(NEW YORK, NY) -- Pan Asian Repertory Theatre continues their educational initiative with the training LAB reading of the classic play, John Gabriel Borkman by Henrik Ibsen, adapted by John R. Briggs, with translation by Rolf Fjelde. LAB training co-instructors are Ernest Abuba and John R. Briggs. The FREE virtual Zoom presentation is set for Friday, May 14, 2021 beginning at 6:00pm.

The 8-member cast will feature Ernest Abuba in the title role, with Richard Chang as Vilhelm Foldal, Deanna Choi as Frida Foldal, David Lee Huynh as Erhart Borkman, Karen Tsen Lee as Miss Ella Rentheim, Juni Li as Malene, the maid/stage directions, Rosanne Ma as Mrs. Fanny Wilton, and Shigeko Sara Suga as Gunhild Borkman.  

The classic play John Gabriel Borkman by Henrik Ibsen revolves around the title character, a great man who is wealthy, powerful, and revered. John Gabriel gave up love for success and was handsomely rewarded. But now, the former bank director, is disgraced and destitute after a financial scandal and imprisonment.

In speaking of the LAB presentation, Ernest Abuba stated “Begin from the bottom again. It's only by his present and his future that a man can expiate his past...help me build this new life?" John R. Briggs added “The play is the relentless and ruthless pursuit of power that leads to loss and perdition.”

Click here to register for the free reading.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

John R. Briggs (Adaptor/Co-Instructor) is a director, writer, producer and songwriter that adapted and directed the first iteration of Shogun Macbeth for Pan Asian in 1986.

Ernest Abuba (Co-Instructor), a prize winning actor, playwright, and director, is Pan Asian’s Resident Instructor for over 20 years.

Pan Asian Repertory Theatre, celebrating its 44th Milestone Season, is the most veteran Asian American theatre company on the East Coast. Tisa Chang founded Pan Asian Rep in 1977 at Ellen Stewart’s La Mama ETC with the vision to promote equity and access that Asian Americans artists can equally follow, focusing on stories of probing social justice issues with distinctive Off-Broadway Productions, Tours, National Outreach, and Community Service. Mel Gussow of The New York Times described it as "A Stage for All the World of Asian –Americans” and wrote that “Before Pan Asian Rep, Asian Americans had severely limited opportunities in the theater....” The company has nurtured thousands of artists and is a “who-is-who” of Asian American theatre history, with notable alumni/ae: Ako, Ernest Abuba, Tina Chen, Philip Gotanda, Wai Ching Ho, David Henry Hwang, Daniel Dae Kim, Lucy Liu, Ron Nakahara, R.A. Shiomi, Lauren Yee, and Henry Yuk.

Pan Asian Rep Programs are made possible, in part, by the National Endowment for the Arts; the New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature; the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council; City Council member Margaret Chin; and major support from Howard Gilman Foundation, Shubert Foundation, NY Community Trust COVID-19 Response & Impact Fund, Fan Fox & Leslie R. Samuels, Lucille Lortel Foundations; and many generous individuals.