Home > About Us
Our Mission
Our Mission
The mission of Shall See Theater is to empower East Asian theater artists to share their stories, languages, and cultural aesthetics on global stages. Shall See Theater puts efforts on both sides of “the fourth wall,” connecting artists in the making with the professional theater ecosystem and inviting global audiences to experience accessible, transformative performances that celebrate East Asian voices.
Our Name
Chinese Name
The phrase “小隙大作” evokes a poetic image: creating something grand from a small gap. In the theater world, where time and space are stretched, bent, and reimagined, we believe that even the smallest gesture, a flicker of light, or a moment of silence can spark profound emotional resonance. The "small gap" represents the overlooked, the in-between, the marginalized; "great work" is our response—bold, deliberate, and deeply rooted in artistic integrity. We embrace the tension between fragility and force, believing that theater born from quiet corners can speak the loudest truths. The phrase also speaks directly to the cultural gaps we see between East and West. Rather than shy away from these differences, we step into them, building bridges through storytelling, design, and performance.
English Name
The name “Shall See Theater” is both a quiet promise and an open invitation. It points to a future moment of discovery—something that we and the audience will witness together. The phrase suggests anticipation, curiosity, and shared revelation. At the same time, “Shall See” reflects our mission to bridge a cultural gap: to make East Asian stories and aesthetics visible, legible, and resonant to audiences unfamiliar with them. Theater, for us, is a shared act of seeing—and in that act, something essential is unveiled. We create with the hope that through performance, we all shall see more clearly—not just each other, but the spaces between us.
Our Works
We produce and develop theatrical productions in New York Off-Broadway, New York Off-Off-Broadway, and regional theaters across the United States.
We provide affordable and accessible public performances to engage diverse audiences.
We provide educational programs, including lectures, workshops, play-readings, and small-scale theatrical events, to foster artistic exchange and innovation.
We establish apprenticeship programs to create opportunities for emerging artists to participate in professional theater productions.
We serve as a bridge between East Asian theater companies and U.S. theaters and producers, facilitating touring opportunities and cross-cultural collaborations.
Our Values
Shall See Theater is founded to uplift East Asian voices, aesthetics, and narratives in a theatrical landscape where such stories have long been underrepresented or misrepresented. We recognize that creating a truly inclusive and transformative theater demands intentionality, reflection, and collective responsibility. The values below guide our programs, internal culture, partnerships, and relationships with audiences. They shape not only what we do, but how we do it, on both sides of the fourth wall.
EQUITY
We prioritize equity in all aspects of our work, actively resisting systems of exclusion based on race, ethnicity, gender, class, ability, or immigration status. We create space for artists and communities historically left at the margins, centering East Asian artists in particular.
CULTURAL ROOTEDNESS
We believe that specificity is strength. We honor the cultural contexts from which stories emerge, and we resist dilution for the sake of market appeal. Our programming reflects a deep respect for cultural origin, language, and form, while welcoming global audiences into meaningful encounters.
CREATIVE COURAGE
We embrace work that challenges dominant narratives, and we support artists in creating formally ambitious, emotionally rigorous, and politically conscious work. We also encourage multilingual theaters, discovering how theater arts can transcend the language barrier. We see the theater as a site of experimentation, resistance, and renewal.
COLLECTIVE CARE
We foster a culture of mutual care among artists, staff, collaborators, and audiences. We value clear communication, empathetic leadership, and sustainable working conditions. Everyone in our space deserves to feel respected, supported, and safe.
EDUCATION AND ACCESS
We are committed to nurturing early-career artists and emerging theater-makers through educational programs, apprenticeships, and public workshops. We believe that professional development and cultural exchange must be accessible, affordable, and rooted in shared learning.
ACCOUNTABILITY
We hold ourselves and each other responsible for living these values. We welcome feedback, uphold transparency, and invite our broader community to help us stay aligned with our mission. We know that the work of justice is ongoing—and we are committed to growing with it.