A Discussion with Alex Luu - The Use of Storytelling across Multiple Venues, from Solo Performance to Filmmaking

ALEX LUU is a critically acclaimed solo performer, workshop facilitator, and independent filmmaker who graduated from UCLA's School of Film/Television. Luu's autobiographical "performance theater" work addresses themes such as identity, racism, body image/politics, and the overall under representation of people of color (especially Asian American males) in mainstream media.

Based in Los Angeles, Luu combines autobiographical performance at, theater, monologue, movement in a kinetic no-holds-barred style and presentation that is both hilariously over-the-top and heartbreakingly poignant. Luu's one-man show "Three Lives" and other performance works have garnered critical acclaim from publications such as Los Angeles Times, Boston Globe, South End News, Asian New Yorker, LA Weekly, Orange County Weekly, Eugene Weekly, AsianWeek, Chinese Daily News, and Rafu Shimpo.

Luu's works have been seen at Highways Performance Space, Boston Center for the Arts, Strand Theater (Boston), Japanese American Cultural Community Center, National Asian American Theater Company (New York), Tremont Theater (Boston), Asian American Theater Center (San Francisco), Los Angeles Theater Center, East West Players, Rude Guerilla Theater (Orange County), and college/high school campuses.

In addition to performing nationally, Luu facilitates MY OWN STORY (MOS), an autobiographical writing/performing workshop for People of Color (adults and college/high school students) around the country. Luu has been artist-in-residence at numerous arts and community organizations/colleges with his "Three Lives" show and the MOS workshops. He was most recently artist-in-residence at Berklee College of Music (summer '08) and through Boston Mayor's Office of Arts & Tourism (summer '06) where he facilitated the MOS/Asian Voices for Asian Pacific American youth in Dorchester, MA.

Luu's writings have also been published in various anthologies, the most recent being Bold Words: A Century of Asian American Writing from Rutgers University Press (2002).

 

 

Part 1:  Three Lives