Expect-Asian

[NoHo Arts District, CA] –  Write Act Repertory, with John Lant and Anne Mesa, proudly presents the West Coast premiere of Expect-Asian, a solo show written and performed by Jeffrey Han, directed by Anne Tamanaha Mesa, and running June 8-23 at the Brickhouse Theatre. 

Show Synopsis

Expect-Asian is a coming-of-age story that centers on Jack, a young Asian American and his quest to find his identity. While on his journey, he is constantly being torn between his father’s strict standards and being accepted by his peers. After crushing social rejections and cultural disappointments, he learns to trust himself and stand on his own two feet. Expect-Asian sheds light on cultural and identity issues affecting young Asian Americans.

“I had the good fortune to see Jeffrey Han’s solo show Expect-Asian as part of Pan Asian Rep’s NuWorks last night! It includes the most moving recreation of a college theater movement class that I think I will ever see. Thank you, Jeffrey!” — Carole Real, New York Playwright. 

Walk-ins will be waitlisted at the door. Reserving ahead of time is strongly encouraged. Street parking in neighboring residential area. Please plan to arrive early.

The Team

JEFFREY HAN – Actor / Writer / Co-Producer

Jeffrey Han is a performer, producer, and poet based out of Los Angeles, California. Before landing in LA, he earned his MFA in performing arts from the Savannah College of Art and Design, and a BA in Theatre Arts from California State University Fullerton. He is grateful to be bringing Expect-Asian to the west coast with Write Act Repertory. Notable credits include Expect-Asian with Pan Asian Repertory Theatre’s NuWorks Play Festival, Scrimmage with East West Players, and a touring production of The Taming of the Shrew with The Festival Players in the United Kingdom. Jeffrey enjoys practicing martial arts, and listening to country music while stuck in LA traffic. 

ANNE TAMANAHA MESA – Director/Producer 

Born in Okinawa, Japan, “Annie” grew up in California and wears many hats. She produced multiple world premieres, including How Katrina Plays, Blues For Central Ave, Brooklyn USA, Just A Song At Twilight, Our Beds Are Crowded, No Fault, Berlin Cowboys, Geeks the Musical, Their Finest Hour, Show Me A Hero, Hello World, Edge Improv, A Journal of the Plague Year, and more. Awarded Hollywood Fringe’s “Encore Producer Award” for Four Tree Plays, she recently directed Jeffrey Han’s solo play, Expect-Asian, selected and performed in New York, and making its West Coast Premiere at Write Act Repertory in Los Angeles.  Other plays she directed include If Nietzsche Dated, The Glass Ceiling, Cocktail Party, Feathermore, Velma and Manny, and more. Short films (Producer): Krampus (2017) and Do Over (2023). She serves as Chair for Warner Bros. Discovery’s AAPI Business Resource Group, spearheading events/programming, leading groups, collaborating with various film/TV studios, and most recently served as a panelist for USC’s entertainment panel for cinema students (Asian Pacific Cinema Association) and moderator for Ten Times Better with director Jennifer Lin. Anne enjoys jazz dance, choreography, directing, and spending time with Sumatra (Corgi/Goldie).   

Write Act Repertory

Under the producing artistic leadership of John Lant since 2003, Write Act Repertory is an award-winning producer and director of over 100 plays in L.A. and NYC, including 17 Off-Broadway plays. They have produced over 75 mainstage and 125 original one-act plays in Los Angeles and New York City. Write Act Repertory currently has work on Off-Broadway with plays running at St. Clement’s, Theater Row, MTC City Center, St. Luke’s Theatre, Actors Temple Theater and ATA, in the heart of the Broadway Theatre District. This company is dedicated to the development of original plays, lesser-known works by established writers, adaptations of classical-themed material and musicals. Write Act Repertory also produces rarely seen works and unfinished musicals by composers who passed before their work was completed. www.writeactrep.org