What is . . . Asian.

Another audition - this one held by a reputed theater company in NY who is producing "The Seagull" in the fall - one of my favorite plays by one of my favorite playwrights.

They were seeking Asian and Asian American actors and into parenthesis was written - (East Asian, Southeast Asian, South Asian, Pan-Asian, etc.) - great, so that covers me! Or does it?

When I went in, all the other actors were Asian, and I mean, the non-brown, non-South Asian ones for the exception of yours truly. Part of me wanted to run! But I stayed and did my thing lots of questions floating around in my head. Did they change their casting requirement and I just didn't know about it? Is it just this particular time of day where I just happen to be the only 'different' one there? Did I misread the breakdown?

And then something happened - I don't know if it was being wiser from my last few experiences, but the voices stopped as soon as I walked into that audition room. I made some big, bold choices and got some great feedback from the director. I walked out feeling good with no more questions as to what kind of 'Asian' they might be looking for. It didn't matter anymore.

-- Farah Bala