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A NEW COMEDY ABOUT WHAT’S TRUE VS. WHAT SELLS

Exclusion

  • Credits

    By Kenneth Lin
    Directed by Trip Cullman

  • Location

    Kreeger Theater

  • Run Time

    approximately 90 minutes, no intermission

“VERY FUNNY...BEAUTIFULLY ACTED…delves into how Hollywood misrepresents,  suppresses and distorts Asian American history” 

— The Washington Post

In Exclusionan award-winning historian is thrilled when her best-selling book about the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 is optioned for a mini-series by a Hollywood mogul. Her euphoria turns to disillusionment as she finds herself constantly defending its authenticity in the struggle between what’s true and what sells.

Exclusion is sponsored by  and Beth Newburger Schwartz, with additional support provided by Linda A. BaumannJeffrey M. BuschThe Drs. Elliot and Lily Gardner Feldman Endowment for New Plays at Arena Stage and David Bruce Smith and the Grateful American Foundation 

Exclusion is the recipient of an Edgerton Foundation New Play Award.

Cast

KAROLINE

Katie

JOSH STAMBERG

Harry

TONY NAM

Malcolm

MICHELLE VERGARA MOORE

Viola

KAREN LI

u/s Katie / Viola

JONATHAN FEUER

u/s Harry

RYAN DALUSUNG

u/s Malcolm

Creative

KENNETH LIN

Playwright

TRIP CULLMAN

Director

ARNULFO MALDONADO

Set Designer

SARAH CUBBAGE

Costume Designer

ADAM HONORÉ

Lighting Designer

SUN HEE KIL

Sound Designer

HSIN-LEI CHEN

Original Music

ANNE NESMITH

Wig Designer

SORDELET INC.

Fight Director

JOCELYN CLARKE

Dramaturg

ZOË ELIZABETH LILLIS

Dramaturg

JOSEPH PINZON

Casting Director

KELLY GILLESPIE, CSA

New York Casting

CHRISTI B. SPANN

Stage Manager

EMILY ANN MELLON

Assistant Stage Manager

Photos

Karoline and Josh Stamberg in "Exclusion" at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater running May 5 through June 25. Photo by Margot Schulman.
Karoline in "Exclusion" at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater running May 5 through June 25. Photo by Margot Schulman.
Karoline and Tony Nam in "Exclusion" at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater running May 5 through June 25. Photo by Margot Schulman.
Karoline and Tony Nam in "Exclusion" at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater running May 5 through June 25. Photo by Margot Schulman.
Karoline and Michelle Vergara Moore in "Exclusion" at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater running May 5 through June 25. Photo by Margot Schulman.
Karoline in "Exclusion" at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater running May 5 through June 25. Photo by Margot Schulman.
Karoline in "Exclusion" at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater running May 5 through June 25. Photo by Margot Schulman.
Karoline and Michelle Vergara Moore in "Exclusion" at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater running May 5 through June 25. Photo by Margot Schulman.
Karoline and Josh Stamberg for "Exclusion" at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater running May 5 through June 25. Photo by Margot Schulman.
Tony Nam, Karoline, Michelle Vergara Moore, and Josh Stamberg in "Exclusion" at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater running May 5 through June 25. Photo by Margot Schulman.
Karoline and Josh Stamberg for "Exclusion" at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater running May 5 through June 25. Photo by Tony Powell.
Karoline and Josh Stamberg for "Exclusion" at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater running May 5 through June 25. Photo by Tony Powell.
Karoline and Josh Stamberg for "Exclusion" at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater running May 5 through June 25. Photo by Tony Powell.

Videos

Special Performance Notes

Weekday Matinees
Wednesday, May 24, at 12:00 p.m.
Thursday, June 1, at 12:00 p.m.
Wednesday, June 14, at 12:00 p.m.

Early Curtains
Sunday, June 4, at 6:00 p.m.

Southwest Nights
Saturday, May 13, at 8:00 p.m.
Thursday, May 25, at 8:00 p.m.

Post-Show Conversations
Wednesday, May 24, at 12:00 p.m.
Tuesday, May 30, at 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, June 1, at 12:00 p.m.
Thursday, June 8, at 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday, June 14, at 12:00 p.m.

Audio-Described
Saturday, May 27, at 2:00 p.m.

ASL-Interpreted
Friday, June 16 at 8 p.m.

Mask Required Performances*
Saturday, May 27 at 2pm
Tuesday, June 6 at 7:30pm
Sunday, June 25 at 2pm

*Ticketholders who would like to opt in or out of these performances can contact the Sales Office at 202-488-3300 (Tuesday–Sunday, 12–8 pm) to make fee-free exchanges.

Exclusion In The News

THE NEW YORK TIMES

“[Exclusion] uses drama (and comedy) to extend our thinking about the legacies of prejudice and resistance, power and deprivation”

THE GEORGETOWN VOICE

Exclusion tactfully tackles representation in Hollywood by contemplating what’s true, what sells, and what’s funny

MARYLAND THEATRE GUIDE

“RAZOR-SHARP…rips into the racist and sexist inner politics of TV writers’ rooms”

BROADWAYWORLD

“THOUGHT-PROVOKING and WITTY world premiere…Exclusion balances humor and gravity to keep the audience THOROUGHLY ENGAGED”

THE BEACON

“HILARIOUS and MOVING…Trip Cullman’s guidance and Kenneth Lin’s taut, witty writing come together to make this play SPARK”

NPR

In 'Exclusion,' Kenneth Lin draws on his roots as the son of Chinese immigrants

WASHINGTON BLADE

Arena’s ‘Exclusion’ is a piece of art about art

WYPR

“[Arena Stage Power Plays] raise the voices of unheard Americans and spur political debate…[Exclusion] definitely fills those goals”

THE WASHINGTON POST

“VERY FUNNY...BEAUTIFULLY ACTED…Hollywood spoof ‘Exclusion’ goes deeper than cynical satire”

BROADWAYWORLD

WASHINGTON DC'S JUNE TOP PICKS

NBC4 WASHINGTON

NBC4's Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month Special: ‘Exclusion' Tells Story About an Important Chapter in Chinese American History

DC THEATER ARTS

“very funny ‘Exclusion’ tells serious story of anti-Asian bias”

A THEATRE-GOER'S THOUGHTS

“Kenneth Lin has a gift for repartee”

WTOP

Arena Stage play ‘Exclusion’ is a Hollywood satire of a shocking moment in Asian American history

MARYLAND THEATRE GUIDE

TOP 5 SHOWS OF THE WEEK

PLAYBILL

Cast Complete for Arena Stage World Premiere of Kenneth Lin's Exclusion

WASHINGTON CITY PAPER

"One of Arena Stage’s “power plays,” the world premiere of Exclusion promises to be a wickedly funny satire about television and race"

AMERICAN THEATRE

17 New Plays to Receive 1st and 2nd Round of 2022-23 Edgerton Awards

METRO WEEKLY

Spring Arts Preview 2023

THE GEORGETOWNER

Spring Theater Guide