My name is Lianna McLernon, and to say that I'm Theater Mu's Marketing & Communications Director is basically a dream come true. I've been lucky to get acquainted with a good number of Twin Cities theaters, but Theater Mu in particular inspires me because of how it connects with its community beyond the stage while still being rooted in high-quality art that highlights what the Asian American experience is and could be.

The Remix with Theater Mu draws this history up for attention and inspection, delightfully stirring the pot so that the parts that sunk to the bottom can now be seen anew. Each video in this four-part series illustrates a fresh perspective on a pioneering artist, cultural phenomenon, or moment in Asian American history. Throughout the series, you’ll notice some frequent themes that emerge: Asian Americans as the perpetual foreigners, the fascination and rejection of the exotic and mysterious, trailblazing artists maintaining their artistic integrity under the pressure of studios and galleries, and the influences of colonization, exploration, immigration, and trade on Asia America’s multi-dimensional culture.

Supporting Mu has always felt like a celebration—like scribbling a personal note inside the front cover of a beloved book of poetry before passing it to a loved one.

Theater Mu announces the members of its first playwrights’ incubator program titled the Mu Tang Clan. Designed specifically for emerging and experienced Asian American playwrights from across the country by cultural producer and Theater Mu’s Mellon Foundation Playwright-In-Residence Saymoukda Duangphouxay Vongsay, the 2021/22 Mu Tang Clan includes Marlina Gonzalez (Minneapolis, MN), Keiko Green (La Jolla, CA), Kathy Haddad (Minneapolis, MN), Alex Lin (Saddle River, NJ), and Susan Xu (San Francisco, CA).

I’m so grateful to be joining the Mu Squad. As a resident of the Twin Cities for 13 years and a proud member of the arts community, I have felt the impact of Mu’s mission in my own life. I have been privileged to serve on Mu’s teaching team for the past two years, working directly in schools and community centers. To be part of a program that celebrates and empowers Asian American artists, among a family of creative and driven individuals, gives me incredible joy and hope for the future.