Philip Kan Gotanda
Affiliated Writer
Berkeley, CA
Biography

Over the last three decades, playwright Philip Kan Gotanda has been a major influence in the broadening of our definition of theater in America.  The creator of one of the largest canon of Asian American-themed works, he has been instrumental in bringing stories of Asians in the United States to mainstream American theater as well as to Europe and Asia. Mr. Gotanda holds a law degree from Hastings College of Law and studied pottery in Japan with the late Hiroshi Seto.   Mr. Gotanda is a respected independent filmmaker.  His 3 films: Life Tastes Good, Drinking Tea, The Kiss, all have presented at the Sundance Film Festival.   Mr. Gotanda is the recipient of a Guggenheim as well as other honors and awards.  Mr. Gotanda is a Professor at UC Berkeley with the Department of Theater Dance Performance Studies.