Welcome to MediaRites

MediaRites is a tax-exempt, 501 (c ) 3, nonprofit production organization based in Portland, Oregon, dedicated to telling the stories of diverse cultures and giving voice to the unheard through the arts, education and media projects. Since 1984, MediaRites has produced award-winning radio and film documentaries, interactive websites, theatre and outreach projects.

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Projects

Radio

MediaRites has a history of award winning cross-cultural documentaries including the 8-hour Asian Pacific American history series Crossing East, winner of the Peabody in 2007.

Theatre

See MediaRites current and past stage productions. Our current project, Theatre Diaspora, presents staged readings to highlight Asian American/Pacific Islander plays and arts.

Community Outreach

Through the years, MediaRites has worked with community organizations and schools to create arts and media opportunities for students, underserved groups in the Portland-metro area.

Video

See videos created for the Crossing East series, winner of Peabody award in 2007, a flash video from the Coming Home project in Kodiak, AK ion 2009  and the Mei Mei film in 2014

The Latest

Big News in October and January!

September 4, 2017

Two Theatre Diaspora members are working on Artists Repertory Theatre’s CAUGHT, a play by Christopher Chen that is also an art installation Oct. 1-29.

Dmae Roberts & Samson Syharath

Dmae Roberts (MediaRites executive producer) returns to acting in a full production with CAUGHT. Samson Syharath is the assistant director. Be sure to “catch” this unusual comedic, genre-bending production of live theatre and installation art. Ripped from the headlines of “fake news” CAUGHT brings to light themes of truth and deception in the worlds of art and journalism. CAUGHT also asks the question: “When does cultural appropriation begin?” Previews begin Oct. 1st and the show runs Wed-Sun till Oct. 29th.

Tickets on sale now at artistsrep.org.    For more about CAUGHT, visit: http://www.artistsrep.org/onstage/201718-season/caught/

Also in January…The Brothers Paranormal.

Save the Date for
The Brothers Paranormal 
by
A workshop staged reading
Directed by Kate Duffly
January 18-21, 2018
at PSU’s Lincoln Hall, Boiler Room Theatre
Cast includes: Samson Syharath, Elaine Low, Josie Seid, Jasper Howard, Melissa Magana and Savira Kambhu. With original music performed by Joe Kye. 
Synopsis: Two Thai-American brothers launch a ghost-hunting business in order to capitalize on the nationwide increase in sightings of Asian-looking ghosts. When the siblings end up investigating the home of an African American couple who claim to be haunted by one very terrifying spirit, everyone’s notions of reality, fantasy, and sanity clash against the shocking truth.  At its heart this play is an modern allegory about grief, loss and healing for communities of color. Keep posted on our site for updates! www.TheatreDiaspora.org

Crossing East: Relations

May 13, 2017
Ellen Choy (right) Photo: Brooke Anderson Photography

Ellen Choy (right) Photo: Brooke Anderson Photography

Crossing East: Relations is a one-hour documentary special produced by Dmae Roberts, executive producer of MediaRites’ Crossing East series with Robynn Takayama and Alan Montecillo. The documentary addresses AAPIs and the Model Minority Myth and the historic relationship between AAPIs and African Americans. As part of a 10th anniversary celebration of the Peabody-winning radio series Crossing East, which aired on 230 public radio stations around the country we’ve been producing this documentary as well gathering more than 100 hours of oral history recordings for the Crossing East Archive.

Featuring music by David Ornette Cherry.
Hear a promo for the first airing on KBOO.FM June 6, 2017, 11am-noon!

This Crossing East Archive and documentary project was made possible by….
And individual donors and supporters!
Special thanks to:
    Ronni Lacroute
    John and June Schumann.
Read More

“Washer/Dryer” Reading with Theatre Diaspora

April 27, 2017

Washer/Dryer by Nandita Shenoy

May 14th at 7:00 p.m. & May 20th at 2:00 p.m. in the Ellyn Bye Studio

During May, Asian American/Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

Media Rites’ Theatre Diaspora Project’s new season begins with an enhanced staged reading directed by company member Samson Syharath. Cast includes Anthony Lam, Sarika Mehta, Elaine Low, Dmae Roberts and Mathew Sepeda.In this light-hearted romantic comedy, interethnic newlyweds Sonya and Michael would love nothing more than to live happily ever after in Sonya’s single occupant New York co-op apartment (with built-in washer and dryer). Standing in their way, however, are Michael’s meddling mother, Sonya’s nosy co-op manager, and a litany of other squabbles they must overcome to save their relationship.

To purchase tickets or learn more, visit pcs.org/blog/washer-dryer-reading-with-theatre-diaspora

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