ve been able to learn along the way as I’ve been working with Theater Mu, not just as a theater artist but also as an activist and a person wanting to have a community and participate in that community.”