Press

Culturebot: Tying Tongues and Opening Hearts in Yilong Liu’s JUNE IS THE FIRST FALL

When I went back to Hawaii for the first production of June is The First Fall, I was constantly moved by the responses from the local community. There were artists on the creative team who saw themselves in the story and came to fully embrace their identity during rehearsals. There was a queer immigrant illustrator from the Philippines who tracked me down online and shared artwork with me that was inspired by the story. There was a friend who, after seeing the show, finally decided to go back home in the continental U.S. to come out to his family after not seeing them for fifteen years. Local university students were using monologues from the play for auditions and festival competitions… They all felt seen, and this is the reason why I write what I write. Yes, I’m happy there’s a growing number of LGBTQ+ works here but meanwhile, I’m still not seeing myself represented, and I’m here to represent myself and those who stand with me.

June is The First Fall: Interview with writer Yilong Liu and director Michael Leibenluft

Adam Szymkowicz: 1000 Playwright Interviews Part 1031

ARTS BOSTON: 10 CONTEMPORARY ASIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER AMERICAN PLAYWRIGHTS YOU SHOULD KNOW