This Sunday, there will be a Q&A with HOLD THESE TRUTHS playwright Jeanne Sakata after the 2pm performance.
Sakata is an award-winning actress of stage and screen, who was honored to make her playwriting debut in 2007 with her solo show HOLD THESE TRUTHS (formerly DAWN’S LIGHT: THE JOURNEY OF GORDON HIRABAYASHI). Based on a true story, and inspired by many hours of interviews Jeanne conducted with Gordon Hirabayashi and several of his friends from the 1940’s, by numerous letters written by Mr. Hirabayashi during his imprisonment, and by contemporary articles written by and about Mr. Hirabayashi, HOLD THESE TRUTHS is a work blending historical fact with fiction. The play is now part of the Library of Congress Playwrights Archive in the Asian American Pacific Islander Collection in Washington DC, where Jeanne’s working script was recently on view in the Thomas Jefferson Building in conjunction with the Library of Congress celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.
Earlier this year, Jeanne’s voice work was featured in Jennifer Phang’s acclaimed indie film ADVANTAGEOUS, which world premiered at the Sundance Film Festival’s U.S. Dramatic Competition, and followed by showings in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Other feature film credits include playing Mom Wanda to Olivia Munn in the comedy THE BABYMAKERS, XX2: STATE OF THE UNION, and AMERICAN FUSION.
Her television credits include NCIS LOS ANGELES, TYLER PERRY’S MEET THE BROWNS, DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES, ER, THREAT MATRIX, LINE OF FIRE, PRESIDIO MED, AMERICAN FAMILY, NUMB3RS, John Ridley’s I GOT YOU, the MOW’s THE READING ROOM, HIROSHIMA, CONSENSUAL RELATIONS.
Well known to Los Angeles theater fans, Jeanne performed in the 2011-2014 seasons in THE BROTHERS PARANORMAL at La Jolla Playhouse, BLOOD at the Geffen Playhouse, HANNAH AND THE DREAD GAZEBO at the Ojai Playwrights Conference, A CAGE OF FIREFLIES at the Sundance Institute Theatre Lab, SEVEN at USC as Cambodian human rights activist Mu Sochua and in Julia Cho’s THE LANGUAGE ARCHIVE at East West Players. An LA Ovation Award winner for Best Lead Actress for her cross-gender portrayal of Master Hua in Chay Yew’s RED at EWP, Jeanne has performed regionally with The Public Theater, Lincoln Center Theater, Kennedy Center, Mark Taper Forum, La Jolla Playhouse, South Coast Rep, American Conservatory Theater, Northlight Theatre, Intiman Theatre, Berkeley Rep, A Contemporary Theatre, Portland Center Stage, Syracuse Stage and the Arizona Theatre Company. She received a 2013 Monaco Charity Film Festival Award for Best Actress for her work in the indie film ADULTOLESCENCE, a StageScene “Best of 2007” Outstanding Performance mention for her performance as Maria Callas in EWP’s MASTER CLASS, an Entertainment Today Award for Best Supporting Actress in Chay Yew’s A WINTER PEOPLE at Theatre @ Boston Court, and a DramaLogue Award for Outstanding Performance for her work in Jean Genet’s THE MAIDS at EWP.
In December 2011, Jeanne was honored with an Outstanding Artist Award for her career achievements by Los Angeles’ Asian Pacific American Friends of the Theatre.
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