Pasadena Theaters Among More Than 2 Dozen to Leave L.A. Stage Alliance Over Misidentification of Asian Actors at Ovation Awards

The Pasadena Playhouse and the A Noise Within theater groups have joined at least 23 other local theater organizations that have reportedly announced intentions to leave the L.A. Stage Alliance after perceived disrespect toward Asian actors after misidentifying one nominee and mispronouncing her name, as well as those of other Asian actors, during Tuesday’s Ovation Awards.

At least 25 theater companies had left the L.A. Stage Alliance as of Tuesday, the Los Angeles Times reported.

When a nomination was announced for Jully Lee of the Los Angeles-based East West Players, presenters both mispronounced her first name and showed a picture of another Asian actor, according to the Times. Several other Asian nominees’ names were also mispronounced, Lee told the newspaper.

“This wasn’t a personal attack on me by L.A. Stage Alliance. Clearly I didn’t matter enough for it to be personal,” she told the Times. “I just felt like a nameless, faceless, Asian person that happened to be nominated for one of their awards.”

We stand in solidarity with @EWPlayers in revoking our membership to the @LAStageAlliance.#LeavingLASA #LAThtr #StopAsianHate pic.twitter.com/A9iXxrrVCj

— A Noise Within (@anoisewithin) April 1, 2021

The reaction across the regional theater industry was swift.

Following the lead of the East West Players, the Pasadena Playhouse announced it was leaving the L.A. Stage Alliance on Wednesday.

“Pasadena Playhouse stands with our producing partner East West Players in revoking our membership to the LA STAGE Alliance following last night’s Ovation Awards,” the organization said via Facebook… the lack of recognition of partner organizations and their contribution to the community as well as the mispronunciation of the names and incorrect identification of artists of color at the L.A. Stage Alliance’s Ovation Awards is unacceptable.”

“Equity and inclusion within our institution and within our industry require that we hold ourselves and our affiliates accountable, and amplify the voices of our AAPI colleagues that continue to be sidelined,” the statement continued. “We stand with East West Players and demand accountability and change within the Ovation Awards.”

pic.twitter.com/Lymxst9f5v

— lastagealliance (@LAStageAlliance) April 1, 2021

A Noise Within Pasadena also took to social media to take issue with the Awards Show presentation.

“We stand in solidarity with @EWPlayers in revoking our membership to the @LAStageAlliance,” the group said via Twitter.

The Deaf West Theater also criticized the L.A. Stage Alliance for failing to provide closed captioning or sign language interpretation during the award show.

“This means it was not accessible to the Deaf community — which includes our own nominated Deaf artists, staff and audience members who wanted to celebrate alongside us,” the theater troupe said via Facebook. “This lack of access happened in spite of a direct request to the organizers. We should not have had to ask. And the ceremony should have been made available whether we were nominated or not.”

Deaf West Theater also cited solidarity with the AAPI community in revoking its membership to the L.A. Stage Alliance.

The L.A. Stage Alliance issued an apology on Tuesday night, following awards show.

“L.A. Stage Alliance takes full responsibility for the mistakes made in last night’s Ovation Awards show. We sincerely apologize to Jully Lee and the AAPI community as well as to all our members, voters and the community at large,” it states.

A written apology can only do so much, especially when there are underlying issues that need to be addressed. L.A. Stage Alliance takes its dedication to equality and support of its diverse theta community and representation seriously,” the statement said. “With that in mind, effective immediately, L.A. Stage Alliance will focus on undertaking a visible and transparent transformation so it can be held accountable to the community it serves.”