HOLD THESE TRUTHS

By Jeanne Sakata

A Solo Play Inspired by the Life of Gordon Hirabayashi

2023

IGNITE CHANGE GLOBAL CONVENTION
HOLD THESE TRUTHS Video Presentation
December 3 to 6, 2023
Directed by Melanie Dreyer Lude, starring Kevin Takahide Lee
Edmonton (12/3), Calgary (12/5), Lethbridge (12/6)

2022

BOISE CONTEMPORARY THEATRE
BIPOC THEATRE FESTIVAL
August 6, 2022
Directed by Jessica Kubzansky, starring Ryun Yu

HOPE SUMMER REPERTORY THEATRE
July 1-16, 2022
Directed by Michelle Aguillon, starring Michael Hisamoto

GATHER FOR GOOD 2022—”THE POWER OF STORY”
May 14, 2022
Starring Joel de la Fuente
A Benefit for MMS Tuition Assistance Program
Angel Island, San Francisco
MARIN MONTESSORI SCHOOL
ANGEL ISLAND IMMIGRATION STATION FOUNDATION

UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
MAY 5-7, 2022
Directed by Melanie Dreyer Lude, starring Kevin Takahide Lee

PEOPLE’S LIGHT AND THEATRE
April 6 — May 1, 2022
Directed by Desdemona Chiang, starring Steven Eng

HOLD THESE TRUTHS: A VIRTUAL READING TO CELEBRATE AAPI THEATRE ARTISTS
February 28 to March 2, 2022
Benefit for Consortium of Asian American Theatre Artists (CAATA)
Starring Steven Eng, Michael Hisamoto, Hansel Tan, Jomar Tagatac, Greg Watanabe, Ryun Yu
Hosted by Tamlyn Tomita & Sean Miura

____________________________________________
2014-2021 PRODUCTIONS
San Francisco Playhouse/Capital Stage
Virginia Stage Company
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley (Extended run)
People’s Light (PBS WHYY-TV Showing, 9-24-20)
Barrington Stage Company (Encore Run)
San Diego Repertory Theatre
Cultch Historic Theatre
William J. Clinton Presidential Center
LA TheatreWorks
Arena Stage (Sold out & extended run)
Guthrie Theatre
Pasadena Playhouse
Portland Center Stage
ACT Seattle
PlayMakers Repertory Company


PRESS REVIEWS
”A gripping story about a shameful chapter of our history, when the United States government looked at its own people and saw the enemy.”
Laura Collins-Hughes, New York Times, 2017

“I wish the current White House, along with young people throughout the nation, could be compelled to attend Hold These Truths...the story of Gordon Hirabayashi reminds us that it is precisely when our bedrock values are hardest to defend that we must stand most firmly behind them.”
Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, June 2017

“Full of warmth, wit and humor…I cannot overstate how timely and worth seeing Hold These Truths is….an admonition to remember those self-evident truths and practice what they preach even when our elected officials do not.”
John Stoltenberg, DC Metro Theater Arts, 2018

“A rallying cry for our own times…Hold These Truths only makes clear that the hate, ignorance, fear, prejudice and inhumanity of 1942 are still ours in 2018.”
Lily Janiak, San Francisco Chronicle, 2018

“Ultimately galvanizing…a lone citizen fighting government corruption in an increasingly dark saga.”
Nelson Pressley, Washington Post, 2018

“Surprisingly humorous and openhearted… luminous moments of youthful joy arise too.”
Misha Berson, The Seattle Times, 2015

“Mesmerizing and multidimensional…Sakata’s lovely, lilting script weaves a tapesty of experience that is at times funny, at times uplifting, and sometimes, just tremendously sad and shocking.”
Susie Potter, Triangle Arts And Entertainment

“Shines an illuminating and searing light on one of the most shameful chapters in US history.”
Don Aucoin, The Boston Globe, 2017

“A play where one man’s singular story, so full of heart and heartbreak, can speak to the struggles of an entire nation.”
Julia Hochner, New York Theatre Review, 2013

SPECIAL HONORS
***DRAMA DESK NOMINATION, OUTSTANDING SOLO PERFORMANCE
Joel de la Fuente, Epic Theatre Ensemble

***THEATRE BAY AREA AWARDS, OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION, DIRECTION AND PRINCIPAL PERFORMANCE
Lisa Rothe & Joel de la Fuente, TheatreWorks, Silicon Valley

***SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA THEATRE CRITICS CIRCLE, OUTSTANDING SOLO PERFORMANCE
Jomar Tagatac, San Francisco Playhouse

***SAN DIEGO THEATRE CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD, OUTSTANDING SOLO PERFORMANCE
Ryun Yu, San Diego Repertory

***2019 BROADWAYWORLD BERKSHIRES AWARD NOMINATIONS, BEST ACTOR, DIRECTOR, PLAY & PRODUCTION
Joel de la Fuente, Lisa Rothe, Jeanne Sakata, Barrington Stage Company

LITERARY AGENT
Gurman Agency LLC
Email: susan@gurmanagency.com

PURCHASE HOLD THESE TRUTHS SCRIPT on AMAZON.COM

PURCHASE HOLD THESE TRUTHS RADIO PLAY
LA THEATRE WORKS
Directed by Jessica Kubzansky, starring Ryun Yu

DIGITAL PRESS KIT AVAILABLE BY REQUEST


Commissioned by Chay Yew, Former Director, Center Theatre Group’s Asian Theatre Workshop

PHOTO CREDITS
Photos 1, 2, 4: Joel de la Fuente by Kevin Berne
Photo 3: Joel de la Fuente by Lia Chang
Photo 4: Ryun Yu by Jim Cox
Photos 5, 6, 7: Ryun Yu by Michael Lamont