←Recommendations of The Chinese Massacre (Annotated)

LA in 1871, with a fraction of today's population, was already highly multicultural, with the battle between racism/othering and empathy/humanity already raging. Mr. Jacobson is unafraid to tackle big political ideas and center characters of color. Requires accent/language work and the joy of a diverse company; theater itself as an attempt at American community.

This is a perfect piece for a large, character-driven, diverse ensemble. It has humor, pathos, shock, and historical commentary throughout that blows your mind. This piece shines a light on a dark event in Los Angeles' history. It's a must-do for any theater company!

This play shines a light on a significant--and devastating--historical event. And rather than walking into the trap of being a "this happened and then this happened and this happened" type of play, it's actually pretty sophisticated in its stylistic approach to the material. Furthermore, its style is directly connected to its themes of historical mythmaking and the power of media narratives.

The Chinese Massacre (Annotated) is a landmark play about the real massacre which took place in 1871 Los Angeles. While the topic could've been relegated to an anodyne historical retelling, Jacobson cleverly introduces Brechtian annotations which comment on the play's subject matter with humor, insight, and in some cases incisive irony. Jacobson brings much needed representation to an otherwise forgotten part of history, and the play's coda is breathtaking. I actually saw the production at Circle X multiple times and was moved each time. I would love to see it revived.