35 Years, 35 Faces:
Philip Kan Gotanda by / Theatre Bay Area Staff

After 35 years of promoting and advancing the Bay Area theatre and dance community, we've touched a lot of people—and a lot of people have touched us. Today’s honoree: Philip Kan Gotanda, playwright.


Who are you? Can you give a little bit of background about how you got to where you are today?

My name is Philip Gotanda. Playwright. Been doing theater in the Bay Area since 1980.

What is your history with Theatre Bay Area?

Premiered 25 plays over the last 32 years in the Bay Area with: Asian American Theater Company, American Conservatory Theater, Campo Santo+Intersection for the Arts; San Jose Repertory Theatre, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, U.C. Berkeley Department of Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies; U.C. Santa Cruz Department of Theater and Dance, Eureka Theatre, Magic Theatre and the Bay Area Playwrights Festival.

You are being honored particularly for participating in the development of Bay Area playwrights. Please tell us about that.

Over the years I’ve mentored young playwrights and theatre artists. Presently, I teach playwriting at the Department of Theater, Dance and Performance Studies at U.C. Berkeley.

Why is theatre important? What do you think your role is keeping it a vital part of civilization?

I believe good theatre is important to the cultural well-being of a community, a people, and, in turn, a nation.

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Click here for more information about the 35 Years, 35 Faces campaign.
Click here to donate to Theatre Bay Area in support of the 35 Years, 35 Faces campaign.
Click here to RSVP for the 35 Years, 35 Faces Celebration on April 30, 2012.