←Recommendations of The Chinese Massacre (Annotated)

The Chinese Massacre (Annotated) is gripping, unflinching, and hauntingly relevant. Tom Jacobson doesn’t just recount history—he dissects it, forcing us to confront the brutal truths buried beneath polite narratives. The script crackles with urgency, shifting effortlessly between historical retelling and theatrical invention. Tension builds, perspectives clash, and the weight of injustice presses down.

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 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.