A Space for Actors of Color at W&M: International Performing Arts eXchange (IPAX), 2007-2015

The International Performing Arts eXchange (IPAX) was founded in December of 2007 by Professor Francis Tanglao-Aguas and student leader Edward “Eddy” Hong '09, after the spring 2007 performance of Ramayana La’ar. The performance highlighted the need for more diverse theatre productions at W&M, and the performers from Ramayana La’ar comprised the original members of IPAX. 

The mission of IPAX was to expand perspectives, expose worlds never before experienced, and inspire others to engage in the arts on a personal and artistic level. IPAX carries the legacy of the AATC (African American Theater Club) through the use of AATC's constitution for IPAX's framework.

Eddy was IPAX’s first student leader. He began to see the need for more diverse theatre productions after he was cast in a stereotypical role during W&M’s production of It’s a Bird…It’s a Plane… It’s Superman in the fall of 2007.

Eddy recounts, “I think it was a sophomore or junior year…the college did Superman, the musical…In the show [there] were two main villains, there was a mad scientist and then there were the ‘Fu Manchu’ folks. It was basically, Fu Manchu, and his three sons. 

“So, because there weren't any real diverse ethnic options, everyone was like, ‘Oh, Edward, would be great as the Fu Manchu guy.’ And [Professor] Francis [Tanglao-Aguas] is like, ‘So they really want you to do this part. You don't even have to audition for it. You just, you just have to say yes.’ 

Eddy had a discussion with Professor Tanglao-Aguas to decide whether or not to accept the role. While the role is racist and perpetuates harmful stereotypes, they decided that the pros outweighed the cons.

“Well, here, let's go over the pros and cons. Pros, you know, obviously, we do it and an Asian person is playing the role. And maybe you can do something different with it. The cons of it are like, this role is terrible. Like, there's no getting that wrong. 

After much consideration, Eddy decided to take the role. However, instead of just speaking in a stereotypical Chinese accent the entire time, he decided to use a stereotypical Chinese accent when talking to white characters in the play and an American accent when talking to his sons as a way to express his Asian American identity. 

“And then I decided to take it after much thinking and then talking to the director and being like, okay, when I talk to the white people like Superman, I'm going to do to the stereotypical Chinese accent. But when I'm talking to my sons…I will speak in an American accent because that is what I am. I am an Asian American.

“The director is kind of like, ‘I don't know, if the audience is gonna get it.’ 

“But I'm like, ‘let's just do it because this role is horribly racist.’ My sons were played by non-Asians, but it was one black person, one Latino person, and one other black person, I think…And so we did the show.

“I remember Francis was like, we need to create a space for ourselves...That's where IPAX came in.”

The first performance IPAX led was For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide  / When the Rainbow Is Enuf, which was led by: Branden Polk, Director; Edward Hong, Producer; Jason Blackwell, Assistant Producer; Maya Dangerfield, Art Designer. The organization went on to highlight many politically complex and nuanced narratives with their productions including Twilight Los Angeles and Asian American Hello (Sex) Kitty: Mad Asian Bitch on Wheels.