International Hotel Theatrical Reading

One timely event designed for the last two nights of the exhibition (Dec 3rd and 4th, 2010), involved the theatrical reading of Karen Tei Yamashita’s 2010 National Book Award nominated I Hotel performed on the physical site of the exhibition and larger project itself. Adapted and directed by San Francisco playwright and comedian Allan Manalo, and co-produced by tammy ko Robinson and Reyes, this event cast a team of actors and non-actors to read certain scenes. Each person cast was either involved in a previous aspect of the project (for example: student, teaching professor, exhibition installer, advising historian) or part of the director and producers scope of colleagues available and fitting for the roles provided. The producers reconfigured the space to enhance the performance’s spectral qualities. This recently written novel of a 1970’s American housing battle was acted, produced, and visually placed by individuals with varying degrees of involvement amongst the active Hotel history. This production notably came from the larger collaborative group of researchers amassed from the entirety of the project’s genesis three years prior.

Press Release (PDF)
Detailed Essay on Four-Platform Project (PDF)