Leslie Ishii (AD, Perseverance Theatre), a Yonsei, fourth generation Japanese American, debuted in Northwest Asian American Theater’s Breaking The Silence that raised legal defense funds for, WWII US Concentration Camp Resister, Gordon Hirabayashi and his Supreme Court Case. This standing room-only event was the first play to share the history and stories of Japanese American WWII Concentration Camp survivors, resisters, and their descendants. It also began the intergenerational healing of the Seattle Japanese American community. Since then, Leslie has felt called to support the storytelling that is the healing justice of Black/Indigenous/People of Color (BIPOC) artists and communities.
As an actor, director, arts educator, activist, and community builder, Leslie is deeply grateful to...
Leslie Ishii (AD, Perseverance Theatre), a Yonsei, fourth generation Japanese American, debuted in Northwest Asian American Theater’s Breaking The Silence that raised legal defense funds for, WWII US Concentration Camp Resister, Gordon Hirabayashi and his Supreme Court Case. This standing room-only event was the first play to share the history and stories of Japanese American WWII Concentration Camp survivors, resisters, and their descendants. It also began the intergenerational healing of the Seattle Japanese American community. Since then, Leslie has felt called to support the storytelling that is the healing justice of Black/Indigenous/People of Color (BIPOC) artists and communities.
As an actor, director, arts educator, activist, and community builder, Leslie is deeply grateful to have worked with legacy BIPOC theatres; El Teatro Campesino, East West Players, Penumbra Theatre, Theatre Mu, Native Voices, and emeritus, Asian American Theatre Company. As an actor and director Leslie has been grateful to work throughout the US landscape in regional theaters and on Broadway. Leslie thrives on her creative and learning edge when advocating for multiracial and BIPOC artists in every initiative, space and creative process with which she curates and engages.
(Service) Professional Non-Profit Theatre Coalition; Consortium of Asian American Theatres & Artists; National New Play Network; artEquity; NEFA, NEA Grant Panelist.
(Awards) Actors Equity Foundation Paul Robeson Award, 2025; SDCF Zelda Fichandler Directors Award, 2024; United States Artist Fellow, 2023; Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Integrity Award; National Theatre Conference: Member; Stage Directors and Choreographers’ Union E/D/I Standout Moments, 2016, 2017;Doris Duke Charitable Foundation National Theatre Grant Recipient; James P. Shannon Leadership Institute; Los Angeles County Teachers Making A Difference Award; Union membership: SDC, AEA, SAG-AFTRA.