Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month - Spotlight on Landyn Endo

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! We are excited to share short interviews with our Asian American artists. This first interview is with Landyn Endo, who is in the Ensemble of The Nightingale.

Tell us about your Asian Heritage.

I am Japanese-American. My family in Japan was originally from a prefecture near Tokyo. 

How has your Asian Heritage played a part in shaping you as an artist?

My grandparents were interned with their families during WWII in Manzanar, one of California's concentration camps for American citizens (and non-citizens) of Japanese descent. The intergenerational legacy of the strength of will and endurance it took for them to survive the camps and start over from scratch after the war has impacted me heavily. I believe that art must be courageous to speak out against power, and to reach out as a bridge to connect those who might have been influenced to see difference as "otherness." My absolute dedication to my craft is heavily cultural, and my grandparents cultivated in me a deep desire to elevate the voices of marginalized communities through my art. 

Are there aspects of your Asian heritage that have played a part in your creation of "The Nightingale"?

I appreciate that “The Nightingale” is making an important statement about the dangers of capitalism and over-reliance on technological advancements to think for us and solve all of our problems. Japanese culture and mythology also emphasizes the sacredness of all life in nature, which I feel is reflected in this show.