When Mason Yang was little, he would sit on his grandfather’s foot and listen as he told stories of the “Secret War” in Laos.
“He used to tell stories about him in the Secret War,” the young actor told The Korea Times. “The way he told the stories was just so captivating. I don’t think he was incredibly expressive, but his tone and the way he told the stories was great.”
For Yang, now 18, those stories weren’t just family history; they were his first lessons in what it meant to hold an audience.
Yang’s grandparents were among the thousands of Hmong refugees who came to the United States after the Vietnam War. Growing up in Minnesota, he carried both that legacy of resilience and the challenges of being a third-generation Hmong American in a world where Asian actors were rarely in the spotlight. Yang acknowledges that despite this, he is still motivated and committed to pursuing a career on the stage.
“I know there are more Asian American faces that are now in media, but I could probably still count the number of actors off of my hand, especially in theater,” he said. “It definitely is disheartening. I really try by seeing the things that we do do. And that is hope to me. And just to see where we are now from where we used to be is inspiring to me.”
Yang’s hard work is continuing to pay off. He is appearing in Children’s Theatre Company’s production of “Treasure Island” in Minneapolis, playing the main role of Jim Hawkins, a role that rarely sees an Asian American actor portraying it.
Jim Hawkins is the protagonist in Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1883 adventure novel “Treasure Island,” about a boy who falls under the spell of the murderous pirate Long John Silver.
While Yang enjoys the adventure and the swordplay that comes with the story, he also resonates with the role on an emotional level.
Mason Yang, second from left, stars as Jim Hawkins in the Children’s Theater Company production of “Treasure Island,” Sept. 9. Courtesy of Glen Stubbe
“I think with the character of Jim Hawkins, he faces with grappling with his idealism and optimism and reality of the world,” he said. “For me, I also really try to be like an optimistic person and be idealistic and see the best in people. I see the nuances, you know, and Jim also has to see these gray areas and the nuances of the world and learn to navigate those gray areas, and I relate to that a lot.”
The theater has been Yang’s world for a decade, although at first he was a bit reluctant. With the help of his mom, he signed up for a local play with a friend. When his friend backed out, he wanted to as well, but his mom said, “too late.” This small insistence changed his life and set him on his current path.
Yang pauses when he thinks about the milestone. “Ten years in theater,” he said. “That’s crazy. I don’t even own some things for 10 years. But this — this has been with me.”
Between rehearsals and performances, he is still very much a teenager, juggling classes, tests and college applications. He hopes to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts in musical theater, though he dreams even bigger.
“I love how collaborative theater can be. I’d love to direct, I have so many ideas,” he said. “I’d love to choreograph and even think it’s cool to work backstage. I just think it’s super cool just to have that feeling of being a part of something bigger than yourself.”
Already sounding wiser beyond his years, Yang also hopes to inspire more young Asian actors to see themselves on the stage and in different roles. In his own way, he hopes he can contribute. “I can be the charge and show these young Asian actors that they can be talented,” he said.
Mason Yang, center, poses with his family. Courtesy of Mason Yang
The play runs until Oct. 19. Follow @yasonmang on Instagram to learn more about the artist.
Antonia Giordano is a freelance photographer and writer based in Seoul. An adoptee, Antonia deeply understands and connects with the issues surrounding adoption and post-adoption. Visit giordanoantonia.myportfolio.com and follow @antonia_creative_services on Instagram.
- The Korea Times first published the article.
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