On today’s episode of Asian Voices, artistic director of TeAda Productions Ova Saopeng discusses how he entered theatre. He also discusses the significance of representation for South and South East Asian faces, histories, and stories.

Saopeng is associate artistic director and producer with Los Angeles based TeAda Productions. He is a refugee from Savannakhet, Laos and was raised in Hawaii. He received a B.A. in Theater from the University of Southern California.

Now an accomplished actor, teaching artist, and playwright, his passions for elevating the refugee and immigrant experience on the American stage have shined through his work. Saopeng is also co-creator of Refugee Nation, the only nationally touring play about the Lao-American experience.

Learn more about his creations at https://www.teada.org/